“Tigers should be able to carry their backpacks because we don’t have time to go to our lockers between classes to get all of our stuff. We are then carrying way too much. We show up to class to class unprepared and accidentally leave something needed in our backpacks. If we were allowed to have our backpacks with us, we’d always be prepared” (EPHS Backpack Survey).
Starting the new school year of 2023-2024, Elmwood Park High School has changed their handbook in a drastic way. New rules, such as “All backpacks–must be stored in a student’s locker as these items are prohibited throughout the school day,” stated in the EPHS Handbook, have been set into play. I want to address these new rules, specifically our newest backpack rule and how it’s affecting the students that attend EPHS.
Student Body Opinion
One of the biggest reasons why backpacks should be allowed again is our student opinion as a whole. After sending out a survey to all students of EPHS asking whether we should, shouldn’t, or have an alternative option referring to our backpacks. It’s come to my attention that 93% of our student population believe that we should, 2.6% of our students stated we shouldn’t, and 4.4% believe we should have an alternative option. These students were asked to state exactly why they chose the option that they did, and after analyzing each response carefully, I’ve noticed a pattern in responses. “If it’s for our safety for weapons then check our backpacks when entering because people are able to bring weapons in since no one checks the backpacks or just check a backpacks like once in a while. It doesn’t make sense because instead of preparing for college I instead feel like I am back to middle school preparing for high school in high school” (EPHS Backpack Survey). Over 300 students have stated that it is “extremely inconvenient” to not have their backpacks; it’s been repeated that throughout the day they’ve been “marked tardy” due to the fact that their lockers are far from their classes or that they’ve forgotten something they needed for the class, causing them to rush back and forth from their lockers. Another occurrence is students dropping their belongings on the way to class or bumping into other students by accident resulting in a collision. A strong argument amongst female students is having to rush back and forth between classes, bathrooms, and their lockers for their hygienic products which are needed. There is a strong pattern in female students stating they’ve been marked tardy multiple times due to the fact they need to continuously do this.
Percentages of students who would like backpacks re-instated
Other Schools
EPHS is one of the ONLY schools that have passed the ban on backpacks in our community. It is well known that most elementary and middle school students use their lockers to store their backpacks and carry around their belongings simply because these schools are just smaller and students are traveling to fewer classes. When graduating 8th grade and stepping into high school, students are slowly learning to have their own freedom, usually resulting in being allowed to carry around their belongings in a bag made especially for school.
“I’m a freshman and the only thing that I was looking forward to was carrying our backpacks and
not having to walk around with our stuff in our hands” (EPHS Backpack Survey). I’ve researched the handbooks of many surrounding schools of EPHS, and have found no school with a similar rule. Schools like Ridgewood, Fennwick, East Leyden, West Leyden, Walther Christian Academy, Achievers, Proviso East, and more all allow their students to carry their backpacks. Some even have specific rules enforcing students to do so. All schools want safety for their students, but they go about it in ways that are convenient to both staff and students.
Alternative Opinions
Relating to the topic of surrounding schools and their handbooks, it has also come to my attention that some schools with the similar issue of safety have gone a different route. According to my survey, students have stated “a clear backpack would solve both problems.” Unfortunately, clear backpacks have been proven to be ineffective with providing safety for students. No surrounding schools have recently added clear backpacks to their handbook, nor metal detectors to their school. It is nearly impossible to predict what will happen in the future, we cannot find an effective solution to keep schools safe forever. Even so, there are many things schools can provide for their students to prevent dangerous events from occurring in this very moment. A survey was conducted by EdWeek in 2022 asking 875 teachers, principals, and district administrators what they believe would make our schools a safe environment. According to these studies, 72% believe that locking external doors when school is in session would have a major impact on keeping students safe, 68% feel as if security cameras are the most effective, and 64% believe providing counselors and mental health professionals would be most effective. There are so many different ways to try and avoid any danger from happening in the school, ones that are convenient and actually helpful to staff and students. I believe that our backpack rule is simply just making it harder on everyone rather than helping.
Edweek Educater & Administration Survey (2022)
In conclusion, I believe that EPHS should allow students to wear their backpacks once again. I’m fully aware of the new safety precautions being addressed, although, unfortunately, as a student I cannot fully understand the backpack ban solution. After conducting my research, I believe that the majority of our student population would benefit extremely from being allowed to carry our backpacks once again.
