Caption: Filipe Cruz, Davi Magalhães, Esther Lima, Ligia Penteado and Pedro Souza, meeting in the locker area at the end of eighth period is part of the normal routine for 11th graders. [by Dr. Cristina Meier]
Byline – Lucas Abreu
Recent studies (LINK HERE) in the United States show that public schools are opting out of providing locker space for high school students. This decision comes after careful observation that their students have stopped using their lockers. Even schools that offer lockers to their students find that fewer numbers are interested in using them.
Another study out of Missouri Western State University (LINK HERE) found that the removal of lockers is more than just a loss of storage space. Professor Kipton D. Simile, found that there is also a loss of, what he calls, the common “social space” once experienced in the locker area.
For students at PACA, this social space is still thriving. The high school lockers are located in the hallway that connects the main office building, the secondary office, the teacher’s lounge and many other teacher’s offices. Although this building also has the music room, the library and a few of the classrooms for secondary students, it is separate from the area where most of the student classrooms are located. The daily use of these lockers varies from student to student. Different students here at PACA have different opinions on the highschool lockers.
Maria Luiza de Oliveira, a freshman student who has been at PACA for several years and doesn’t hate her locker.
“I think our lockers are quite functional in my opinion,” she said. Oliveira believes her locker serves its purpose but lacks some room.
“Us girls need much more space since we have more possessions and can’t walk around with them,” said Oliveira. “Although I do complain about the lockers location in our school since we only have 5 minutes in between our classes we barely are able to get our books and material and run to class.’’
Jared Meier, a current senior at PACA, has only been at PACA since the beginning of 11th grade. According to Meier, the lockers at his previous school were more centrally located to his classes and it was easier to use them as he transitioned between periods. However, he also finds that he has enough space in his locker at PACA for everything he brings to school.
The senior locker space has been a long-lived tradition at PACA. Every year, seniors are given the preferred top lockers at the end of the locker hall. Often the parents of the senior students will decorate these lockers for them at the beginning of the school year. However, not all seniors use the lockers on a regular basis. Senior Omna Pande said that she doesn’t use her locker when asked what she thinks about her locker space.
For Hideki Yoshikawa, a 9th grade student who has attended PACA for awhile, his opinion of the high school lockers is a positive one.
“I found our lockers are full of space. I am easily able to put all my school material, Sports equipment and personal possessions [in there],” said Yoshikawa.
He also mentioned that the lockers have everything needed to stay organized including outlets inside them to charge student electronics during the school day.
As the number of PACA students grows and the plans for expansion on school property unfold, the question of locker space and locker location will most likely become a part of the discussion. For now, it is safe to say that PACA will not be getting rid of lockers in the foreseeable future and students here still continue to fill the social spaces in the locker area for some foreseeable future.
