When I received a recent edition of the News-Press, I was
shocked by the headline that said “Storage space to be added to
middle schools?” I am glad there was a question mark after the
headline.
I don’t know the lady who brought her concerns to the board of
education, but I am sure she is sincere in stating the problem the
lack of lockers has caused for her son. But I hope the board takes
this complaint with a grain of salt.
I remember when this discussion of omitting lockers in the
middle schools came up. I was a member of the long-range planning
committee at that time. I also remember that every source of input
was taken concerning this step before it was taken.
At that time, there were several concerns presented. One was the
expense of installing lockers in those schools. It amounted to
thousands of dollars of taxpayer money. Had we installed lockers in
all of the new middle schools that have been built, we are talking
about millions of dollars.
The principals mentioned how students loitering at their lockers
cause so many cases of tardiness to classes. They were truly a
social gathering place, both between classes and before and after
school had dismissed.
The principals also mentioned that the vast majority of students
were already carrying backpacks. This was the time in the social
calendar of an adolescent when backpacks, jeans that don’t fit and
T-shirts that never covered the navel were the rage.
It was a social status, and it was a fad that grew like Topsy.
Middle school students live and die by the latest fads. It compares
with the parents who boast about how many square feet they have in
their houses.
I was surprised to read in the article that middle school
students have two sets of books. One for homework and one in the
classroom. I certainly wish the middle schools in which I was a
principal would have had that luxury.
When I was in junior high (now middle schools), I prided myself
in the ability to carry Madie Jane Johnson’s books home from
school. This is a social grace that has been eliminated with the
NOW AND ME generations.
I never liked her so much that I would have ever volunteered to
carry home her backpack.
It was mentioned in the article that a backpack weighs about 10
pounds. Certainly not like the Marines carry in combat. But I
suppose that 10 pounds could do harm to one’s spinal column. But I
doubt if that danger could be compared to carrying in the groceries
for Mom or skiing down the slope at Aspen.
I have a simple solution for this lady. She can buy a piece of
luggage on wheels for about $10 at Wal-Mart. I use one every day to
carry my materials to and from the schools I serve, and I have
three cases on wheels in which I transport my historic pictures to
new locations.
Who knows – her child might start a new social status fad at his
school.
James O’Hern is a former teacher, principal and school board
member who lives in Highlands Ranch.