Amidst a surge in student enrollment this academic year, Francis Lewis High School has implemented substantial changes to its policies, notably affecting the utilization of locker rooms. Previously, students enjoyed assigned lockers for the year, storing gym clothes and locks. However, the recent influx of new students has rendered insufficient lockers for personal use. As a result, the new policy states that students only have access to a locker during their gym or dance period, necessitating them to carry locks and uniforms throughout the entirety of the school day.
The decision to implement this policy was communicated to students at the beginning of the school year by Dr. Marmor, the school principal. In an email outlining new rules, Dr. Marmor clarified, “We will no longer be issuing students a PE locker for the term. Students will use the locker for the PE period and then take their stuff out of the lockers and remove the lock each day. Any locks or locker contents remaining after you leave the locker room, at the end of the class, will be removed and discarded.”
In the previous policy students were able to leave their uniforms or personal items in the locker rooms overnight. When they had gym class, they could change into their uniforms in the locker room and leave their book bags in lockers that belonged to them. Some faculty agree with this policy and believe it is a beneficial change for our school. According to Mr. Block, a gym teacher at Francis Lewis, the policy is an attempt to address the enduring problem of overcrowding at the school.
“There were too many kids and there was no right way to make it work. Plus this way it makes it easier to monitor lockers that get left on overnight,” Mr. Block said. “I have actually noticed that it has been a lot smoother since they started doing this. I think the new policy is actually good. There is no reason that everyone needs to have their own dedicated lock because there are not enough locks for students.”
However, not everyone agrees with Mr. Block’s sentiments. Students expressed their opposition to the new policy for various reasons.
“It’s a little strict and unfair,” John Walker, a freshman, said, “I feel like there should be a name on the lock, or something that gives you access to the person who it belongs to and gives them a warning before you clip their lock.”
Since most students only have gym two to three days a week, they now have to remember what days they have gym and remember to bring their uniforms to school and they have to also carry their lock and gym or dance uniform with them every day. If they forget their uniforms at home it impacts their preparedness grade.
“I have to be carrying extra stuff around and especially if we are in teams, we have to carry that around all day.” Emily Sanchez, a junior, said. “I feel like it’s not a bad policy, but like I said, I wish they gave us lockers for ourselves.”
Francis Lewis High School does not have lockers for students to hold their personal belongings in between periods, which is another source of complaint for students. Since the gym lockers could have previously functioned as a replacement for the lack of personal lockers, students were concerned about having the privilege of having their own gym lockers being taken away.
“I don’t like the new policy because I don’t like wearing my gym uniform to school,” Sara Brahaj, a sophomore, said. “It can get stinky, and before, I used to be able to keep an extra pair of sweatpants in my locker in case I had any sort of accident, but now I can’t. Also, carrying the lock is annoying because it’s very heavy.”
When following up with student Emily Sanchez, we noticed that there are mixed opinions on the current FLHS locker policy, now that it has been in effect since the first month of school. Students have a more open mind on this rule as it is now less of an issue as students have gotten used to this change and it isn’t so sudden anymore.
“Although the Locker Room policy was really annoying at first, now being able to experience it everyday when I have dance, I am able to see both the positive and negative effects,” Sanchez said. “As mentioned before, carrying around the clothes and any dance accessories are very inconvenient but on the other hand being able to choose whatever locker you want is very easy.”
