Time To Weigh In: Are Backpack Policies Safe Or Silly?
More and more schools statewide are instituting “no backpack” policies in schools, asking students to instead rely on lockers to store their books and supplies, and reactions are mixed.
Richmond Community Schools Superintendent Todd Terrill announced a new plan on Friday that would still allow students at Richmond High School to bring backpacks to school, but would bar them from carrying them in the halls and into classrooms. He explained to FOX59 that it’s a security step meant to help students, not hurt them:
Terrill said the move will help prevent students from carrying weapons into the classroom and enhance overall safety procedures in case of evacuations or other emergencies.
“It’s not going to keep everything out of our buildings,” he said. “And we don’t expect it to. But it’s just one more thing we can do to be more proactive.”
Richmond Community Schools is the latest district to implement a “no backpack” policy at its high school. (Photo Credit: KPBS Online/Flickr)
Terrill has a background as a school safety specialist. He has said he’s implemented similar guidelines in other districts he’s worked, including Muncie. Similar policies have also been in place at other schools in the Richmond district, as well as in the nearby Indianapolis Public Schools district.
Earlier this week, a group of Richmond High students made headlines when they spent part of the school day protesting the new rule.
Other students and some community members on both sides of the issue took to social media to express their opinions:
If I gotta put my bag in my locker than these teachers better not say nothing about me being late
— Chanel_marieee✌ (@mommy10142) August 21, 2015
Why do Richmond students feel the need to protest everything? It’s a backpack…the new rule is probably just for safety reasons!
— Brooke Evans (@b_rookie2) August 25, 2015
Richmond High School parent Lori Henderson told RTV6 she doesn’t take issue with the idea:
“I do like it. I think it’s a positive thing. I like that they caer about the safety of my kids. I don’t think it’s a problem […] it eliminates them being able to carry some contraband it. I do think it’s a great safety.”
Further south at Martinsville High School, neither backpacks nor coats are allowed in classrooms. All students are required to keep their belongings in a school-issued locker.
But the policy hasn’t been received especially favorably by students. Some even started a change.org petition to try to sway school administration to “veto” the plan, along with a new dress code also instituted this year. The idea has garnered 1,091 votes since the petition was posted a month ago.
“Backpacks should be allowed for the use of carrying all of our required things from class to class throughout the day,” the petition says. “Some might argue its a safety issue with either drugs or weapons but the reality is, if someone wanted to get weapons or drugs into a school they can do it no matter how secure the school is.”
Back in Richmond some people are making a similar argument, one which Superintendent Terrill addressed in an interview with the Richmond Palladium-Item:
Terrill agreed with the protestors’ claim that the backpack policy probably wouldn’t stop someone determined to sneak a weapon into the school. Even so, he said it would reduce possible clutter in the classroom that could pose a danger in case of an emergency and “greatly reduce the possibilities” of students bringing alcohol, drugs, tobacco or weapons to school.
As we reported earlier this week, Indiana recently cut a good chunk of funding for state-sponsored school safety initiatives.
Does your school have a unique backpack policy? Tell us what you like – or dislike – about the idea in our survey below. You can also share your opinion on our Facebook page, or tweet us @StateImpactIN.