Parish could ban backpacks in schools.

A "heated debate" over a local school district trying to ban backpacks for thousands of students.



This, after Shreveport police arrested a 10-year old boy for taking a handgun to school in his backpack. It happened at Westwood elementary two weeks ago. Police took the weapon after another student alerted a counselor about the gun. The student is suspended, pending an on-going investigation.

Nbc 6 reporter Karen Hopkins found that incident could affect what your child is allowed to carry to school.

9-year-old Jaylen Collins packs his backpack every night. Next year he might have to leave it at home. The Caddo parish school board is looking into banning most backpacks, after a child recently brought a gun to school, hidden in a bag. Last year, 3 students brought guns to school disguised in backpacks. “I care about our children, employees, their safety. Something's got to be done, any baby could have been killed that day,” Bell says.

School board member Dottie Bell wants to allow only clear or see through backpacks for all students in Caddo parish, starting next year. The board will have to approve the plan.
“If we do clear backpacks, what about students who participate in cheerleading? They have bags for that. Are we going to make them carry clear ones?" Bonita Crawford says.
“I think see through back packs are a tool we can use. There is nothing wrong with see through back packs," Roy Murray says.

“Where do we draw the line? Anyone with an inclination to do something illegally will find a way to do it," Barry Rachal says.

“I don't know if it will work. Do they do it in other districts?"Charlotte Crawley says.

In Louisiana, Jefferson and Sabine parishes require clear backpacks, as well as, one school in east Baton Rouge parish. We found no studies showing if see through bags reduce violence.

“I really don't want people to see all things personal to me." Collins says if he hears of another child with something dangerous inside a backpack, he knows what to do. “Tell a grownup.”

The school board will vote on whether to ban most backpacks in two weeks.
The board is also looking into a plan to add more counseling to teach students how to resolve conflicts.