Editorial: Olympian opposes bathroom policy

As the school year emerges, a new major issue has emerged amongst the school: the enforcement of the CVHS bathroom policy. The policy enforces that students may not use the bathroom within the first and last ten minutes of class. Not to mention, students can be out one at a time as long as they go with a bathroom pass and leave their personal items behind. 

We at The Olympian have come to the consensus that the bathroom policies are simply unjust. 

The policy aims to crack down on “frequent flyers,” also known as students who wander around during class time. The students can be correlated with disruptive behaviors such as violence from school fights, vandalism of school grounds, or simply being a distraction.

This bathroom policy targeting them is problematic, as not only does it affect all students, but they are also made to leave personal items behind, including school bags. Many of those on their menstrual cycles won’t want to be seen exposed, holding items such as pads or tampons. Not to mention, it enforces the idea that the bathroom is a privilege and not a necessity. 

It’s unfair that students have to wait for others, as emergencies are expected to be held back. If students are skipping class, that is their problem and shouldn’t affect other students whatsoever. 

The issue remains that during break, kids can not use the bathroom as bathrooms are typically filled to the brim with kids waiting to use the bathroom before class. The line stretches throughout the entire break time. 

Instead, we should be using the bathroom policy as a general guideline rather than a rule that should be absolutely followed. Teachers and administrators should know when to use discretion to know when a student genuinely needs to leave class, while also addressing repeat offenders, as well as know when to make exceptions. This way, it would be more fair as it makes no sense for non-problematic students to be punished for an issue that doesn’t surround them. 

School is supposed to be a learning space of safety and respect. Students shouldn’t have to abandon their personal needs for such arbitrary rules that center to restrict “frequent flyers.” Reforming bathroom policies would promote better equity and help maintain dignity around campus.