I am a student in Harford County, MD, and like many of my peers, I have personal health considerations that make carrying heavy school supplies difficult. In my case, I have weak joints and the weight of textbooks and notebooks causes me unbearable pain. Using a purse or a tote bag to carry my stuff has provided me with much-needed relief, allowing me to focus more on my studies instead of my discomfort.

However, under the current rules in Harford County, students are not allowed to carry purses and tote bags in school. This policy is not conducive to the well-being of students. Our wellness is as important as our academic success. It should be a school's responsibility to respect and to nurture this.

Rather than completely prohibiting bags, it would be more pragmatic to implement a clear bag policy. This practice has been adopted in several educational institutions across the country, successfully balancing safety concerns with student comfort. Moreover, widespread commercial availability of clear bags makes this a practical and cost-effective solution.

We students understand why this is being implemented amongst us but it's shifting more towards an act of sexism. That historically that gunman who enter schools are primarily male students,  the new bag policy target the female students within the school.

The number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and September 2024, by shooter's gender

Chart of gender to mass shootings in school

Male-145

Female-4

This petition, then, seeks a revision of the current restrictive rules on bag usage in schools in Harford County, MD. Let us practice a policy that helps rather than hinders students' welfare and their pursuit of education. Kindly show your support by signing this petition. Remember - a small step can make a big difference in our lives.