Imagine a school where students can easily access their supplies without the strain of heavy backpacks—this can be achieved by adding lockers. Lockers would help students stay organized as well as give their backs a break. 

Avery Avila highlights the struggle many students face when she says, “Yes, I think lockers would help because my backpack is really heavy and lockers would help to store some of the stuff I have.”

Along with the struggle of lugging your backpack around, many students have gotten hurt from the backpacks laying on the blacktop. Ms. Pallas explains some of the injuries students have faced. “We had multiple injuries, whether it’s a concussion, skinned their knees, or their arms.”

While there are several benefits to having lockers in schools, there are also some drawbacks to consider. On average, lockers can cost anywhere from 100 to 500 dollars. Think about how much this would be if every kid at GEMS had a locker. 

Lockers could also lead to issues of theft. This could make students feel uncomfortable with leaving their belongings in a locker if consistent theft happens. Students may worry about theft if their lockers are not secured properly, leading to anxiety about leaving valuable items, such as electronics or personal belongings, inside. 

If students get lockers, they may use them as a hiding place for prohibited objects and illegal substances. The problem isn’t only students hiding objects in lockers; they might hide them in someone else’s locker. This could lead to false accusations of students who did not do anything.  

Even though having lockers could increase the risk of vandalism Lockers provide students with a secure space to store their belongings, assuming they would use their lock. Lockers might not be the most secure, but they are way better than leaving your backpacks on the blacktop or outside unattended.