Our lockers are either viewed as a blessing or a burden. While some students love their lockers, others never touch theirs. The locker system has fluctuated over the last few years. Some wonder if now the time for another change? From back problems to class tardies, how lockers affect our school community is worth discussing.
Swim coach Mr. Norvilitis was a teacher here at OPHS when every student was assigned a locker, and biology teacher and Stapp Comm advisor Mrs. Feldman was a student here when every student was given a locker. Both offered their view of the current locker situation. Officer Mackey weighed in, as well.
Q: What did you think are the biggest differences between lockers then and now?
Norvilitis: There were way more students than we had now, 400 more kids. The halls were impassable as it was; imagine if everyone had a backpack. It would’ve been impossible. There was no way to get around, so everyone was using their lockers.
Q: Do you think it would be beneficial if everyone were given a locker now?
Norvilitis: Yeah, for a couple of reasons. The Yondr pouches are hit or miss, so you could always make people put [phones] in their lockers. Also, then you wouldn’t have to carry all your stuff around, and those are HEAVY backpacks. It really can’t be good for your back.
Feldman: I think it would, as a former OP student, we also had more passing time. I think it’s great, especially in the winter for coats.
Q: For passing periods, do you think they would have to be longer if everyone started having a locker?
Norvilitis: When there were 400 more kids, there were five minutes [passing time], and now that it’s 1,400, it’s four. I think that it’s still alright. I think that you can do it.
Feldman: [Increased passing time] would affect class time, and it would be more of an issue for the administration to meet learning requirements. The passing time right now is fine because the vast majority of people are on time.
Q: What about going to the buses at the end of the day?
Norvilitis: Maybe a few more minutes would probably be helpful. I mean, when you’re grabbing stuff from your locker, you’re going to need time to get there, decide what books you need, so I’m sure a couple more minutes at the end would be a good idea.
Feldman: I don’t think so; students would have to be more strategic to go to their lockers. The end of the day works for most people now, maybe an extra minute or two would be helpful, especially in the winter, so they can put on their coats.
Q: If everyone did get a locker, would you prefer for it to be optional to use a backpack or make lockers mandatory?
Norvilitis: If everyone is going to have a locker, then everyone should use a locker.
Among other things, the backpacks also impact Norvilitis’s athletes on the swim team; he’s “had swimmers complain that their backs are sore before they even started because they’ve been carrying around a heavy backpack all day.”
Sophomore and Stap Comm member Ariana Kovacevic shares her student perspective of how her locker impacts her daily life:
Q: Do you have a locker? If so, do you like it/use it?
A.K: I have a locker and use mine occasionally. I mostly use it in the winter when I store my coat throughout the day. I also sometimes use it to hold a project that I might have.
Q: Do you prefer carrying your books or carrying a backpack? Why?
A.K: I like being able to carry a backpack throughout the school day, since I have everything with me and don’t have to worry about forgetting materials in my locker or plan ahead for certain classes.
Q: If the school stopped allowing students to carry backpacks in between classes, how would you feel?
A.K: If we weren’t able to carry backpacks in school, I’d be a little disappointed, as I enjoyed having all my materials I need for each of my classes and not have to think ahead on what I’d need to stop back at my locker for.
Officer Mackey offers her safety perspective as a school resource officer:
Q: From a safety standpoint, should every single student have a locker? Why or why not?
Mackey: Overall, as a community resource officer and from a safety standpoint, lockers can be helpful when they are properly managed and monitored. However, schools can also maintain a safe environment without assigning lockers to every student if there are strong…supervision practices [and] key factors in place, such as a clear bag policy and effective administrative controls. Overall, when it comes to safety, the key factor is consistent supervision and clear policies, rather than simply whether every student has a locker, in my opinion!
Overall, the debate still remains for student lockers and how the issue should be handled at OPHS. In terms of health, space, and personal storage, some find lockers necessary for all students. However, the passing times and school layout might clash with these goals. What do you think is best for OPHS’s locker system?
