Find the Latest Resources in Education Today
Schools moving away from hallway lockers
Virtual storage space results in savings, efficiency
Some schools are phasing out hallway lockers in favor of virtual storage space.
Walk down any hallway in the new Germantown High School in Madison, Miss., and one thing stands out: You won’t spot a single locker.
Lockers have served as a symbol of the American high school for decades, but with new technology–eBooks, interactive assignments, and web-based learning–they’re gradually becoming a thing of the past.
It’s unclear how many schools have gone lockerless, but New York architect Peter Lippman, who serves on the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on Architecture for Education, said the trend is growing.
“If you are talking about new technology–electronic textbooks, iPads, and things like that–maybe there is no need for a locker,” he said. “I’m not sure every school is there yet, but it does provide some opportunities.”
School officials that have made the jump to lockerless cite several benefits: less noise, fewer tardies, and an increased sense of safety.
“It’s all to create an environment that’s student friendly,” said Ronnie McGehee, interim superintendent of the Madison County, Miss., School District.
It also can cut hundreds of thousands in construction costs. Madison County saved $200,000 by not including lockers in the new high school, McGehee said.
In addition to new schools that are built without lockers, some districts are removing them from older buildings.
10 Responses to Schools moving away from hallway lockers
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
leiningerc
January 5, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Where do students put their heavy winter coats?
Judy Russell
January 5, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Our school is 1:1 laptops. They need locked storage for laptops during lunch, PE, FCS,woodworking and other hands on classes. And for coats!
mrskwiz
January 5, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Where do they put their coats, boots, sack lunch, etc.?
NathanTowne
January 5, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Um. Where do they put their coats and lunches? Bizarre.
shankhead
January 6, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Up here in Michigan, many students have already made the switch to wearing virtual parkas.
marpre
January 6, 2012 at 4:57 pm
What the heck! Virtual storage-really! I can see it now- The virtual bullied student being stuffed into his virtual locker. Who comes up with this stuff- and people actually buy into it. I can see our hallway littered with all types of outerwear, etc because there isn’t anywhere to store it.
staff445
January 6, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Very Good!
beavers@clshs.org
January 6, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Becoming (being)a locker-less campus involves many if not all aspects of high school operations but it begins with an open mind. Many challenges exist with this environment but also many rewards. I can say it is a culture changer. Our school is locker-less and it is not perfect. We too offer a 1:1 laptop community and many textbooks are offered in a digital or web-based format thus lightening the load of the student backpack. Since we are in California we do not often have coats or boots to manage. We have a voluntary lunch program that about 60% of the students purchase a lunch and the other 40% brown bag it. The biggest perk is hallway drama has decreased – tardy behavior has gone down, less tension in the hall and excuse making…”I left my book in the locker, can I go get it?” Many other good things have been observed and measured and I wold be happy to share more – send me an email.
nmcenanly
January 6, 2012 at 5:32 pm
You’ll notice that each district mentioned is in a Southern state where they don’t have to worry about winter weather to the extent that Northern states do. These people who are designing our 21st Century schools REALLY need to spend several DAYS in the schools, not the fly-by visits I have seen around here. They’re always surprised at the way kids really operate.
I remember being asked to help design a new Library 22 years ago. They thought I was insane to request computers and televisions in every classroom. They based their library design on a public library, which meant that there were dozens of hiding spaces for the middle school kids to hide and no place for a class to meet.
These ‘experts’ simply are not.
kakoskela
January 9, 2012 at 9:40 pm
As a 1:1 school in Michigan I agree with the comments previously made about the need for lockers. We currently have lockers in a basement area, and students generally refuse to use them, citing many “reasons.” We have a plan to add some sort of locker (probably a 1/2 locker size) when a cafeteria/commons area remodeling takes place. Now, coats and misc. stuff are left in the library, cafeteria, hallway study carrrels, and advisors’ rooms (if they can get away with the latter!). Can’t wait for the remodel!!