Students told no tote bags

[Blue.Fairy2]

I would advise her not to bring the Vera bag to school if she can't lock it in a locker. Why do they have cupboards instead of lockers?? What if their coat gets stolen or something?

Maybe you can find her a cute little tote to use for her school stuff and have her use the Vera bag for weekends or sleepovers or other outings.

I totally agree, I can not understand why they do not have lockers. If any of my child's books turned up missing I would refuse to pay for them due to the negligence of the school for not having them.

 

[mdsouth]

Help me understand why the classrooms are too small for the kids to bring in their backpacks/tote bags? We always carried our backpacks/totes in school. Grant it - 20 years ago but what if you don't have time to stop by your locker to change books so you have 1-3 period books with you. Are you supposed to carry the books, pencils, notebooks, paper in your hand?

Thanks for the explanation.

I am surprised by the question. I do not understand why people think it is such a huge, physical problem to have the students carry their books, binders or paper and pencil case with them to class. I used to do it as a kid and at the schools here all the students do it too. Some schools have lockers that are used for coats and backpacks if they kids have them, but no bags or any kind are allowed in the classrooms.

First as so many people have stated already, there just isn't room for kids to bring bags, back packs into the classroom and it can be unsafe. When you have twenty to thirty five bodies in the classroom, along with classroom equipment and desks or tables there just isn't room. Teachers and students need clear paths to walk around the room comfortably.


Another thing you have to keep in mind, is the security issue, weapons can be hidden in bags more easily than in a stack of books or a binder. It is not just the schools in "poor" neighborhoods that have to think about this. Remember Columbine? Kids of any income level and who live anywhere might have access to a weapon (parent's gun, knife, etc).

Just like airports have more security restirctions so do schools.

If you are afraid your child's expensive stuff is going to be stolen, then don't let them take it to school - period! This goes for cell phones, etc.

In the OP's case, the school is providing storage area outside the classroom for all to use. Since it is open to all - only store something there that you do not mind losing. Your DD can show off her status symbol elsewhere!

 

[crisi]

I totally agree, I can not understand why they do not have lockers. If any of my child's books turned up missing I would refuse to pay for them due to the negligence of the school for not having them.

Possibly because lockers are expensive to install and maintain.

 

[sdemore]

As a pp stated rules need to be modified as problems arise in the classroom during the year. I have made different rules for different classes depending on the behaviors of each. Classrooms are certainly more crowded today than in previous years. Fire safety issues need to be addressed as well as my own fear of losing life or limb. I have tripped over many bags, feet and even bodies walking around my classroom. Backpacks have dual straps that fit around both sides of the (back of) seat. Tote bags must be hung diagonally across the back and every time someone walks by or the student shift in their seat it gets jostled and eventually ends up on the floor in the aisle. Hope this helps.

 

[ceecee]

I never carried a book bag all thru HS or college and I had a ton of books. My Anatomy book was big and heavy and expensive! I really never thought about it, but none of us had bags to carry our stuff in. In elementary school I rode a bus and remember dropping my books in the snow when I was walking home from the stop one day (this was before buses stopped in front of everyone's house, we had a central stop!). I went home and we ironed the pages because I was afraid I'd get in trouble for ruining a school book!

 

[shamrock30]

I never carried a bag in school either. No one did. I walked to and from high school with a big pile of books and notebooks. We did have lockers in Junior and Senior High, but we didn't have time to stop at them other than at lunch time.

 

[bumbershoot]

Several years ago, when DD was playing with her Pez collection, DH mentioned how he always coveted those as a kid and his mom would never buy him one. I was shocked, I mean I thought I grew up poor but here was further proof that DH was downright deprived- he never had a Pez DD and I bought him a Garfield Pez the next day. He still keeps it in a dresser drawer.

Awwww.

First as so many people have stated already, there just isn't room for kids to bring bags, back packs into the classroom and it can be unsafe. When you have twenty to thirty five bodies in the classroom, along with classroom equipment and desks or tables there just isn't room. Teachers and students need clear paths to walk around the room comfortably.


Your DD can show off her status symbol elsewhere!

Well, where are these huge stacks of books and notebooks going? Do the desks have a spot for them? If so, then you can get a backpack that can fit the same number of books AND get stuffed in that spot under the desk. Sure, it's easier to just stick a backpack on the floor, but it could be put in that spot.

And if the totebag has handles, and long ones at that since that's the point of a totebag, then it too can be hung on the back of the chair just like someone mentioned the backpacks were!

Her daughter doesn't have the bag to be a status symbol, she has it because carrying a backpack was physically too difficult for her. I personally don't understand the appeal of a VB bag, but I hope part of the high cost correlates to actual quality, which means it can hold up to what the DD needs it for.

Possibly because lockers are expensive to install and maintain.

