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School Bans Bags So Student Brings His Books In A Microwave

School Bans Bags So Student Brings His Books In A Microwave

You got to bring your books in somehow, right?

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

Haircuts, trainers and fake eyelashes are just a few of the common causes of disagreement in the battleground that is the playground.

School uniform policy and its differing interpretations can often leave teachers, parents and pupils feeling frustrated.

However, a bag ban is not exactly the most usual of rules, but such a ban was recently brought in at Spalding Grammar School, Lincolnshire, UK, because 'injury was being caused to younger students' due to increasingly big and heavy bags.

Jacob Ford, a 17-year-old student at the school, deemed the ruling ridiculous and responded in a novel way after sixth formers were told not to carry bags between classes.

Until recently, bags were banned for all students from Year 7 to Year 11, however, it was then extended to the sixth form - with students instead asked to carry their books by hand.

Jacob responded by staging a protest - carrying his books in a microwave and a wicker basket, which must have been heavier and far harder than pretty much anything else he could have chosen.

He also wrote a 3,000 word essay, arguing that a compromise could be reached between sixth formers and the school.

Jacob was ultimately suspended for two days after he refused to hand over his phone, which he claimed he was using to update his mum on the protest. So that didn't pan out as he hoped.

His mother, Tracy, said she was proud of her son, despite the result.

She said: ''I think Jacob's protest has been very peaceful and I believe he should have his say.

"At the end of the day, I believe in freedom of speech and so I'm very proud of him for standing up for something he believes in. Microwave or no microwave."

Very clever...
Very clever...

However, headteacher, Steven Wilkinson, said it was disappointing that the parent was 'glorifying her son's behaviour'.

Speaking to Spalding Today, he said: "The facts that have been presented are far from the full picture.

"We have a student who has behaved in an increasingly inappropriate way, actions the likes of which I have never witnessed, and who has been sanctioned entirely in line with the school's policies.

"What disappoints me most is the fact that, rather than working with us, the parent concerned has encouraged and is now seeking to glorify her son's behaviour."

After the rule was originally introduced an online petition was started by Hannah Catterall, reaching 463 signatures, but it was removed days later.

The petition read: "By not permitting backpacks students are unable to carry revision materials to and from school with ease and therefore grades may dramatically decrease."

Many parents also appear to be opposed to the ban.

Clair Thacker said: "My son attends this school and I was completely unaware of this absurd rule. Bearing in mind most sixth formers either walk to and from school or get public transport, surely the staff would rather the work was kept safe and students have everything they need with them on a daily basis?"

In other news, students are now able to make themselves a delicious lunch in under 60 seconds.


Featured Image Credit: Triangle News