The Case for Lockers at Sedona Red Rock Jr-Sr High:

Opinion | Sports & Schools

Photo by City of Cottonwood TVR 2023

Every morning, my son shoulders a backpack that weighs between 25 and 30 lbs. Inside are his Chromebook, binders, books, and daily supplies. Sedona Red Rock Jr-Sr High does not provide lockers, so students are forced to haul every item with them from class to class. For a growing child, that weight is not just inconvenient, it is unhealthy and dangerous.

Medical research is clear. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight. Yet studies show that more than 80 percent of students carry backpacks that exceed those limits. Heavy loads contribute to back pain, poor posture, hunched shoulders, strained muscles, and long-term spinal issues. Some children even experience numbness or tingling in their arms from compressed nerves caused by tight straps and excessive pressure.

The solution is not complicated. Lockers have been a staple in schools for decades, designed for exactly this purpose, giving students a safe and accessible place to store materials they do not need in every class. Yet Sedona Red Rock Jr-Sr High has chosen not to provide them. Instead, students sometimes leave their backpacks in an empty classroom that sits unlocked and unattended, a risky and makeshift arrangement that fails to protect their belongings.

The cost of proper lockers is hardly prohibitive. Standard single- or triple-tier metal lockers, the kind commonly used in schools across the country, can be installed for $150 to $400 per opening. Even factoring in labor, materials, and basic built-in locks, the expense is modest compared to the school’s overall budget and the health cost of ignoring this issue. More advanced systems like electronic “smart lockers” can run into the thousands, but that level of investment isn’t necessary.

Studies have shown that heavy backpacks not only affect physical health, but also academic performance. Chronic discomfort distracts students from focusing in class, and fatigue from carrying excessive weight all day contributes to lower energy and diminished concentration. This is not just a matter of convenience, it directly impacts learning outcomes and student success.

Furthermore, providing lockers helps teach responsibility and organization. Students learn how to manage their materials, plan ahead, and maintain a personal space that reflects their daily needs. These small but important life skills are lost when kids are forced to carry everything on their backs, turning school into an endurance test instead of a supportive environment.

Sedona schools have the money to make this happen. They also have an obligation to protect the health and safety of their students. Forcing children to carry around the weight of a small suitcase every day is not just negligent, it undermines learning by adding pain and stress to an environment that should support growth.

It is time for Sedona Red Rock Jr-Sr High to step up. Lockers are not a luxury. They are a basic necessity, and our students deserve them.

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