The multiple discrepancies of the newly enforced bookbag policy here at C. Milton Wright has sparked fire in the minds of the student body. Is it really to prevent tripping hazards or is it another way to secure the safety of the students?
Coming back from the Covid year, Harford County Public Schools shifted to 1:1 device. In response C. Milton Wright has allowed students to carry small bags and string bags to help manage their belongings. However, due to the limited disciplinary actions students no longer use their lockers and now carry their large book bags everywhere. This has been evident in my years here at C. Milton Wright. All my fellow peers knew their locker combinations by heart freshmen year but now those numbers have become a distinct memory, and finding your locker is just an inconvenience.
All students at our school carry multiple supplies from their laptop, textbooks, binders, etc. in these large backpacks, which are seen to pose safety risks. According to an email blast from administration, the purpose of the CMW bag policy is due to the risk backpacks cause especially on stairways and during evacuations. As a result, CMW is updating the bag and locker policy to ensure safety.
In recent weeks a safety survey was conducted among the staff on what adjustments need to be conducted to secure a safe educational environment. The frequent response was the need for immediate adjustments to the backpack policy, solely on the idea of tripping hazards within in the classrooms. But was this the truth, to truly protect the students, teachers, and staff from tripping in the classroom, or was this to sugar coat the protection from weaponry.
Tripping hazard is controversial, with the idea of safety within the classroom because how come the extension cords that lie across the floors have never seemed to be an issue when I myself have tripped multiple times. Yes, enforcing these specific bags to be hung behind the students’ chair during class may eliminate a few trips here and there, but the idea of tripping doesn’t seem to be the true purpose of clear book bags.
So, what will this updated policy look like here at C. Milton? Well, according to the email, here is what administrations hopes to see starting through the month of October, “Students may bring regular backpacks into the building, but before homeroom, all backpacks and large bags must be stored in lockers. During the school day, students may carry their books and either a small cross-body bag or a small purse or opt for a clear backpack with a maximum depth of 6.5 inches. Clear backpacks must be free from stickers or logos and will be available for purchase through CMW (details will be shared next week), or through a vendor of your choice.”
By November 4th, this policy will be fully enforced and all bookbags must be stored in lockers before homeroom. During the month of October, the school has provided parents with a link to purchase CMW branded a clear backpack that meets the requirements. Teachers will be consistently reminding their students to prepare them for this new shift in their daily school routine. But once this policy is in full effect, disciplinary actions will be present. Homeroom and classroom teachers will begin sending their students that are violating this policy, straight to lockers, and if violations become a habit admin will be involved.
Not only does this new change in policy cause aggravation within the students who must abide this policy or will face consequences, but this new change also ignites frustration within the parents. Only two months ago parents bought their children new bookbags to start off the school year, yet now they have to purchase an additional bag, which creates havoc. A junior mom, who’s actively involved in multiple extracurriculars within the school states the following, “students’ safety should always be a number one priority but I believe there is better ways to keep our students safe then requiring families to purchases clear back packs in a finically strained economy when many families have already purchased expensive bookbags for the school year. It seems outlandish to require families to purchase this when the attention should be put on making accommodations within the student’s school schedule to visit their lockers a few times a day to gather required materials. Why requires a backpack at all if this is indeed a tripping hazard?”
Clear book bags do not eliminate a tripping hazard, possession of drugs, or concealing of weapons. If a student is going to partake in that behavior, they would simply find another way to conceal it.
Student athlete, Jaxon Simms thinks communication is key, “It’s extremely frustrating when the policies change all the time. Most of us students are just trying to do what’s right, but we are all being held accountable for the irresponsible actions of a limited few.” Simms and a few of his friends find the policy humorous, as they have heard many aren’t going to take it seriously. Although not in favor of the policy, Simms still respects authority and is one of the first to have already purchased a clear bookbag.
Although purchasing a clear bookbag is not mandatory, students also have the option to not use a bookbag and simply just carry their supplies or use their lockers. The option of carrying supplies and using lockers imposes the risk of damaging their devices or being late to their next class as they do not have the appropriate amount of time to travel from class, locker, to the next class across three levels with heavy traffic in the span of 5 minutes. Other adjustments could be made to allow students not to use any bookbags at all. If the administration were to consider the stress that comes with class change maybe they could enforce a change in schedule. Instead of only allowing students 5 minutes maybe they could consider allowing 7 minutes to eliminate the uncertainty backpacks cause in the first place.
It is yet to be determined if the policy change will be effective and respected by the student body, due to the confusion it imposes.
