Flipped Locks

In most schools, including Herbert Hoover Middle School, lockers have removable locks. Leaving a locker unlocked, or giving someone a locker combination is what commonly induces lock flipping. Lock flipping refers to opening a combination lock and 'flipping' it so the dial or combination side is facing the locker, making it difficult to open it.  This  often happens to sixth graders who haven't adjusted  to opening and properly closing lockers, but some students do this  to themselves without realizing  that their combination lock is backwards. Unfortunately, this may happen in an redundant  manner and may become annoying because most 'flippers', people who  flip locks, won't  remove items from open lockers.  One certain days,  locks in a certain hallway can be found flipped, and there is one, somewhat, easy way to to open a flipped lock.

1. If the lock is on the right side of the door tilt it to the right and  vice versa.  This should allow someone to see a little more than half of the dial on the front of the lock so that if it is set at zero,   the five numbers before it should be visible.
2.  Attempt to enter the combination, and then pull open the lock.
3. After this,  turn the lock so someone could see the dial side of the lock.
4. Then, someone should turn the actual handle of the lock so that the chipped or dented end is  facing away from the lock. ( Refer to image at the bottom)
5. Lift,turn, and pull  the lock away from the locker. This may require some time.
6.  Open the locker after  taking the lock out.

 If a flipped lock can not be opened, ask a teacher for assistance.  Remember to check if the locker  is yours, and clear the lock by  turning it to the right. Also, make sure the actual lock is , yours, if not, that's  a big dilemma,and one thing you definitely need is a hall pass. Remember, during the  first few weeks of school,  a sixth grader's lock may get flipped. Even though a lock seems closed, sixth graders should always check if their lock is closed by tugging or pulling at it. This way, there are less locks flipped and less late students.