58 minutes- if you’re the first in line, is the minimum amount of time a student has to wait to use the restroom if they arrive at the start of first period. WJPS has introduced another bathroom policy to restrict student access.
Under the new policy, a staff member stationed by the bathrooms allows only one student into the bathroom at a time, also requiring the student to sign in. This policy has turned a quick trip into a long ordeal causing students to miss out on class time.
Compounded by long wait times for a pass, students often must wait through multiple periods before being allowed to go. Existing policies enforce that bathrooms are locked during the first and last periods of the day, as well as the first and last 10 minutes of each period.
WJPS 12th grader Dante Lobosco stated, “The long wait to use the restroom is ridiculous. Sometimes I spend periods waiting to get a pass, just to be met by another line at the bathroom.”
WJPS teacher Mr. Mengani stated, “I think we need supervision and limitations since there are sometimes problems and bad actors.”
While vandalism and misuse are legitimate concerns, restricting access to all students is not the solution. Using the restroom is a basic need, and no student should have to endure excessive delays to meet it.
“Restroom” by SmartSignBrooklyn is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
