Idaho students are delivering their school district a dose of malicious compliance after the banning of backpacks.
The decision came after a scary incident at Rigby Middle School in Jefferson School District 251. On September 23, a 13-year-old girl was taken into custody after she was discovered to have a gun in her backpack. The student was emotionally distressed and reportedly was not looking to inflict harm upon anyone.
Making the situation even scarier was the fact that there had been a shooting at the same middle school just four months before. In that instance, two students and a custodian were shot, though none of the injuries were life-threatening.
School district Superintendent Chad Martin pleaded with parents to do their part in a news release.
"We ask our parents to partner with us in keeping all of our students safe," it reads.
"Please keep your firearms safe and inaccessible to students. If you notice changes in your student's behavior, attire, or personality notify us so we can help your student."
Following the second incident, area middle schools and high schools banned backpacks effective immediately. Students were instructed to carry books back and forth, with help available for those who might need it.
At one of those high schools, a student went viral on TikTok for posting two videos showing her classmates' creative solutions to the backpack ban. Everything from wagons to aquariums to laundry hampers were brought in to use in lieu of backpacks.
"I saw someone walk past my car holding a box and I could just tell that this day was going to be so funny," Rigby High School junior Savannah Bagley told East Idaho News.
"The kids at my school are so creative," Savannah continued.
"I was just cracking up all day. I saw a kid carrying a chair upside down holding his books today."
Savannah acknowledges that the brushes with violence have been scary but assures her videos have no political agenda.
"It definitely is super scary. In the moment, it's super scary," she said.
"I just think it's not something we need to constantly dwell on. I think the video that I made has nothing to do with being for or against banning backpacks or anything. It's just to show how creative the people at my school are. It has nothing to do with politics."
Superintendent Chad Martin is aware of the viral videos and is trying to keep it all in perspective.
"I think that all kids need to be able to deal with things and I think they are dealing with it," he shared.
"We hope [the backpack ban] is a temporary thing until we get a more permanent fix. If this can be a positive thing that they enjoy for a little bit, that's wonderful."
