On Monday, November 7th, City High implemented a new hallway policy preventing students from using the bathroom during the first 10 minutes of class and the last 10 minutes of class. The policy is introduced in response to a higher-than-normal volume of students in the halls.

“We’re going to tighten things up here at the school that leads as we seek to meet our high standards for what we want our learning environment to be like,” Principal John Bacon said. 

Exceptions for the policy will be made for students having an emergency or special circumstances requiring exiting the classroom. A specific hall pass will be required for any student to go to the bathroom after the first 10 minutes of class and only one pass will be given to a student at a time.  Standardized passes are now being created by the administration. 

“I believe five minutes is ample time to use the restroom, get a drink of water and be to class on time,” Principal Bacon said.

The policy has been viewed negatively by some students who feel that the new policy prohibits them from taking care of themselves and getting to class on time.

“As a student with a uterus, I can’t control when I have to take care of personal needs. It’s awkward explaining that to a teacher or having to wait until the person ahead of me comes back from the bathroom, passing time is not enough time for me to use the restroom, take care of personal hygiene, get a drink of water, and get to class on time,” Ashley Kelly, ’23 said.

The reason for not being able to leave during the first 10 minutes of class is that it is a time when students are getting things set, learning what is happening in class, and passing time just ended. The last ten minutes of no passing is due to students leaving class and not coming back to class.

“If you can make it to the last 10 minutes of class, you can make it to the bell,” Principal Bacon said.

During the 55 minutes students are in class, the teacher is legally responsible for every single student in the class. The new bathroom policy is favored by some teachers considering the ability to keep track of students much easier. 

“Right now I’m not sure if students have the understanding of what is expected in a high school, I feel like this is a social place for students and academics is lower on the priority than social. We need to renormalize and make sure we all understand what is the purpose of this institution,” Carrie Watson, a social studies teacher, said. 

Ms. Watson believes that putting more responsibilities on students for problem-solving will be a skill they will be able to use out in the world far more than walking away from problems. 

“The more we create opportunities to problem solve in students’ lives, the better-prepared students will be out in the world to problem solve and develop skills to navigate issues,” Ms. Watson said.

Ms. Watson has noticed that students who stay in class for the entire duration often complete more assignments and stay more engaged throughout the class. Students who have left class to use the bathroom and take a break often miss key learning opportunities and fall behind on assignments. 

High schools across the country have been making changes to return the learning environment back to what it was before the pandemic.