Students told no tote bags

[momxx5]

After many months of saving up money, DD was finally able to purchase a Vera Bradley tote bag. She is using it instead of a back pack to carry all her books. It is perfect, as she is tiny and the backpacks were really hard to hold everything and for her to carry.

Today the teacher announces that girls are not allowed to use tote bags. There is no official school rule against them. The teacher said they are "book bags" and are to be left out in the hall cupboards. The hall cupboards are really large metal units with shelves, open to anyone to pick through, toss things asside, rusted, etc.

She is so disappointed.
Any suggestions as to how to handle the situation? Talking to teacher? etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[woodkins]

Where do they normally keep their backpacks? If she is using it as a backpack then it should be stored in the same location. I would ask the teacher is there is a reason for the rule and then go from there.

 

[monkey30]

I would talk to the teacher and find out the guidelines..... they may be miscommunicating what they mean.

 

[mebbradley]

If there is no official school rule then I would discuss this with the teacher. Particularly if your DD is using it as a backpack because of her size. If backpacks are allowed in the classroom, so should her bag.

 

[englishteacha]

In my school, our classrooms are just too small for kids to bring their bags to class with them. It doesn't matter what type of bag it is...tote, backpack, duffle, whatever. They need to be in the student's locker. Perhaps the teacher is trying to be proactive about how cluttered/hard to navigate the classroom is. If she allows your DD and her friends to bring their totes to class, then why can't the guys bring their gym bags in?

 

[MrsPete]

We need clarification:

If backpacks are allowed into the classroom, then tote bags should be allowed in too.
If backpacks are not allowed, then tote bags should be stored wherever backpacks are stored. A bag that's big enough to tote books IS a book bag, regardless of whether it is carried on the back or over one arm.

 

[Aliceacc]

I know that in my classes, the bags are a hazard-- they clog up the aisles between the desks. It doesn't matter whether it's a Jansport backpack or a Vera Bradley tote; the problem is that there isn't classroom in the room to accomodate them.

More than once I've come close to tripping on one. And, if the fire alarm were ever to go off, it could be a real issue.

 

[momxx5]

All excellent points and now I understand better the reasoning.

Now I have to figure out how she can use her bag to carry all her stuff and not have to worry about theft or damage.

Thanks again for perspective.

 

[brymolmom]

I can totally see a teacher not wanting bags in the room (but I agree - would ahve to be all bags not just specific ones) - I can see kids shufflign through them for 'stuff' during class, etc.

One way potentially to avoid theft would be to save that bag for overnights and after school activities and buy a cheap one for that class. A lot less likely to have a $10 backpack or should bag stolen I would guess.

 

[PrincessMama605]

If she is using it as a book bag, it should be kept with the other bookbags, inside or outside the classroom. If she is worried about someone stealing her Vera bag I would just write her name inside with permanent marker.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm sure she'll find other uses for the bag.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If tote bags have to be kept outside, I would have her use an inexpensive canvas bag that is still comfortable to carry. Save the pricey Vera bag for other occasions, besides school.

 

[bumbershoot]

Where are the backpacks being kept? Keeping it out in the hall is obviously new to her, and before it seems she was using the backpack, so it sounds like backpacks are being treated differently.


Ah the old days...neither my jr high/middle school nor my high school had lockers, due to rampant graffiti. And we were not allowed, absolutely forbidden, to keep books in our lockable gym lockers. So we got to carry everything around! It was always so wonderful when someone from the group got their driver's license and got a car made available to them...everyone would put their books in the car and meet up at every passing period to snag them! (not that that's safe...that's even less safe for belongings than a gym locker!) Schools having lockers is just so exotic to me, as I never had it.

 

[Cynt]

In my school, our classrooms are just too small for kids to bring their bags to class with them. It doesn't matter what type of bag it is...tote, backpack, duffle, whatever. They need to be in the student's locker. Perhaps the teacher is trying to be proactive about how cluttered/hard to navigate the classroom is. If she allows your DD and her friends to bring their totes to class, then why can't the guys bring their gym bags in?

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.

 

[mistysue]

The issue with classrooms being too small is if everybody has a bag, where do they put them? Ideally I suppose they could go under your chairs or desk, but realistically half of them end up in the aisles. Then as soon as anybody needs to get anywhere you have people tripping on people's things. It is a HUGE liability and a pain in the butt.

In my grade school we had to carry things for 3-4 classes at a time. Yes, everybody carried a little stack of 4 books, 4 notebooks and a little box or pouch with pencils/pens and whatever. It worked fine. It also meant people weren't sneaking stupid toys and needless extra crap into classes all the time. There was more control and students paid more attention in class because there was less crap around to distract them. Who knows what technology everybody is taking into school to keep entertained in class when you have this huge bag to hide whatever you want in?

This was actually in response to wanting kids not to carry backpacks because of weight. Kids have a tendency to just put all their books into the bag so they don't have to exchange things, and then they get back and neck injuries from the weight. My sister pinched a nerve once and wasn't able to carry her own books for weeks- just from the weight of her backpack.

 

[brittsmum1998]

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.

In my dd's middle school (6th grade) they are not allowed to have any bags backpack or otherwise.

You need to carry 3 periods worth of books if you dont' have time to get back to your locker.

All bags are to be locked in the students locker prior to homeroom and don't come back out until its time for lunch or time to go home.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

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.

All through elementary and high school I had to carry everything around...no backpacks allowed. It was such a hassle!!!! And yes, sometimes I had 3 books with me because I couldn't make it to my locker for a few periods.


op- I see the teachers reasoning because of the dangers with tote bags in the class -they do end up in the aisles and can be a huge tripping hazard, where as backpacks can hang on the backs of the chairs. In my college classes people are always tripping on everyones bags. I always try to shove mine under my seat. I think if tote bags are not allowed in your daughters classroom, backpacks should not be allowed either, just to make it a fair situation (and especially since its the middle of the school year. why would a teacher suddenly make a rule like this now )

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My oldest is in 10th grade, no bookbags or backpacks are allowed. It is a security issue, so kids can't be carrying anything they shouldn't be. She doesn't have a lunch hour (her choice) and doesn't have time during the day to get to her locker so she goes in the morning and in the afternoon and all day carries everything. It's not ideal but it's the rule so what can you do?

I don't know the cost of such a bag but sounds like they are pricey, I don't think writing her name in it would cut it if someone really wanted it. I'd say tell her to keep it safe for other activites like PP have mentioned and get a regular bag at Walmart or something.

 

[PatsMom]

I have to agree that the tote bag should be treated like a backpack. So if backpacks aren't allowed, the tote bag shouldn't be and vice versa.

My daughter's high school had a policy of no backpacks in class. Bags had to go into the locker. If you couldn't get to your locker between classes, you had to carry whatever books you needed with you. Girls could carry a purse but there was a maximum size limit. The backpack policy was both due to tripping hazards and for security reasons.

There are medical exceptions to the no backpack rule. My daughter had to get a medical pass to attach to her backpack because she has a chronic medical condition (bursitis/tendonitis) in both shoulders that is aggravated by carrying a heavy pile of books in her arm. The doctor loved writing that prescription! "Must carry backpack in school as a medical necessity".

 

[englishteacha]

My students' lockers are right outside our classrooms, so they can go between every class. (middle school, grades 6-8)