'Hard on all of us': Petition pushes back on Ontario high school telling students to keep backpack in lockers
CTV
There is confusion at one Mississauga, Ont. high school over whether backpacks are allowed in class. Grade 12 student Vani Kumar started a petition to bring backpacks back after St. Francis Xavier Secondary School sent out a letter obtained by CTV News Toronto telling students, “Knapsacks/bags are to be kept in your locker upon arrival at school."
In addition to Ontario’s new cellphone ban, there is confusion at one Mississauga, Ont. high school over whether backpacks are allowed in class.
Grade 12 student Vani Kumar started a petition to bring backpacks back after St. Francis Xavier Secondary School sent out a letter obtained by CTV News Toronto telling students, “Knapsacks/bags are to be kept in your locker upon arrival at school. Only learning materials I.E. binders, laptops, writing materials can be brought to class.”
“I would really like the school and board to consider what is best for students,” Kumar said on Monday.
Within four days, the petition has garnered more than 1,000 signatures. Kumar said the rule creates a disadvantage to female students needing the washroom and those using binders, paper and pens instead of tablets or laptops as they’re awkward to carry. She wants the policy rescinded or clarified.
“My biggest problem with this is they haven’t addressed why they are banning backpacks. We’ve come up with many theories and I’ve asked the V-P what the reason is for the backpack ban but so far the reason for safety and security to me and other don’t fully justify the actions being taken.”
“This has been hard on all of us,” said Grade 12 student Nataly Zahian. “I have two portables for my third an fourth period and my second and first are third floor, so it's kinda hard for me to go from third floor to portable, to lunch to portable, and it just doesn’t makes to me so I’m happy someone is doing something about it.”
Kumar argues the policy also makes it hard on teachers who have another rule to enforce and get interrupted during lessons with students wanting to go to their locker.
