I am a student in a Gwinnett County school and recently, our administration has decided to implement a policy that mandates the use of clear bookbags. This proposed rule brings about different concerns, primarily regarding the privacy and comfort of us students. Many students, like myself, carry personal items in our backpacks. The thought of these personal items being on display to every passerby is discomforting and unacceptable. 

Furthermore, the policy could infringe upon students' rights to privacy and could lead to unintended consequences. While safety is indeed a significant matter in our schools, it's important to bear in mind that student comfort is also crucial. An environment where students feel their personal space is violated only creates a negative impact on their overall school experience. 

According to the National Education Association, students learn best in an environment where they feel safe, respected, and engaged. Schools implementing clear backpack rules, often in a bid to increase safety, may inadvertently be creating a feeling of distrust amongst students, making them feel less engaged and less willing to participate in school activities. 

To continue on many students spent a lot of money for their backpacks and by enacting this policy it was a waste. Moreover,  since there were 199,500 backpacks ordered, they will be mass produced and poorly made. Many students already have bulging and overflowing. implementing this will make it even worse due to the probability of them falling apart.
In fact, according to WSB-TV news and Gwinnett County Public Schools 87% of students said no to the policy. This shows how students had little to no say in this.
Additionally this will exclude sports bags, instrument cases, and many others so the difference will not be significant. Students will also put stickers on their backpack defeating the purpose.

We request that the Gwinnett County school administration revisit this decision and consider other more student-friendly safety measures. Please sign this petition to help us retain our privacy and comfort in our schools.