One of the first things seen when entering any high school is the lockers. They line nearly every wall and are always present in school life. Yet, at LHS, one rarely sees a locker being used. Instead, students choose to wear their backpacks for the entirety of the day despite them being bulky, awkward, and difficult to maneuver through the hallways with. So, why do students prefer them?
Depending on which floor the classroom is located on, many students do not have enough time to stop and retrieve their school supplies. With the 3-4 minutes that students have during the passing period, there is not a sufficient amount of time for a student to change floors, go to their locker, go up or down a staircase, and make it in time for class. This is especially challenging for new students, such as freshmen, who are still learning the layout of the building and adjusting to their new schedules.
“When in school, I prefer to use my backpack as it is easier to have all my school supplies next to me. I think that if you needed to stop at your locker to get things, it could definitely make you late to class,” explained sophomore Natalie Villatoro. Most school supplies, such as textbooks, are not commonly used in schools due to the content being online. Supplies such as notebooks, pencils, paper, handouts, and binders are still often used by teachers but are easily carried in a backpack. However, much of the curriculum is now tablet-based, which makes the need for lockers less relevant.
Not all students prefer backpacks over lockers, though. Senior Dilnoor Nijjar expressed, “I prefer a combination of using my locker and backpack…the locker allows me to carry less weight throughout the day and avoid transporting every single belonging from class to class until I really need the item.” Nijjar pointed out that there is a stigma against using lockers and that they are seen as “weird” when, in fact, they are incredibly useful. “Lockers exist to make school life easier and more convenient, so I wish people saw them as a smart option instead of something weird,” added Nijjar.
Unfortunately, constantly wearing a backpack does have negative effects. The National Institute of Health’s website contains many medical studies that were conducted, including research regarding the effects of wearing backpacks on teenagers’ back health. It was found that if not worn correctly or if backpacks are too heavy, they can cause musculoskeletal injuries and pain. In addition, backpacks do not always have enough room for students’ supplies, and in the winter months it is extremely awkward to carry a winter coat around all day.
In the end, it is a student’s choice whether to use a backpack or a locker. Both have pros and cons; however, it is important for students to find a balance between using both lockers and their backpacks.
