I'm sure you saw it last week. Hey, it was front page news.

Backpacks are now banned at your West Fargo High School.

And why not, administrators say. After all, the District spent literally thousands of dollars on lockers 18 years ago, when the new school was constructed. Students currently use those lockers to hide old lunches and stash skateboards, basketballs and Dungeons and Dragons guides while stuffing their actual text books into bags that turn them into modern-day Sherpas.

For those of you who don't know, Sherpas are the little guys who help guide mountain climbers up Mt. Everest. There's your geography lesson for the day.

The ban should be a good thing. After all, officer Jason Anderson will tell you, the kids are capable of hiding just about anything in their backpacks. The carry-alls can hold cell phones, candy, baseball caps (not allowed on school grounds during the day) or worse. Heck, one junior happened to stuff an annoying freshman into the back pouch of his bag. Teachers found him three weeks later. He was tired and thirsty, but he had sustained himself with small bits of potato chips that had been crushed and then settled in the bottom of the pack.

Which reminds me of a joke. How and turtles and freshmen alike? O.K., maybe you've heard that one.

But it's true. Beloved teacher/coach Jay Gibson saved three freshmen last year that had been knocked over by drama students who were rushing to make rehearsal. It appeared they had been lying on their backs in the south wing of the school, unable to stand up because of the weight since about fourth period.

I know I'm picking on the freshmen, but that's high school culture. And, after all, it's their fault. If they'd hurry up and get the heck out of the high school, the possibility of carrying backpacks at West Fargo High could return.

That could happen soon enough. Ground will be broken on the Ninth Grade Academy (read: Osgood High School) someday soon. Once the doors open on this facility in 2007, some 400 freshman will head south, and their backpacks with them. That will leave the hallowed halls of West Fargo High with just 1,100 students, projections say. That's considerably less than the nearly 1,550 students that will call the school their home this year.

When the halls are that crowded, backpacks can, in fact, be very dangerous. On a serious note, it's easier to prevent a Red Lake Falls incident from happening when you can see what the kids are carrying from room to room.

Sure, it's an inconvenience for the students, but it's much safer for teachers. Former teacher of the year Kathy Scott was rushing from the teachers' lounge to her Spanish class and was severely bruised on her shoulder when a sophomore swung around to see what was coming up behind her. It's believed a text book and a pair of roller blades caused the damage.

So you see, folks. This is a necessary course of action from our fearless leaders at West Fargo High School. The ";No Backpacks Policy"; means a safer learning environment for everyone involved.

Ad seniors can go back to the traditional method of stuffing freshmen in their lockers, instead of merely tipping them over in the hallways. Come to think of it, that will clear a lot of room out as students move from room to room.

Have a great year, kids.