Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 08:22     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
At my Baltimore city high school 20 years ago, we were not allowed to go to lockers between classes, only at arrival, dismissal, and lunch. If you had stuff to carry, it had to be in a clear plastic or mesh backpack. So I don't think it's that crazy to not go to your locker during the day.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 19:31     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:So am I the only whose MCPS HS kids refuse to use their lockers?

I found out because I was quizzing my DS on why he was late to class and he explained it was because he left his coat and other items in a teacher's class and he needed to pick them up. I asked why he didn't just put those items in his locker so he could retrieve them whenever and he looked at me like I had three heads and said no one uses their lockers.

I went to MCPS high schools in the '90s and lockers were a core part of the high school experience! You scheduled your routes around being able to drop off and pick up stuff by the lockers. You met up with your friends at your locker or theirs. Kids would decorate each other's lockers on their birthdays.

So is this unique to just my kid and our DCC high school? Or have most Gen Z kids given up on using lockers?

And if so, what the heck are schools gonna do with all that unused real estate?

Same here! I had one who even lugged a violin everywhere. I loved the tradition of decorating lockers. I'm class of '88
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 19:01     Subject: Re:Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:Got it. Since so many say their kids/schools don't use the lockers, what's MCPS doing about all of that wasted real estate? I guess it just sits there unused. But they could remove chunks and install digital signage for more schoolwide communications, for instance.

Or extra space to display student artwork or to promote club activities.

I'm sure schools that are renovating must be removing them and doing something with them?


Some of the HS have large enough locker bays that they could be replaced by offices or small classrooms.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 15:59     Subject: Re:Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Got it. Since so many say their kids/schools don't use the lockers, what's MCPS doing about all of that wasted real estate? I guess it just sits there unused. But they could remove chunks and install digital signage for more schoolwide communications, for instance.

Or extra space to display student artwork or to promote club activities.

I'm sure schools that are renovating must be removing them and doing something with them?
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 15:55     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Locker use is uncommon at our public school. This was in a school email at the beginning of the year:

"We have lots of lockers at School X, but most students do not use lockers. This is due to the size of the building, and our students prefer to carry their backpacks with them throughout the day. If a student would like a locker they will be issued a locker on request"
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 15:41     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:The schools are much bigger and they cannot get there in between classes and its not like they are carrying books anymore.


This is what my DC reports. There is no time to get to your locker and back. The school is too big and halls overcrowded
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 14:08     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son told me that “nobody” uses lockers and the kids who do, get teased about it. Not wanting to get teased, he does not use a locker. 🙄 So instead, he carries around and extremely heavy backpack with his notebooks, Chromebook, lunch, and coat. It makes no sense to me.


At TPMS my kids has to use their locker. They won't let them take their backpacks to class.


I don't think kids in middle school are allowed to carry backpacks for "safety" reasons.


It’s allowed at Eastern.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 13:10     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son told me that “nobody” uses lockers and the kids who do, get teased about it. Not wanting to get teased, he does not use a locker. 🙄 So instead, he carries around and extremely heavy backpack with his notebooks, Chromebook, lunch, and coat. It makes no sense to me.


At TPMS my kids has to use their locker. They won't let them take their backpacks to class.

I’m PP, they were required to use their lockers in middle school, so the whole lockers are uncool deal is only for high school.


The workaround is if they use a laptop case/binder with a strap. It doesn’t count as a backpack, so they don’t have to put it in the locker.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 10:24     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son told me that “nobody” uses lockers and the kids who do, get teased about it. Not wanting to get teased, he does not use a locker. 🙄 So instead, he carries around and extremely heavy backpack with his notebooks, Chromebook, lunch, and coat. It makes no sense to me.


At TPMS my kids has to use their locker. They won't let them take their backpacks to class.

I’m PP, they were required to use their lockers in middle school, so the whole lockers are uncool deal is only for high school.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2023 09:29     Subject: Gen Z has given up on lockers?
Anonymous wrote:BCC parent here (with one in Silver Creek) - neither kid has used lockers. I think at some points, perhaps when Westland was wildly overcrowded, they may have been prohibited from using the lockers. In any case, it now seems to be engrained even at SC which is relatively small. My kid won't bring an umbrella or wear a winter coat because he'd have to carry it around all day. That wouldn't be my preference but it is what it is.


I think silver creek (like a lot of middle schools) prohibit backpack use so there is more locker usage than at bcc.