At Ridgeview High school, only one restroom is open for students during the day, and it has become one of the biggest problems. What may seem like a small issue has caused complications like long lines, tardiness for class and cleanliness. I personally deal with this everyday and it has gotten to the point where it affects how I go about my school day.

Whenever I need to use the restroom, I’m often waiting in a line of six-seven students. Sometimes the line is so long that I either just walk away or end up being late to class. I’ve even avoided drinking a lot of water during school just, so I don’t have to deal with it. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way because I hear my classmates complaining about it all the time in class. 

This concern has gone farther than just the bathrooms. Students end up missing important class time while waiting in line. Teachers sometimes think we are skipping class or fooling around in the halls, when in reality, we’re just stuck waiting  in the restroom. I’ve personally been late to class because of this, and it feels unfair to be marked tardy for something that isn’t really my fault. Having only one restroom open makes it impossible for everyone to use it quickly and still get to class on time. 

Another issue is that the restroom always gets messy or overcrowded very quickly. With so many students using the same space, the stalls get dirty, the sinks run out of soap, the trashcans fill up faster than the custodians can clean them. It doesn’t feel right that we’re expected to use a restroom that is not always clean or supplied, especially since the school has other restrooms available that are kept locked. 

I believe that the school should open the other restrooms to solve this issue. It would shorten the lines, keep areas cleaner and prevent students from missing class. Some may argue that keeping restrooms locked helps avoid vandalism, but punishing all students for the action of a few isn’t the answer. The school could monitor the restrooms more closely instead of closing them off.

If staff had to wait in like we do, they would see how on-reasonable it is. For me this has become such a regular problem that I plan my day around when I can actually go to the bathroom, and that’s not normal. Schools are supposed to focus more on helping students learn, but it’s hard to focus when something as simple as using the restroom is a constant struggle.