Lack of lockers is a burden to bear

11:19am Wednesday 15th November 2000

WITH the autumn term now well under way, and with all my children now at secondary schools in the borough of Bexley, a sad thought has occurred to me in recent weeks.

As I watch them struggling off to school, laden with bags of books, PE kit, football kit and all manner of equipment required during the average school day I wonder whatever happened to lockers and coat pegs.

My children advise me that due to vandalism in the past, lockers have been abandoned in their schools. As a consequence, they have to haul their coats and bags around the entire day from class to class.

Although my school was considerably smaller than the schools my children attend, we had pegs on which to hang our coats and PE kits, safe in the knowledge they would still be there at the end of the day!

We had a form classroom with proper desks in which to store our books. We were able to move around as if we belonged unencumbered by huge bags, or with our coats over our arms like unwelcome guests.

Obviously in these days of designer jackets and sportswear continual peer pressure demands our children wear or take to school, lockers rather than pegs are preferable.

Children should be encouraged to respect the privilege of having their own secure space in which to store their personal items and also to respect other childrens property.

Continuing to treat them as criminals by denying them this concession only further encourages their lack of any feeling of identity or community within the school.

CLARE WOOD

Northwood Place

Erith

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