This school year, Mrs. Manelski has been strictly enforcing a rule that students are not permitted to leave their locker open at any time during the day. This unfamiliar change has taken many girls time to get used to, and several infractions have been issued to those who have broken this rule. That has caused some girls to even receive detentions for leaving their lockers open at times that they should have been closed.

The Padua Academy Student Handbook, states “Students are required to keep locker doors closed and locked at all times.” While many students wish that they could leave their lockers open to save time when hurrying to get books in between classes, they also must remember that there is a valid reasoning why they must be closed. While it is great that Padua girls trust each other so much that they would willingly leave their lockers open, keeping lockers closed at all times helps to keep the school orderly. If necessary, services such as a lock installation is vital for lockers to fulfill their intended purpose of providing secure storage and peace of mind to the students and the school staff as well.

Mrs. Manelski also comments, “Little rules like that can be annoying but that’s what makes us grow.”

Dean of students, Mrs. Manelski, says that at Padua, every rule that is created has to meet three criteria to be put into effect. First, the rule has to match the mission of Padua Academy. It then has to then has to be determined that it is safe and orderly. And finally, all rules have to help the education process.  Freshman Caty Gallo says, “It would definitely make it easier for us if we could keep our lockers open, but I always make sure to close mine.”