When students at GHS returned after the pandemic in the fall of 2020, they were allowed to carry backpacks because of social distancing. “Bookbags are a great tool for holding all of the school essentials kids need for the day,” said Violet Doyle ‘26 “ I could carry my your laptop, pencils, books, binders, and any extras you need, like gum or even a water bottle.” Many students felt that having their bookbag was a great way to be prepared for class.
Once COVID protocols ended, so did the GHS policy allowing students to have backpacks in the classroom. “This is why not being able to bring bookbags to class is a huge hindrance to kids being tardy or unprepared for class,” said Cael Ozee ‘25. Students are allowed five minutes to get from class to class, and if a student has consecutive classes far from each other, it can be hard to make it to a locker, go to the bathroom, fill up a water bottle, and make it to class on time.
Our school is pretty spread out, having two Spanish classes on opposite sides of the school. The same goes for math and English. It can be hard for kids to get to class with everything if their locker is on one side of the school while their class is on the other.
“I find it much harder to get to my classes when I can’t have my stuff in a book bag. Plus, if I forgot something, then I have to go all the way to my locker instead of being able to grab it from my bag,” said Junior Max Schulz. He’s not the only one who thinks this way. “I think bookbags are wonderful, and I want them in the classroom,” said Oliver Wall-Penoyer ‘26.
Others like Max and Oliver are more heartfelt about the bags. Gus Nack ‘26 is very passionate about having bookbags with students. “I feel that it puts me and others at a disadvantage. I miss being able to have my folders with me at all times and having the ability to put snacks in my backpack to eat during class,” Nack shares.
Graham Miller ‘28 stated, “I think we should have bags so you can always have your things,” and Avery Stroyan ‘28 agreed with Miller, “I think yes because you wouldn’t have to leave class to get something you forgot”.
Of course, schools don’t only consist of students. Teachers also have a say in this matter. Secretary Lyn Heller agrees with the students. She thinks it helps to have less drama by not needing to go to lockers after every period, but it also brings the risk of being able to hide things in the bags. It also can trip up teachers in the classroom. Mrs. Frederick wants the bags to stay in the lockers because everyone is frequently moving around in her classroom.
“For bringing bags into the classroom, I am not a fan. My room is not very big and I have 25 desks, which makes it crowded quickly. If all my students were to bring in bookbags, now that is a lot more stuff in my room and we would not move as easily. They are a tripping hazard for the students and me” Building on her idea Mr. Kluzek loves the no-bags rule as well due to stuff “being in my way” around the classroom, and it’s a really big tripping hazard due to him not having desks.
While there are some teachers like Mrs. Hawkins there are some teachers that don’t mind if students have bags with them or not.“Honestly, I don’t care one way or the other. I see how they can feel like a tripping hazard in the classroom, and maybe I will feel differently next year when I have a smaller classroom. But also, when students could carry backpacks, I had fewer students asking to go to their lockers for forgotten materials. It was convenient that they had everything they needed in their backpacks,” said Mrs. Bookless.
Principal Mrs Hawkins is in a neutral area like Heller is. She can see it saving kids from being late to class, but it also poses a threat to the idea of having concealed weapons.
This conversation has resurfaced due to the start of construction on the GHS and concerns that there will not be enough lockers for students next year, due to the large freshman class and the loss of Senior Hall lockers “The issue of backpacks had pros and cons on both sides of the argument. For the last two years, we have decided not to backpack due to safety, which is one of the most important pieces,” said Hawkins.
