KISD’s Clear Backpack Rule Sparks Debate On Campus Safety

Killeen ISD made the decision to require all students to wear clear backpacks, and this has left some parents, educators, and advocates scratching their heads.

An honorable concept for improvement

Killeen ISD said that the clear backpack requirements were to improve campus safety as a result from a violent incident that happened earlier in the year. While Carter is complimentary of the logic from the district, she feels that the rule is about marketing, not safety, and in her opinion, clear backpacks are ineffective, thus there is no promise that this even attempts to stop dangerous things from getting on a campus.

Gaps in effectiveness

Carter argues that even inside a clear backpack, there is much room to hide contraband - and lunchboxes or hoodie pockets are just two options, potentially one of many options to just place items in. She referred to findings from safety research company based in Texas and Rutgers University which provided no evidence that this a clear backpack policy provides any value or safety in schools.

Response to the March tragedy

In March KISD endured the violent stabbing of Denia Hemphill at Smith Middle School. Carter believes this was a rushed response to a single event. There are safety measures that schools absolutely could implement; however, there is a disheartening level of worry about visiting schools, which serve a purpose for education, and now there is another layer of worry with students wearing into their school, and for Carter that is another level of disheartening. In Carter's opinion, one of the many policies initiated by KISD and implemented inappropriately or "not-of-valuable use" that will not reduce violence like we had witnessed on the campus in the first place.

Overuse and emotional burden on our families

Carter sent something to Killeen ISD about the emotional and financial burden that would likely create for families. Clear backpacks generally tend to be less wearable than other backpacks - families are replacing backpacks multiple times per year in addition to the financial burden, particularly if there are multiple children. There is no value that Carter believes would justify this cause other than the district didn't offer any of the normal community support to assist families in the funding of a "clear" supplies list for the district itself.

Concern for student well-being

There is also a concern for how this could impact students emotionally. Carter mentioned that making clear backpacks required - which by itself could create a pressure situation could dehumanize or possibly detract the ability of students to express individuality and how they arrive to school. As adults struggle with and traverse tremendous amounts of mental health issues in their lives - there is an expectation that we should add more anxiety to our students lives.

Solutions over restrictions

In her opinion, instead of worrying what student could or might be bringing - which could be well placed as part of the exercise of classroom mindfulness, the new clear backpack requirement could have been an expression of value with continuing the discussion about agreeably prioritizing supervision of staff on the campus. As a former educator, she believes that administrators should have greater visibility in the hallways, especially with class changes - or potentially more accountability in monitor bathroom visits/exits since they are changing environments - and would create real (or manageable) accountability.

While clear backpacks is on its way, Carter is hopeful KISD leadership will listen to the voice of the community, and allow some degree of leniency when considering in the best way to keep the children of Killeen safe.