Does anyone else's school ban backpacks during finals week?

<p>My school does and normally I don't care but my SAT is on the 7th and while I'm not testing, I like to use my time to study.. They won't even let us bring any books to school and if we do they'll be confiscated by the office and we have to pay a fine to get them back. I'm so annoyed. If all we'd be doing is testing all day I'd get it but we have 30 minute class periods in between the finals and they're expecting me to waste that time doing nothing. I only have 2 out of 7 classes that are giving finals this year too so I'll be wasting whole days. They're also ignoring that kids in band will have large instruments to carry around too since they ordered us to clean out our lockers on Friday. This is ridiculous. I'm supposed to be attending an educational center not a prison???</p>

<p>Ask if you can bring the study books to either the office or the library as soon as you arrive in the morning and ask if you can sit in there during your breaks to study. I would think that as long as someone is present there should be no problem…how about a request from your parents? </p>

<p>@Sdgal2‌ Nope. My school is really strict about it. :(</p>

<p>How does a policy like this even come about</p>

<p>It’s not that big of a deal:

  1. You can probably use the computer in classes where you’re not testing. You can do SAT prep from collegeboard or type in your answers from your Official Study Guide into the website
  2. The thirty minute periods here you do nothing is not something you can’t afford to have. Its not something that will boost your score incredibly high.
  3. You can do anything during that 30 minutes like talk with friends yo won’t see for the rest of summer
  4. Any large instrument wouldn’t fit in a backpack anyways and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t carry their instrument in a case (NOT a backpack).
    It’s definitely not a prison and they aren’t torturing you, just ask to use the computer during class if your not doing anything or get your friends to sign your yearbook or just talk and watch movies.</p>

<p>You missed the entire point of my post and I’m wondering if you’re actually real at this point because how do you miss the point this badly</p>

<p>We don’t have student computers in classrooms. I cannot go to the library because late testers will test in there. I don’t want to waste my time when I can be productive??? And yes 30 minutes will help me to practice and fully understand techniques. I cannot use my phone in class unless I want it taken up. Instruments are banned as well so students who don’t leave their instruments in the band area (it’s not safe and the hall is far away and tedious to walk to and from) will get their instruments confiscated. We cannot bring any items except for a small bag or purse containing stuff like pencils and pens and freshening products. </p>

<p>Your school is ridiculous. After my history test, I still had 45 minutes of the testing block left, so I took out my iPad. The teacher saw it; he didn’t care. Everyone else did the same thing (after he/ she turned in his/her test that is). Some people were using their phones instead of a tablet, but you get my point. I guess my school is at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to yours?</p>

<p>Yeah your school is stupid. And I say this even after expressing anti-my-school sentiments, in regards to not promoting academic achievement, numerous times before. </p>

<p>Are you from FL? The reason the schools do this is because a teacher several years back (I believe it was in West Palm) shot and killed a teacher the last week of school. My kids’ schools have been banning backpacks the last week ever since.</p>

<p>I’m from FL and my school doesn’t do that, but maybe his does it for that reason.

  1. If I missed the point, then it is your responsibility to make it more clear.
  2. You said carry around instruments so somehow I assumed you could actually carry them to your classroom or around school. (if I missed the point on that issue that is your bad)
  3. You don’t have ANY student computers, no teacher at school has student computers available, no media classes, no basic IT courses. Last year during Finals I just went to the media teachers room and used the computer during periods where I was exempt
  4. If you really need that thirty minutes you can just stay up late each night of finals week and get your thirty minutes back. For me, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal next to the entire amount of time I would have spent prepping.
  5. Human contact is also good in a while. Friendship is pretty important and helps with mental health. I like to have friends but maybe that’s just me.
    I’m just trying to see why you’re so upset by this policy. Its not like it will kill your score or is something that you couldn’t make up on your own time (an inconvenience but not prison)</p>

<p>That sounds completely ridiculous! My school just makes us leave our backpacks in the front of the room during the test and that’s it. When the whole class finishes the test, then we’re allowed to get our stuff.</p>

<p>I understand OPs concern. I hate wasted time at school; I like to be as productive as I possibly can at school (not like they teach us anything where I’m from).
Print off some worksheets/problems (or scan your prep book) and stuff them in your pocket. Problem solved.</p>

<p>@jimmyboy23‌ I was actually pretty clear considering everyone got it except you. There aren’t student computers in regular classrooms. Only the teachers have one. I need any time available because I have finals plus the SAT to study for??? My problem isn’t human contact my problem is I need to study and in a school I should be able to expect to study… It’s a school after all… It’s a stupid rule in general. I was just wondering if any other schools did this to their students geez.</p>

<p>@DigitalKing‌ That’s what I’m planning on doing but I’m not sure if it’d fit in my small bag. They really don’t want us carrying stuff and some of my teachers are really anal about enforcing the policy sigh</p>

<p>Oops, meant to say a student shot and killed a teacher. Even creepier, i believe it was a 6th grader.</p>

<p>@yellowgranite56‌ that’s horrible! D: Does your school have cops on campus too? Or can you only find this idiocy in Texas’ public schools</p>

<p>“I was just wondering if any other schools did this to their students”
I answered that in my second post so we should be good there. Let’s be honest you were ranting about your school’s policy, this isn’t just a case of “I was wondering”, you wanted to get something out.</p>

<p>“There aren’t student computers in regular classrooms.”
Okay that is something that is quite unusual in my school district. Most schools at least have computers that the IT and media teachers will let students use. Some teachers have one or two even if they teach core courses.</p>

<p>“I need to study and in a school I should be able to expect to study”
There is nothing about school that entitles you to study the SAT. Maybe if you were studying for your finals then you may have a point but I don’t see it for SAT. That is more of a kindness they would be extending towards you.</p>

<p>“My problem isn’t human contact”
Never said you had a problem with it just mentioned it might be a nice way to spend your time</p>

<p>“I was actually pretty clear considering everyone got it except you”
Basing your criterion of understanding on whether a person understands you by whether or not they agree with you is not a great way to live. Leaves you very close-minded to other possibilities.</p>

<p>P.S. I am just trying to offer advice and show you its not a life-altering obstacle, just not able to study for the free period.</p>

<p>@jimmyboy23‌ .____. I truly do not understand you whatsoever. Please chill. There’s no need to come at my throat because you decided to miss the whole point of my post. </p>

<p>My daughter’s middle school did this because backpacks weren’t allowed in the classroom, they had cleaned out their lockers, soooo no backpacks. Except they could bring clear bags with things in them. Many kids brought the type of bags linens come in, with zippers. Others just used big baggies.</p>

<p>A solution might be not to go to school except for your test periods. this would require parental permission and rides.</p>

<p>I wish I could stay home but that can’t happen since my dad wants me to maintain my perfect attendance :(</p>