Very true, especially if there's constant vandalism like at my schools just before my class got to them, and they take them out.


But honestly, I think a lot of the continuing questions in this thread were because it wasn't made clear where the backpacks are stored! I'm still not actually sure if the backpacks are out in the hall where the VB needs to be, or if they are hung on the backs of the chairs, or what. I think if the OP had put that info in, well I know that I for one would not be as confused.

 

[princessmom29]

Awwww.




Well, where are these huge stacks of books and notebooks going? Do the desks have a spot for them? If so, then you can get a backpack that can fit the same number of books AND get stuffed in that spot under the desk. Sure, it's easier to just stick a backpack on the floor, but it could be put in that spot.

And if the totebag has handles, and long ones at that since that's the point of a totebag, then it too can be hung on the back of the chair just like someone mentioned the backpacks were!

Her daughter doesn't have the bag to be a status symbol, she has it because carrying a backpack was physically too difficult for her. I personally don't understand the appeal of a VB bag, but I hope part of the high cost correlates to actual quality, which means it can hold up to what the DD needs it for.



Very true, especially if there's constant vandalism like at my schools just before my class got to them, and they take them out.


But honestly, I think a lot of the continuing questions in this thread were because it wasn't made clear where the backpacks are stored! I'm still not actually sure if the backpacks are out in the hall where the VB needs to be, or if they are hung on the backs of the chairs, or what. I think if the OP had put that info in, well I know that I for one would not be as confused.

I can tell you that based on the way our classroom desks are built it is a lot easier to store a stack of books in the under desk tray than a backpack contianing those same books. The trays were built to hold stacks of books, and will not accomidate that added bulk of a backpack. If it is a science classroom with tables backpackswill not go in the cubbies under the table at all. Most teachers in our school just do not have the room to allow bags at the desks or tables.

 

[MrsPete]

Possibly because lockers are expensive to install and maintain.

We have lockers at my high school, but most students refuse to use them, preferring to haul huge backpacks around with them everywhere. They ARE a problem in the classroom. If not specifically told to move their things under their desk, some students just dump them in the middle of the aisles, preventing other students and the teacher from walking up and down the aisles. It's just one more thing for teachers to manage every day.

The empty lockers are a problem because students stick half-drunk milk cartons or half-finished chicken sandwiches into them, and after a while the teachers realize there's a problem . . . and we have to clean them out. To combat this, we have "banded shut" with thick cable ties all the lockers that aren't assigned to a student. Assigned lockers must be closed with a lock.

 

[MrsPete]

I can tell you that based on the way our classroom desks are built it is a lot easier to store a stack of books in the under desk tray than a backpack contianing those same books. The trays were built to hold stacks of books, and will not accomidate that added bulk of a backpack. If it is a science classroom with tables backpackswill not go in the cubbies under the table at all. Most teachers in our school just do not have the room to allow bags at the desks or tables.

Yep, even if they take up the same amount of space, books don't have straps in which a person can catch his or her foot. Backpacks on the floor are a problem.

 

[momejay]

I would think that a pile of books tucked neatly into a backpack would be less of a hazzard than a stack of 3-4 books, a pen & pencil case & a couple of notebooks or a trapper keeper.
Kids are still going to carry their phones, ipods & video games to school. My DD carries her cell phone in her bra. They aren't allowed in school & I took hers away so she can use it weekends & after homework is done. She works & bought a prepaid one from Walmart. Kids are going to find a way to carry whatever in with them. Don't you remember what you did to avoid being caught with chewing gum or a cheat sheet?
We always had a wire basket under our chair to store our books/backpack on. Most often they were broken from kids using them for foot rests. Kids in our schools are told to only bring books for the class they are attending. The rest of their books must remain in their locker.
My high school aged DD's locker is at one end of the school near her home room. The rest of the day she is at the other end of school. The halls are so crowded that some of the kids run around the school outside to make it in time. This is also not allowed, but students are doing it. Talk about a security risk!
DD's high school Special Ed. English class is so crowded one student uses the teacher's desk. The room is a converted broom closet. It now holds 12 students, (2) 1:1 aides, a teacher & an assistant. They sometimes move the desks outside the classroom & sit on the floor.
I think with the amount of money these educational supervisors are paid they should be able to come up with a fair solution. (notice I didn't say teachers, they are worth every penny!) How about putting the books online? It won't be necessary to carry any books & therefore no backpacks.

 

[TxRabbit]

This is an eye opening thread. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that backpacks would be considered a hazard in schools. I would never have imagined backpacks banned from classrooms.

In my middle and high schools, there were back packs all over the aisles. Sure, we tripped on them. Kicked em. Knocked em around. You dealt with it. We were overcrowded. It was just one of those things. I'm constantly amazed at how times change. Didn't think I'd be an old fogey at 37, but there you go.

I understand the security issue, but boy, does it ever make me sad.

