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Pro: Safe, useful lockers teach students responsibility

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  • BY JULIAN CAVAZOS - JCAVAZOS@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published February 14, 2010 at 11:12 p.m., updated February 15, 2010 at 11:21 a.m.

To some students, lockers remain a key part of high school life.

In the Calhoun school district, many high school classes have a set of textbooks for students to use there and a set to use at home.

Still, each Calhoun High School student has a locker.

"One hundred percent of our students have access to lockers," said principal Brandon Stiewig, "but only 40 percent use it."

Some upperclassmen lockers at Calhoun are far away from the students' classes, but many still find it convenient.

"If you have a project or something and you don't want to be carrying it all day, that's when it comes in handy just to stick it in there," said Angel Amador, a Calhoun senior.

Calhoun senior Rebekah Almogabar uses hers three to four times a day, she said.

"I use mine every day because I have pre-cal, English, government, so I have to switch mine out every day," Rebekah said. "I don't take my stuff home, so I just leave it."

Some Calhoun students say freshmen use lockers the most because they have more books.

They also have their own building where the majority of their core classes are located.

Britni Hicks, a freshman, went to middle school in a different city where lockers are no longer used.

She said she is happy to be at a school that has lockers.

"They took them away because there were so many kids in the hallway," Britni said. "I like them better that we have them here. We have a lot of books to carry. It doesn't make our back hurt to carry so much."

Having lockers teaches students responsibility for their belongings, said Larry Nichols, Calhoun superintendent.

"We think our students are capable of being responsible for textbooks, keeping up with them," Nichols said. "When they don't, they can be responsible for paying for it."

Lockers also help students prepare for college, Nichols said.

"When they get to college, nobody's going to give them a class set of text books," the superintendent said. "They're going to take care of them and will be required to bring their materials and be responsible for it."

Other school districts don't have home sets of textbooks available, so students carry around their class books more frequently, such as at Yoakum High School.

"Our buildings are scattered out," said Vicki Houston, Yoakum principal. "It's easier for students to keep the books in their lockers for their classes."

Schools that have lockers can still be safe, said Yoakum Superintendent Tom Kelley.

"As far as drugs, we bring in dogs and have them check lockers," said Kelley, who says random testing is done once a month. "If we need to search a locker, we will if we foresee anything, and we're visible enough in the hallways that we try to stay on top of that type of thing."


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Comments

  • 2unEarth 2unEarth Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    speechfree

    I completely agree with your statement.

    February 15, 2010 at 10:07 p.m.
  • elise elise Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Lockers are not the problem folks! It is the lack of enforcing the rules that is the problem. Treating the kiddos like they are common criminals and not allowing them to have a place for their things is just insulting. if there are to be illegal stuff brought in, some will find a way regardless. Let them have their lockers and just enforce on those who abuse it.

    February 15, 2010 at 9:22 p.m.
  • speechfree speechfree Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    You folks who are scared to engage the world are pathetic. We will soon challenge young people with greater responsibilities such as jobs, driving, college, dating, and issues of procreation. The backwards belief that hiding them under mothers protective feathers helps them ready for adult hood is pathetic. It is important to permit in a progressive manner responsibilities so that young people are made ready for the world and not dependent as some of those here want .

    February 15, 2010 at 9:55 a.m.
  • MzUnderstood MzUnderstood Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    When there are classroom sets of books, the kids don't carry thirty pounds on their backs. Only notebooks, writing material and personal needs should be in backpacks.

    When lockers are assigned, just another excuse to forget something needed for class.

    When lockers are assigned, just another place for some illegal possessions to find a home.

    When lockers are assigned, just another place for time-consuming pushing, shoving, talking, fighting, jockeying for position to get close to the locker and too close quarters to monitor behavior.

    Lockers cause more trouble than problems they cause.

    February 15, 2010 at 8:45 a.m.
  • familyman1122 familyman1122 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Putting 30 lbs of books on your back all day is not good for the young bones that are still developing. Lockers will prevent this problem. Let's hear from a real Doctor on this subject! What is best?

    February 15, 2010 at 4:19 a.m.