Michigan faculty district bans backpacks, even clear ones, amid concern over weapons – Alokito Mymensingh 24

Public colleges in Flint, Michigan on Monday started imposing a ban on backpacks, together with these made from clear plastic materials, enacted over firearms, weapons and threats issues.

The ban, which was unanimously authorised by the Flint Neighborhood Faculties Board of Schooling on April 25, got here after county officers sealed off Southwest Classical Academy in April below unspecified threats after which closed it for a day.

Final week, a highschool pupil in Knoxville, Tenn., was arrested after a gun he allegedly had in a backpack by accident went off in a classroom, leading to minor accidents to a instructor, authorities mentioned.

And in January, a 6-year-old allegedly introduced a handgun in a backpack to his elementary faculty in Newport Information, Virginia, earlier than critically injuring a instructor.

“Throughout the nation, we’ve seen a rise in threatening habits and contraband, together with weapons, being introduced into colleges in any respect ranges,” the district mentioned in a letter of often requested questions for folks.

“Backpacks make it simpler for college kids to cover weapons that could be disassembled and tougher to determine, or hidden in pockets, in books, or below different objects,” it mentioned.

The varsity board settled on a reasonably easy backpack ban, banning these made out of clear plastic. The ban applies till the tip of the varsity yr.

In a letter to oldsters and different constituents final week, Superintendent Kevin Jones argued {that a} whole ban was one of the simplest ways ahead.

“We’ve got thought lengthy and exhausting about this choice, figuring out it would impression how college students and households put together for his or her days and surgical procedures within the classroom,” he mentioned.

In February, the district polled college students, mother and father and employees about limiting backpacks to clear ones. “This different doesn’t absolutely deal with this problem,” the district concluded, in response to the FAQ.

“Weapons can nonetheless be simply hidden in clear backpacks,” it mentioned.

The brand new coverage says small purses for private objects, clear plastic baggage for sportswear and lunch containers are nonetheless allowed “inside motive”. They’re additionally being searched, mentioned the 11 campus, Ok-12 district.

Alvin Hamlin, the daddy of a sixth grader at Eisenhower Elementary College, agreed to depart the shoulder baggage at residence.

“It’s principally for the protection of the youngsters,” he instructed NBC affiliate WEYI of Northern Michigan. “They now have children who deliver weapons and stuff to highschool.”

Tyanna Martin, father or mother of Fellow Eisenhower Elementary, mentioned she helps the brand new coverage as effectively, however with some reservations.

“You’ll be able to disguise something anyplace,” she instructed WEYI. “I’d nonetheless be frightened as a result of something can occur.”

One key to ending campus violence, Martin mentioned, is to have college students who know higher. “I simply hope the youngsters be taught to make higher selections than what they’re doing,” she mentioned.