 

[Dancemom03]

In elementary school I rode a bus and remember dropping my books in the snow when I was walking home from the stop one day (this was before buses stopped in front of everyone's house, we had a central stop!). I went home and we ironed the pages because I was afraid I'd get in trouble for ruining a school book!

Buses stop in front of individual houses and it's not a farm lane??? Oh heavens, I wish someone would tell our school board that...

 

[momejay]

We live 2 blocks from the school & my 2 girls walk a 1/2 block in the opposite direction to get the bus. They are the only 2 at the stop. The bus then drives right past our house to get to school. LOL!

I like the rule about kids not being able to walk accross a busy street too. DD's bus used to drive by our house twice before turning around so she could get off without crossing the street. We have an "L shaped" driveway. They could have driven right through. LOL!

 

[Aliceacc]

This is an eye opening thread. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that backpacks would be considered a hazard in schools. I would never have imagined backpacks banned from classrooms.

In my middle and high schools, there were back packs all over the aisles. Sure, we tripped on them. Kicked em. Knocked em around. You dealt with it. We were overcrowded. It was just one of those things. I'm constantly amazed at how times change. Didn't think I'd be an old fogey at 37, but there you go.

I understand the security issue, but boy, does it ever make me sad.

I'm pretty adept at stepping over the legs in the aisles (some of the high school kids I teach are simply too big to be comfortable in those desks!) But the books and bags are a different matter.

For some reason, fires and fire drills are always in the back of my mind. It's part of why I have no tolerance for a kid who slips his or her shoes off in class. We've been known to have fire drills on not-so-nice days, and once or twice the alarm has gone off accidentally (sometimes an electrician has accidentally triggered it while working on the elevator or something). The thing is this: you don't know it's an accident until after the fact. When that alarm goes off, you grab your class list and get those kids OUT OF THERE!!

As a teacher, my first job is keeping my kids safe... then I can worry about teaching them math. Anything which interferes with my ability to keep my kids safe is an issue. Backpacks and totes in the aisles definitely fall under that category.

They're allowed in my school and in my classes. But I DO warn the kids pretty consistently that I need an aisle. They think it's all about me being able to get around, but that's actually the smallest part of the issue.

 

[crisi]

I wonder how this thread would be going if it were "my kid knocked out his front tooth tripping over someone's bookbag or backpack in the aisle in the classroom?"

 

[Aliceacc]

Then I'm pretty sure the consensus would be "Those teachers should know better than to let anything block the aisles. Don't they know it's unsafe??"

 

[Halbleib1]

This is an eye opening thread. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that backpacks would be considered a hazard in schools. I would never have imagined backpacks banned from classrooms.

In my middle and high schools, there were back packs all over the aisles. Sure, we tripped on them. Kicked em. Knocked em around. You dealt with it. We were overcrowded. It was just one of those things. I'm constantly amazed at how times change. Didn't think I'd be an old fogey at 37, but there you go.

I understand the security issue, but boy, does it ever make me sad.

I agree. I will be 30 this year and it seems like the schools have completely changed. Glad I am not in school today. School was hard enough back than so I can only imagine what it is like for kids today. I was a senior in high school during Columbine and that was a scary enough time. While I agree some changes had to happen with security after that I think some schools have taken it overboard. If backpacks really pose such a security threat that they have to be kept in lockers at all times during the school day than why do they allow them into the school at all?

This country is good about saying that we are not going to let terriorist change our lifestyle and to stop us from living our lives the way we want to but haven't we done just that? Ultimately they got exactly what they wanted from us. A country that is so scared they will do anything to make themselves feel better even if it does not really make any sense nor make us any safer.

 

[Halbleib1]

Yep, even if they take up the same amount of space, books don't have straps in which a person can catch his or her foot. Backpacks on the floor are a problem.

So are books and papers on the floor. Many times our teachers would make us put them on the floor for tests and such. I slipped on books and papers plenty of times during my school days. Esp. new books they are as slippery as walking on ice. You dealt with it. No big deal. Stuff happens thats part of life. You can not protect your kids from every little thing.

 

[Halbleib1]

I can tell you that based on the way our classroom desks are built it is a lot easier to store a stack of books in the under desk tray than a backpack contianing those same books. The trays were built to hold stacks of books, and will not accomidate that added bulk of a backpack. If it is a science classroom with tables backpackswill not go in the cubbies under the table at all. Most teachers in our school just do not have the room to allow bags at the desks or tables.

Our desks did not have baskets nor trays to store anything in. Our chairs were also connected to our desks. The only place we had to place our books was either on top of the desk or on the floor. Science tables did not have any place to put your books either. It was a lot neater/safer to sit a backpack between the chair and the table leg out of the way than it was to put a pile of books on the floor if you had no room on the table because you were dissecting or what not.