Parkdales new optional clear or mesh bag rule: is it necessary?
Ever since the school year of 2022-2023 started, there has been a new bag rule set in place, and it leaves students with questions.
The regulation goes as followed: Students are not allowed to carry around a bag larger than a small purse that isn’t clear or mesh. If you decide to bring in a bag that doesn’t adhere to the requirements it needs to be kept in your locker. But is it that simple?
There have been a few students worried about where to keep their menstrual products and other necessities that would be seen as embarrassing or invasive to carry by hand. ” I do find it invasive when I am at that time of the month.” Says Junior Nicole Diaz. “I’m uncomfortable with knowing that someone could figure it out just by looking at my bag.” Many are also concerned about how this protects students when things like bulletproof backpacks are being manufactured for our use in the event of a shooting.
There is an assumption that the bag rule had a relation to the Texas shooting that occurred earlier this year. The tragic event left 19 students and 2 teachers dead, and many others wounded.
It should be made clear that if our government had established sensible gun legislation, like stricter background checks and the availability of guns not being so accessible, our bags would not be an issue.
Our government is getting too comfortable with shootings. Meaning instead of actually doing something about our easy accessibility to guns, they’ve made it so that we’re now adapting to a society that values guns over the lives of children and people in general.
Adapting to a society that doesn’t trust its students anymore. We’re taking the fall for our government’s lack of concern for its citizens. Children as little as six are now being taught by their parents how to play dead or protect themselves in the event of a shooting. We are children. We go to school for an education and a social life. We don’t come to school just to adapt to the threat of a school shooting. We shouldn’t have to at all.
“I don’t think this rule is necessary because we wouldn’t be in this much stress over our bags if our country established proper gun laws.” Says Diaz.
The popular brand manufacturing bulletproof backpacks is called Leatherback Gear. They specialize in making protective backpacks for students, and it’s heartbreaking that this is what feels necessary now.
It is a bit worrying, however, that if someone were to own a bulletproof backpack, they’d need to keep it in their locker, making it pretty much useless in defense.
This new bag rule is an emphasis on the lack of trust that our school has left in its students, and it can make our school environment feel less comfortable.
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Aaren whitaker • Mar 29, 2023 at 7:27 am
I think it’s unnecessary because a school shooting would likely happen anyway and it would make having lockers pointless.
Cindy Gonzalez Lopez • Mar 27, 2023 at 7:17 am
I agree that it’s embarrassing to carry around a mesh or clear backpack because it’s like you have no privacy for your belongings. People usually don’t want to carry around a normal backpack because it takes up time at dismissal to walk to your locker and walk over to find your ride. Some just want to leave at the sound of the bell.
Cindy Gonzalez Lopez • Mar 27, 2023 at 7:15 am
I agree that it’s embarrassing to carry around a mesh or clear backpack because it’s like you have no privacy for your belongings. People usually don’t want to carry around a normal backpack because it takes up time at dismissal to walk to your locker and walk over to find your ride. Some just want to leave at the sound of the bell.
Cindy Gonzalez Lopez • Mar 26, 2023 at 7:58 pm
I think even if they try to change school rules about anything not everyone will listen.
Miguel • Mar 24, 2023 at 9:29 am
I agree, I think we should be talking about not wearing backpacks, or bulletproof backpacks to be safe. The real issue right here is not being addressed, gun violence is a the problem and no one makes something about it to change that.
Fatima Figueroa • Mar 23, 2023 at 8:06 am
I think that they’re not necessary because if someone does want to shoot up the school then one way or another they’re going to find a way. I think instead of that, the government, state, county, or whoever has the authority is able to take control. Anyone is able to buy a gun nowadays.
Cristian Acuna • Feb 14, 2023 at 7:21 am
I think the use of clear backpacks is unnecessary. If there were to be a school shooting the shooter wouldn’t be worried about not being allowed into the school with a gun. Most of the school shootings that happen are when they bring a gun and automatically shoot it up as soon as they get to the school. At the end of the day, none of this would matter if our government would’ve established better gun laws.
Aneilya Clarke • Oct 12, 2022 at 10:51 am
I agree, PDHS is very over the top about having clear bags. Clear bags themselves are embarrassing to carry around, much less the items inside the bag being exposed to everyone else. Clear and bulletproof bags wouldn’t even be necessary if the government actually took control over the use of guns.