Clear backpacks have become a burden to all students in ERHS. Not only are they not sustainable, they aren’t even fashionable. Most people go through about two to three backpacks per year. Before, when plastic backpacks were not imposed, people could buy their backpacks freshman year, and they would probably last up until their senior year if they really wanted to. Parents, Students, and Faculty have all had problems with them one way or another. Whether it be ongoing purchases of them, hearing others complain, having one break on you in the middle of the day, or feeling like you don’t have much privacy.
PGCPS has implemented the use of clear backpacks for all students since the 2023-2024 school year. ERHS and other PG County schools have also implemented the use of metal detectors on top of the clear backpacks since the 2024-2025 school year.
One thing about the clear backpacks is the fact that they aren’t very sustainable; some kids go through 1-3 backpacks per school year or they’ve had the same one since the policy started. Depending on the student, it could have hit the parents in the wallet significantly or not that much. A parent of a Junior at ERHS thinks they’re great because “They prioritize the safety of the kids including my own. They also protect the staff and teachers inside of the school, keeping it a safe place for them to be in.”
There have been mixed responses regarding the clear backpacks. Aaron Lloyd, a junior at ERHS makes his opinion known that he thinks “they are an unnecessary waste of money and are useless.” On the other hand, a Junior at ERHS who would like to remain anonymous, comments how they have “a neutral attitude towards clear backpacks. The only problem I have with them is their durability. But overall, I don’t really care about the other aspects of the bag, appearance-wise.”
Freshman Ahmaad Harris says “I think clear book bags are weird, my old school didn’t have them.” His old middle school didn’t use clear book bags. “It’s only second quarter and I’ve already had 2 book bags.” Ahmaad also talks about how he clear bookbags arean’t pocket friendly. “Clear bookbags are kinda expensive too.”
Senior Noah Shode explains his excitement on how the clear bag changed ERHS for the better. “Clear bags make me feel safer, being able to see through other bags just makes everything so much safer.” He also talks about how durable the bags are “I’ve been using the same clear bag since my sophmore year and its never ripped, I think they’re durable. Even if they weren’t durable they’re very affordable so it doesnt matter.”
On the matter of privacy, some people don’t think clear backpacks are great for it. Tom McLaughlin, from Rutgers University–Camben, published an article called, “I Can See Clearly Now, but at What Cost to Students?”. He described how “many parents claim the new rule is an invasion of privacy,” although it may be seen that way there could be some positive view to it.
Our ERHS Security guard, Mr. Joseph Cook has expressed how his job has become more tedious due to the clear backpack and metal detector policy. But, he believes that “it’s a good policy, because it does make it easy for us to see what is traveling in the school, we are trained to look at the clear backpacks to be able to identify what’s not supposed to be there, objects that are not supposed to be there.” He understands it can be irritating for the students, but there has to be a compromise made for the safety of everybody at the school.
When asked about the privacy of the students, Samantha Cruz, a Junior at ERHS has expressed she has mixed feelings about it. She elaborated on the purpose of clear backpacks, recognizing their advantage to check for any harmful or inappropriate objects being brought into the school.
However, she highlighted the discomfort of potential embarrassment experienced by female students “who get easily embarrassed about things they carry, such as sanitary pads.” For the students who experience this, the transparency of clear backpacks can feel like an unnecessary invasion of privacy, exposing personal items that they would rather keep private.
An ERHS parent mentions the concerns female students encounter when carrying feminine products, in which they see no shame in it, as “it is a natural and universal experience for girls,” so there shouldn’t be any shame in it.
This makes people wonder to what extent do the security measurements affect the privacy and comfort of students. According to Gabriela Riccardi’s article, “The US would rather regulate backpacks than guns” on Quartz.com, she explains how backpacks are now clear so that, “ they cannot conceal AR-15s like DDM4s, neither revolvers nor rifles, nor shotguns nor semi-automatics.” They are used as a safety precaution since school shootings have been on the rise these past years.
Mr. Cook also believes the clear backpacks are useful for looking for any dangerous items entering the school. Regarding the dangerous items entering the school, the security have “found some things that should not be [in the school], and even on personal pockets and things of that nature,” so it has been useful to have these procedures in place. Cruz has also seen a better improvement in the safety of the school, commenting how “There have been many schools in PG county that l haven’t heard a lot about school shootings or bringing in stuff that is not permitted in school.”
But on the talks to bring back regular backpacks, it seems to be in favor of keeping the clear backpacks. On the votes to keep the clear backpacks, Mr. Cook, the ERHS Junior, and Cruz vote no, but Lloyd would vote yes, to bring back regular backpacks.
Personally, I, Angie, wouldn’t bring back the regular backpacks. At first, I said yes because I was only looking at it through my perspective as a student. But my views have now changed after interviewing people, especially Mr. Cook, and looking at it through different eyes.
After viewing the responses of multiple people, I, Aleyda, believe that ERHS and other schools should maintain the school’s policy on clear backpacks, as it is a way to protect the safety of students along with teachers and staff.