The backpack dilemma
April 7, 2014 Shenanigans 9 comments jkupfer14
With the current debate on whether they should let backpacks with us, into class. I say let us have them. Every day in middle school there was a routine during the day. I would get off the bus, and go to recess, then after the first bell, I would go and drop my backpack in my locker, then off to classes. After the drole classes you would go to lunch and recess, then back to the second half of your classes. Once that last bell rang, the students would cry for joy. They would go and get their backpacks out of the locker.
Once we were sent to the high school we were told, “Your backpacks belong in your locker.” Some of us followed the rules, putting our bags in the locker that we were given. As for the other group they kept their bags with them. Some of them were girls, and some of them had those huge purses that you could fit just about anything in, like a wallet, a cellular device, I.E a cell phone, and the books and some binders, along with last night’s homework. They would have everything they needed with them. I had a big binder filled with everything, and a laptop case, not to mention I had a string backpack, that wasn’t considered a backpack. People would ask why they wouldn’t be able to bring in their bags, but I could have my string backpack.
As we moved from the freshmen to the sophomores, we were told the same things, and it has shown that we didn’t really listen, because most of us, took our backpacks with us to every class, and the teachers would tell us to go and put it in our locker. We would leave our backpacks in the hallway. I still had my string backpack, and after the longest time, it broke. I was devastated. But I did have another one that I used. But it didn’t have the same special as my first Bag. But that one didn’t really last that long either, it broke after about a month later. So I got a black backpack.
From junior year and on, I would have my black backpack. I had everything in it, from my laptop to my binders and class work, granted it was horrible organized, and I threw everything and anything in it. I had it. Teachers would say that I needed to put it in my locker, some would say that I should put it out in the hallway. I would because I respected them and would do that.
After senior year started, I found that I would take my backpack everywhere with me, to class, and being a little bit more organized, I would know where everything was. It was like I had anything I needed at my disposal, my math homework, the packets for acadeca, and my music folder. But I would still take my bag out when they asked me too.
Some people have different views on the backpack situation, some will say, mostly students, “that the rule is dumb, and I don’t follow the rules.” Others don’t really have a problem with the rules, and others who follow it to the T.
9 Comments
This post made me laugh. I absolutely cannot stand this rule. You’ve seen me walking all around the school with my canvas music bag. It is quite possibly my favorite possession. For starters, I, six feet and two inches tall posses a locker below someone as least nine inches shorter than me. It just does not make sense. I only use my locker for heavy coats and important items I cannot have on me during the day. Like you said it is unfair to allow women to tote around huge bags called ‘purses’ while men have to resort to carrying their heavy textbooks around the school. Is this a whiny complaint? Absolutely, but I like any other teenager, am lazy to a degree, and am completely infatuated with convenience. This rule is set in place so that safe exits can be made in case of evacuation without tripping over bags. I suggest an exception to this rule allowing small bags, like your drawstring bag and my canvas bag, to better transport items around the school, and make our students lives just a little bit easier. Overall, a nice piece, and a topic that certainly strikes my opinions.
I agree with you on the whole rule. For one thing, our lockers are no where near enough for school. We have these tiny little spaces and are expected to put every single thing in them- and are expected to remember everything we need to bring to class. Sometimes that is not possible for us. I feel that carrying your backpack would help kids get to class on time and remember all that they need. I do understand that idea that kids may be bringing things they should not be, but if there is any suspicion, they should check it any ways. I find that there are many other policies that need to be changed like this one. I think it would be a great idea for you to talk about other policies that should change! Even bring these topics up to OHLA!!
Good piece, a few grammar errors, overall my only complaint, feels like a narrative of your high school experience with backpacks instead of a dilemma, maybe include some of the other side of why they are not allowed and such.
Nice paper, again a few errors but overall good, and i personally disagree with the rule because its hard for me to stay organized, so my front pocket of my bag is small things (headphones, phone, charger, wallet, and some other items) then i get my other pocket with 3 folders, (english, math and the 3rd for random papers) then the biggest pocket is for my laptop, big books, water bottle, and daily changing items. i think that we should be allowed to have our bags but at the chance the teacher thinks there is something of danger or not allow in the bag show have full consent to search it, and as long as the bags are kept under the desks or out of the way so they are not a hazard.
I feel the same way! I’ve always thought that I could be way more organized if I had my backpack all the time. Also, the rule is barely even a rule anymore, people do it all the time and almost no teacher says anything.
This was a good read. There were a few grammatical things but other then that I have no complaints. It’s true we as students get yelled at for being late to class because of having to take locker stops throughout the day. Instead we could load up our bags in the morning for only the things you need for that day. If they would just let us 85% of the time everyone would be to class on time!
I liked the view of the article, I feel the same way. I’ve always thought that I could be way more organized if I had my backpack all to carry the things I need for the day with me .People do it all the time and they always seem to have their stuff together. Teachers hardly says anything about it anymore. Good read.
Our backpack rule is a laughing stock. I believe that the rule was implemented as a precautionary safety rule, as a backpack can easily conceal weapons and other things such as drugs. Since we don’t have a metal detector anywhere in the school, we don’t have that first line of defense from a violent event. I hate to be that guy that goes all dark and stuff, but it’s true. Being told to keep backpacks in the locker makes it a lot harder for someone to commit a violent act or carry on something else they aren’t supposed to be doing. I’m assuming this was the best medium to banning backpacks all together, which would obviously be an awful idea. There are so many flaws to this rule and it isn’t backed up by the teachers at all anymore, so it’s pretty pointless.
I do not like the backpack rule and it seems like Mr. Young is the only teacher that say’s something about it that i have had this year. It is a pain in the but to go to your locker every period to get what you need for class. It is so much easier to just have your backpack with everything you need in it.