I trudge up the stairs to my house, holding the shoulder straps of my backpack with my hands to relieve some of the burden from my back. When I finally reach my front door, I plop my backpack onto the porch bench, exhausted from carrying such a heavy load. In theory, I could leave my numerous textbooks and unnecessary binders in my locker instead of lugging them to and from school each day. But I worry that if I were running late in the morning, I would not be able to reach my locker that is so far away from the rest of the school.
The class of 2016, my grade, has lockers in the 40s building, which also houses Millenium and the art studios. I do not have any classes in that building, and it takes five minutes to walk from the breezeway to the 40s building. I never use my locker because it is inconvenient and I would risk tardiness if I needed something from my locker in between classes.
On E days, I carry three textbooks, four binders, one workbook, two calculators, my pencil case, and running clothes to school. By the end of the day, my back aches from lugging such a hefty load. In fact, a 2013 study by Tel Aviv University found that heavy backpacks damage students’ nerves, inhibiting muscle response and dexterity.
If I had an accessible locker, I’m sure that I would use it to store binders and books that I do not need for homework on a particular night. That would immensely reduce the weight of my backpack and the stress that comes from forgetting to bring textbooks to school.
In a December 2013 survey of 241 students conducted by TPH, 14 percent of sophomores use their assigned lockers compared to 56 percent of the freshmen, juniors, and seniors. Furthermore, 20 percent of sophomores borrow lockers from their friends or siblings, presumably in different locations, while only three percent of students in other grades do so.
On the surveys, there were passionate notes from students. Four sophomores complained about the location of their lockers, including one who wrote “[I don’t use my locker] because it is in Millenium.” and another who said “My locker area sucks.”
To alleviate frustration, PHS should assign students to new lockers each year, with one grade level designated for each building. That way, nobody will be stuck with an inconvenient locker for all four years. Many high schools in our area reassign lockers each year, including Albany High and Berkeley High. In fact, Berkeley High distributes lockers based on grade level, which is exactly my proposition. Although a Berkeley High student told me that the junior year lockers are inconvenient, he knows that his locker assignment will improve the following year.
The downside to receiving a new locker each year is that students must remember new combinations. However, I trust that students are capable of memorizing the three-number sequences. And while assigning new lockers could create more administrative work, it is worthwhile because students will be happier, and we will be saved from back problems later in life.
I hope that the administration lifts a burden from my shoulders and assigns the class of 2016, to new lockers next year.
