As you know, we have announced that backpacks, bags and purses will not be allowed in the classrooms.

The school administration has received some questions regarding this new policy. Two questions that have been raised were: "Why" and "Why now?"

The Ministry of Labour has recently inspected the school. One of the biggest issues the inspector identified is the amount of clutter that he saw around the building. Clutter is a Health and Safety issue.

Backpacks in classroom are unnecessary clutter and are a threat to health safety in many ways.

1. Backpacks cause a tripping hazard for teachers and students. Tripping and falling is a problem anytime but it is particularly dangerous in the event of an emergency or during an evacuation.

2. Backpacks are typically overloaded with stuff and cause back, neck and shoulder injuries to those carrying them around all day.

3. Backpacks are targets for thieves. Students carry all kinds of valuables in them. Money, cell phones, iPods, bus tickets. When something is stolen not only are you a victim of the theft but the administration, police and teachers have to spend an inordinate and unnecessary amount of time investigating the theft. In addition, backpacks provide a convenient place to hide items that have been stolen from another student.

4. Backpacks keep growing in size. The sheer size of them causes congestion and accidental bumping in the hallways and in stairwells. These accidental bumps can lead to bad feelings between students and then could result in an altercation usually verbal but sometimes physical.

5. Some students carry around extra clothes and shoes to avoid wearing the school uniform. Often, those students out of uniform have the uniform item in their backpack. Another unnecessary waste of time and energy.

6. And on occasion, not often, a student will carry items in their backpack that are completely illegal or banned in schools and this causes a threat to everybody’s safety.