Purses, Parents, and Principalsby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 18 Sep 2008 05:16 AM Here's a question for all you moms out there: How lost would you be without your purse? Mothers and daughters in Indiana are answering that question, but administrators at a local high school in the state don't want to hear it. It's been all over the news: Female students at Hanover Central High School in Cedar Lake, Indiana just want to carry their purses to the bathroom, but the principal there says, "No way!" The school already has a policy that bans backpacks and book bags in classes, but this year it amended that rule to prohibit purses as well. The latest provision has caused quite a controversy in the small town, infuriating female students and their parents who say the new purse policy compromises their daughters' privacy. Irate parents took their concerns to a recent school board meeting and told education leaders how they felt about the new rule. Most parents agreed that the new policy on purses discriminated against easily embarrassed adolescent girls. One mom went as far as to demonstrate to school administrators how difficult it is to cram a feminine hygiene product into a pocket already filled with pens, pencils, and a calculator. "Girls this age don't want people to know they have their period," the mom told school leaders. Education experts from other parts of the country have also weighed in on the controversy saying banning backpacks in the classroom has become a common and accepted practice as schools tighten security in our post-Columbine world. However, these experts were also quick to point out that banning purses in classrooms is extremely uncommon. One education expert noted, "when you start getting into areas of female purses, then it kind of crosses a line into a more difficult situation to manage." Still, the principal at Hanover Central High School is adamant about enforcing the purse ban. Newly appointed principal Robert McRae told local news reporters that he was inspired to initiate the ban after seeing female students walking around school with purses as big as backpacks. I must admit my purse (which is really a Columbia sling backpack that doubles as a purse) is on the large side. Then again, I am a mom who (as much as she would love to) can't afford to travel light. And big purses are in style for Fall 2008. Still, safety before style, right? What do you make of the purse policy? Does your daughter take a purse to school? Related Articles: Your Purse's Dirty Little Secret Finding The Perfect Backpack---Part 1 Finding The Perfect Backpack---Part 2 Hair Raising Dilemma: Who Calls the Shots in Your Family? Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantparenting tags User Comments  deedee1231 (4030) 18 Sep 2008 05:51 AMI don't see why they can't just institute a size policy and allow the girls a small bag for their personal items. It seems ridiculous to me to ban purses altogether.  Valorie Delp (49340) 18 Sep 2008 08:03 AMI agree. What's a girl supposed to do. . .take a box of tampons to class with her? Actually, were I a student there, I might actually propose a protest of some sort. My guess is that since he's new, he won't be long lasting.  Tristi Pinkston (10839) 18 Sep 2008 07:09 PMI think it would be hysterical if every single girl in class were to walk in one day and put huge boxes of pads and tampons right in the middles of their desks and keep them there all during class. I bet the message would get through pretty fast. :) I can't believe this school is being so hard-headed about this. Come on -- it's embarrassing enough to *be* on your period without making it a show and tell.  Michele Cheplic |
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