No backpacks in class

Former longtime Minneota Twins public address announcer Bob Casey became famous for his trademark "No smoking in the Metrodome".
Now we have no backpacks in the classrooms.
Beginning this year, students in grades 7-12 will not be allowed to bring their backpacks into any classroom.
"The decision was made two years ago by the policy committee of the school board," said Principal Jeremy Frie. "This was a recommendation brought forward by the high school teachers and school administrators."
Because several of the high school classrooms that are located on the second level feature 25-30 students, it gets to be crowded. Adding backpacks to the mix makes it that much more cramped.
"Backpacks were taking up valuable space on the floor and creating tripping hazards for teachers and students," Frie explained.
"We want the classroom to be as 'distraction-free' and safe as possible."
Students in grades seven through nine were not allowed back packs in the classrooms this past school year. "It was Year One of a two-year phase out," said Frie. "The only students who will notice a difference this year will be the juniors and seniors since the other grades have already experienced and survived this change in policy."
Students will be allowed to carry their supplies and other items in their backpacks to school, but will have to leave them in their locker when they go to the various classrooms.
Frie said when the policy was announced two years ago, there was some grumbling among students, but that has subsided for the most part.
"Since then, they've adapted and moved on," he said. "Our ALICE training last year helped reinforce the importance of this policy with our students."
ALICE is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. Training provides preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to more pro-actively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter event.
"We are also implementing a 'Home Teams' program for grades 7-12 this year," Frie said. "It's our version of advisory or home room."