School is meant to be a place of safety where students can learn in a comfortable environment. As of recently, their safety may be threatened by the simple action of almost every student, bringing their backpacks into the school.
The typical protocol for backpacks is to keep them in lockers during class periods. This not only stops students from smuggling items into class but also keeps them focused. However, this rule is noticeably unenforced, as almost every student brings their backpack into the classroom for convenience.
This has left some students questioning the safety of their classrooms. “I have never worried about the backpacks in the classroom but thinking about it now, it is a little concerning. Concealing an object in the classroom would be super easy for anybody who wants to keep something out of sight,” said senior Issac Josie.
But this issue cannot be pinned directly on students. This year, many students were assigned a locker to be shared with their sibling, or they didn’t receive one altogether.
Additionally, many classes require separate notebooks and binders that students might not be able to carry due to the heavy weight and required space. Accessing lockers during each five-minute passing period is difficult, as some classes require the entire time to walk to if they are across the school from each other. Many lockers are in inconvenient locations asl well, including the tower and dungeon.
Some students feel their locker is simply unusable and provides no benefit to them. “My locker is in the tower and I hardly ever use it. It is super annoying to try and use it with the only times I can before or after school,” stated sophomore Garret Schutte.
Senior Henry Allers shared similar concerns. “I don’t think I would be able to get to all my classes on time or bring all the materials needed if backpacks weren’t allowed into the classroom. We just don’t have enough time to utilize our lockers in between classes,” commented Allers.
It is the school’s responsibility to find new solutions if they are unable to provide everybody with a locker or optimal time to use it. Simply marking a designated area in the classroom for everybody to leave their backpacks would greatly help reduce distractions while still maintaining the convenience of bringing all belongings to class.
Others would like the school to address these issues that have become more apparent. “At the very least every student should be receiving a locker. There is no reason for somebody to have no place to put their backpack or other belongings brought to school with them in a safe area,”stated senior Tanner Cournoyer.
The upcoming high school expansion can hopefully fix some of the current issues, providing more lockers and providing more convenient locations for their placement. But as of now, students will continue to bring backpacks to classrooms and generally avoid their lockers.
