Many students and parents have checked their emails recently to find an email from the current principal of New Hanover High School, Philip Sutton, listing many new announcements. One of those announcements included the implementation of "Clear/See-through book bags" that will go into effect on October 11, 2021.

The email quotes, "Students and Parents we are moving forward with implementing some new safety and security steps over the course of the next few weeks.  One of the security measures includes the use of clear or see through book bags.  By October 11 students will be required to use a clear or see-through book bag if they are using a bag to carry items on school grounds.  We will support all students that need assistance with acquiring a clear book bag." 

After the terrible events that happened at NHHS, we as a student body and community, know that something has to be done. Not only do we need to make New Hanover high school safer for the students and staff, but every school in New Hanover County. 

This new rule that is going into effect has already been receiving backlash from parents and students, and for good reason. Many have been asking, What will this solve? The answer truly is, nothing. There are many ways around the rule that is being implemented. There are so many in fact, that this rule seems meaningless and half hearted. To many students, this rule seems like a jab to their importance. It's making it seem as though we are the ones to blame for the lack of protection on our school's campuses. We feel as though rules like this are the only kind that are going to be made, ones that will do nothing but give the adults in charge of our safety a little ego boost, feeling like they did something.

We need better solutions, safer ones that will actually make a difference, and this is not an effective way to deal with the problem at hand. Funding is one topic that has come up when addressing this problem. To that the answer  is, what is your child's safety worth? Money is an asset that can be made and spent, but students lives are much more than that. 

The New Hanover County School Board needs to come up with real, meaningful solutions to the problems at hand. We as students will be more then willing to follow your rules, as long as they are good and effective ones. 

Put students and staff first, we should be your top priority. Always.