Using the restroom in public schools can become one of the most controversial things in today’s society for the teenage generation if something doesn’t change. When a human being expresses the need to use the restroom, they should be able to do so freely.
Unfortunately, this isn’t happening in a lot of public schools. Students are being denied access to use the restroom during class all across my school district and across the U.S. Restroom access is a right, not a privilege, and no one should have the power to control when and how we can use the restroom.
Whether this is about students’ health, being punished for using the restroom, feminine health or even so much as feeling safe at school, this is an extreme issue in today’s society. We need to change this by getting the word out to the people who can make the change, but change starts with us.
Next, when we talk about female needs, schools are either giving a limit on how long we can be in the restroom at once or all together restricting restroom access. This does not provide enough time to do everything that needs to be done.
An incident took place in Yelm in late October where a girl was on her period. She had asked her (female) teacher if she could be excused from class to use the restroom. She was very clear with the teacher why she would be needing the restroom. The teacher completely denied the menstruating student a bathroom pass.
“The girl next texted her father, Bill Lemm, to explain that her teacher refused to give her permission to use the restroom,” a news article stated. “Lemm instructed his daughter to stand up and leave class to use the bathroom. Eighinger-Lemm then exited the restroom covered in blood when another teacher met her in the hallway, escorted her back to the classroom to retrieve her belongings, then brought her to in-school detention. Eighinger-Lemm said going back to the classroom had been extremely upsetting, particularly because she was aware that menstrual blood had soaked through her clothing.”
This is just one example of how intense it can be for students needing to use the restroom. It can be so nerve racking for female students needing to use the restroom at public schools, fearing being denied access and having something like this happen to them. This isn’t the first time that something like this has happened.
In conclusion, students should be able to use the restroom whether it’s a matter of health concerns, hydration being pushed, female needs, feeling safe, holding students and teachers to the same standard or just overall needing to use the restroom.
This should never be something that children should be going through. The word needs to be pushed out to school boards and beyond. We can do this by getting the word out.
Riley Pack
Centralia High School student
