Due to prolonged misuse of PHS bathrooms, administrators have stationed faculty members outside of certain restrooms to enforce new bathroom monitoring policies. The new protocol requires students to use the restroom one person at a time, with a staff member monitoring the hall to ensure the rule is being enforced.
The supervision of appropriate bathroom use was clarified by Principal Cecilia Birge as an attempt to address the misuse of restrooms rather than a brand new policy.
“When some students [are] gathered together in the bathrooms doing inappropriate things, it’s preventing others from using it properly. … It’s not a new policy; it’s our philosophy that all bathrooms and everything in the building should be used properly,” said Birge. “When it’s not used in the proper manner, that’s when the administration team steps in and we help students make corrections.”
Assistant Principal Crystal Riddick commented that the increased supervision of bathrooms came as a result of recent reports of inappropriate activities such as substance use in bathrooms. She explained how the policy wasn’t to restrict students but to help make bathrooms a safer environment.
“It’s not a restriction …We do want to make sure everybody’s safe and feels safe in front of [and] in the bathrooms, and make sure everybody is able to use the bathroom,” said Riddick.
Birge explained several issues that had risen regarding the use of bathrooms and emphasized the reason for the introduction of the policy.
“There was a concern about increased visits to the bathroom during instruction, and potentially engaging in issues related to substance abuse, so because of that we manage the flow to make sure that people are using the bathrooms with its intended purpose,” said Birge.
When asked about their opinion on the new regulations, students mentioned that they weren’t notified of this by the school and felt ill-informed. Upon arriving at the bathroom, many of them were confused why staff were stationed outside and what the intended purpose was for this increased monitoring.
“I saw it firsthand, and there was a substitute, standing out [or] sitting outside of the bathroom,” said Julia Shea ’29. “There was a sign that said one person at a time.”
Additionally, students voiced their concerns about the inconvenience of this new approach to bathroom monitoring becoming a permanent long-term policy.
“I think it’s gonna make it really inconvenient for students to use the bathroom and it’s gonna make it harder for them to get back to class on time. … Sometimes the teachers reprimand you for that and say you can only be out for five minutes, but [walking] all the way around the school makes that harder,” said Laura Pepek ’29.
The increased monitoring of the bathrooms is expected to continue indefinitely as it has produced positive results, creating an increase of appropriate behaviour. During staff meetings, there have been fewer complaints from staff and hall monitors about students being out of class and participating in dangerous and prohibited activities.
“Yes, in short, we have had conversations where people say in certain halls when we’re there or when there’s a monitor, there has been a change in behavior,” said Riddick. “So from my perspective, I have [had] zero complaints, zero reports from adults, from teachers, from building monitors in the past couple of weeks since AP exam time.”
Birge also notes that high school students’ behavior can fluctuate, so supervision will only continue as needed. As of now, monitoring has decreased, but staff members will help guide students in the right direction if reports of dangerous activities start to increase.
“At this point, [the bathrooms are] a very safe and comfortable place for all students,” said Birge. “So we’ll keep our eyes on [them], that’s the intent.”