It is passing period, and you desperately need to make a quick stop at the restroom before your next class. Maneuvering through the crowded bathroom, you make your way to the single available stall. You rush in, only to realize that the lock is busted, the hanger for your bag is missing, and the toilet is stuffed with trash.
The quality of some of the bathrooms at the high school seem to get worse and worse every year, and more and more students are noticing issues during their bathroom breaks. Some stalls do not close all the way or lock, and many stalls are missing their hangers. The issues with the locks seem to be occurring in the same stalls, and the problem never seems to get fixed.
Students are also contributing to this bathroom issue, however. Many students seem to loiter and hang out in the bathrooms during their lunch hours and passing periods, crowding up the room.
“The bathrooms can be really bad,” senior Matthew Leith said. “Most of them are very crowded, and then when they are crowded, there is stuff going on that should not be done.”
The packed bathrooms can create an uncomfortable environment, especially for those who are passing through. Not only that, but it can hinder other students from getting in and out quickly and efficiently.
“It makes me as an individual not want to go into the bathroom as much because, especially during passing period when we only have five minutes, it is super crowded. Then, you have to wait for everyone to get out for you, and it can sometimes cause you to be late to class,” Leith said. “I just do not like going to the bathrooms anymore in the school.”
By the end of the school day, a lot of the bathrooms are littered with trash, and some students seem to be throwing their wrappers and garbage into the toilets as well.
“For some reason, people throw their trash straight into the toilet, even though the garbage bin is right there,” senior Therese Nacua said. “They could have thrown it into the bin, but they chose to put it in the toilet.”
Other than the busted stalls and improper bathroom etiquette, many students are having issues with bathrooms being locked. The bathrooms by the athletic doors, which remain locked during school hours, create an inconvenience for students in the gym, blackbox theater, or any surrounding classes.
“The bathrooms being closed are a big inconvenience, especially if you are in a classroom that is far from the circle or main staircase,” senior Mikha Castro said.
We should all have respect for school property. In light of all these issues with the bathrooms, we should work together to improve the quality of the restrooms and make it a clean and functional space for everyone.
