Roller backpacks were made with the intent to make our lives easier. However, many people don’t believe that. Some appreciate their usefulness and think they’re a great tool, while others feel they are large obstacles that hinder movement and run over toes. The feelings of Fallon students are varied, with many different opinions and perspectives on the subject. In an attempt to gain a better understanding of the issue, we must look at both sides of the issue.
Roller backpacks can be harmful in many ways. For example, they can easily trip you if the owner isn’t careful, and they take up more space than a regular backpack in an already crowded school. Agreeing with this statement, eighth grade student Joshua Chun, states, “They’re annoying [and] they can trip you. People who have a lot of stuff find it easier to carry stuff behind them, but they should have it closer to their body to reduce the danger of tripping anyone.” However, he states that he puts the blame on the owner rather than the backpack itself. He believes that, “They should [not] be banned, but they should be less common in school.” Overall, he doesn’t believe they should be banned but he does think very negatively of them.
Roller backpacks are also helpful in many ways. They take the of weight off of the user’s back, making it much easier to carry around heavy objects. Seventh grade student Adviti Simhadri agrees, and she thinks that roller backpacks should stick around. Simhadri says, “They don’t really cause any major problems, and it lets you have less weight on your back, which is good.” She believes that they can do more good than harm, which is why she wants them to stay. She explains, “There are more pros than cons and roller backpacks make it easier to transport stuff.” Overall, she believes they shouldn’t be banned.
Fallon students were surveyed about their feelings toward roller backpacks, as seen in the attached chart. The question asked was, “On a scale of one to five, how do you feel about roller backpacks?” One is the most negative and five is the most positive. The data showed that over half of the respondents felt negatively about roller backpacks.
People have been arguing about the practicality of roller backpacks for a very long time, with both sides having compelling arguments. When speaking with the school nurse, Mrs. Solanski, she states that personally, she thinks they should be banned due to their safety risks, but she doesn’t have any statistics about how many people have been injured by them. In Fallon, the responses generally lean more towards one side, but it’s difficult to see which side will prevail in the long run.
