Kennett High students plan walkout to protest backpack ban

By David Carkhuff

Kennett High School students plan an organized walkout Tuesday morning to protest a new policy barring backpacks.Tammie Savini of Tamworth, parent of a ninth-grade girl at Kennett High who plans to participate in the walkout, said she supports a peaceful demonstration to make a point.School Superintendent Carl Nelson announced last month that student backpacks, garment bags and sports bags would no longer be permitted in the buildings at Kennett High and Kennett Junior High in the wake of a rash of bomb threats and other incidents.Nelson stated at the time, "I must say it's unfortunate and I know there are a lot of students with backpacks, but unfortunately a good majority of incidents we have encountered have involved students bringing weapons or illegal substances into the building and were done so through the use of backpacks. It's become an issue and one we need to address." The organized protest was planned for home room period, around 7:40 a.m., when students first arrive at school, according to those planning it."They want their backpacks back," Savini said. "They feel everyone's being punished for one stupid person's actions. It's not easy."Whether the walkout will occur or how many students may participate remained unclear on Monday. Savini estimated that 55 students were interested in participating, although many particularly seniors voiced reservations due to potential discipline."I don't think they should be punished for stating their opinion," she said.The Conway Daily Sun agreed not to contact administrators for this story based on concerns by parents who did not want to see the walkout hindered.Students envisioned a protest on the school's front lawn with banners and posters to object to the ban on backpacks."They want to be heard. The school is making all of these rules," Savini said. "I am going to back my daughter up 100 percent."John Marshall of Conway, another parent of a freshman student, said he supports the walkout, although he acknowledged that students were measuring the costs."I think my daughter wants to do it but can't afford to do it," he said.Describing his daughter as a ninth grader who is slightly built and has trouble carrying books from class to class, Marshall said, "She wants the backpack in order to make her life easier. She's being restricted from doing that because of what's going on inside the school.""What I'm trying to explain to her is if she did decide to do this, it would be freedom of speech," Marshall said. "I think it would be in her best interest to go to class, but I do support the kids in their idea."A common complaint with the backpack policy, Marshall said, is: "Why should the people who are not involved be punished needlessly?"Both Marshall and Savini said school officials could find more effective and fairer ways to improve safety without forcing students to give up their backpacks. Most of all, they urged administrators to listen to the students."I don't think the children have really been heard," Savini said.