MS and HS Bathrooms - Normalizing Dangerous Areas at School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student had an issue in the student bathrooms. Discussed with his counselor. Counselor lets him/unlocks the adult bathroom near his office for DC to use.

This is is every kid lately. All of the staff bathrooms are now taken over by students. Lots of empathy for your kid, but maybe we should try solving the problem with the bathrooms rather than moving all the kids to the staff areas.

Seriously! At many schools there aren't enough staff bathrooms to begin with. Staff shouldn't have to wait to use the bathroom in between classes or using the class time they don't teach a class because students are using the staff bathrooms. There needs to be a better solution than punishing teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re right, it sucks that kids feel unsafe using the bathrooms. Everyone should feel comfortable with that basic need. I teach high school and it breaks my heart when kids are scared to go.

But what do you suggest? Schools are trying all sorts of things, and none of it is making a dent (closing popular drug bathrooms so there are less to monitor, putting cameras in the hallway to review who goes in there for more than 5 minutes, ehallpass to monitor who is out of class when, limiting hall passes for prior offenders)

I think the only things that would work would be literally stationing an adult inside the bathroom as a monitor. A) that’s cost prohibitive, b) no one is going to sign up to sit in a hs bathroom for 8 hours a day, and c) I think you’d get a lot of pushback about adults in restrooms with kids.

Alternatively, we could put airport security scanners in every school and scan every bag, instrument case, sports equipment, jacket, shoes. It would take 2 hours for kids to get in and they’d miss 75% of contraband) because vape devices literally look like flash drives or pens), but it might discourage some.

Do you have other ideas? I’m serious, I’m happy to bring them to admin. We brainstorm around this a lot and haven’t had any grand ideas.

What about having two additional security guards, whose only job is to randomly check bathrooms. A male and a female. They randomly check the bathrooms throughout the day. If caught, make the punishment severe. Have them wear some kind of audio recording as a check on guards themselves.

Dream on. If schools could impose punishments, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place.

This is what's really needed. More ability to discipline offenders.

+1. An HS teacher was telling me that she knew a kid was high at school, but without the kid's parent's permission she couldn't search the backpack where she knew weed was. The parent came and picked the completely-out-of-it, obviously high kid up but never gave permission to search the backpack so nothing else was done...all while the parent was complaining that the school should do something about her kid.

No parent would give permission for that search. I'd punish the kid when I got home, but I'm not putting a suspension or expulsion or criminal charges on their record if I have a choice.

+ 1

I would NEVER consent to a search. Are you insane?

And so the rampant drug use will continue. You realize that, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re right, it sucks that kids feel unsafe using the bathrooms. Everyone should feel comfortable with that basic need. I teach high school and it breaks my heart when kids are scared to go.

But what do you suggest? Schools are trying all sorts of things, and none of it is making a dent (closing popular drug bathrooms so there are less to monitor, putting cameras in the hallway to review who goes in there for more than 5 minutes, ehallpass to monitor who is out of class when, limiting hall passes for prior offenders)

I think the only things that would work would be literally stationing an adult inside the bathroom as a monitor. A) that’s cost prohibitive, b) no one is going to sign up to sit in a hs bathroom for 8 hours a day, and c) I think you’d get a lot of pushback about adults in restrooms with kids.

Alternatively, we could put airport security scanners in every school and scan every bag, instrument case, sports equipment, jacket, shoes. It would take 2 hours for kids to get in and they’d miss 75% of contraband) because vape devices literally look like flash drives or pens), but it might discourage some.

Do you have other ideas? I’m serious, I’m happy to bring them to admin. We brainstorm around this a lot and haven’t had any grand ideas.

What about having two additional security guards, whose only job is to randomly check bathrooms. A male and a female. They randomly check the bathrooms throughout the day. If caught, make the punishment severe. Have them wear some kind of audio recording as a check on guards themselves.

Dream on. If schools could impose punishments, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place.

This is what's really needed. More ability to discipline offenders.

+1. An HS teacher was telling me that she knew a kid was high at school, but without the kid's parent's permission she couldn't search the backpack where she knew weed was. The parent came and picked the completely-out-of-it, obviously high kid up but never gave permission to search the backpack so nothing else was done...all while the parent was complaining that the school should do something about her kid.

No parent would give permission for that search. I'd punish the kid when I got home, but I'm not putting a suspension or expulsion or criminal charges on their record if I have a choice.

+ 1

I would NEVER consent to a search. Are you insane?

And so the rampant drug use will continue. You realize that, right?

Do not care. No one would search my kid.

[Anonymous]

Both of my children at MS and HS only use the bathroom if necessary. I was the same way in MS and HS (late 80s/early 90s) because the bathrooms had the same issues. Rougher kids hanging out, smoking and doing drugs or super petty kids hanging out doing makeup and talking trash about everyone else. And I had 200 kids in my HS class. This wasn’t a school size issue. When my mom served on the school board they tried dozens of different things to help make it better but kids making bad decisions are everywhere and not easily deterred. I wish there was a solution, but until kids are held accountable and parents support that accountability it won’t happen. And I know way too many “it’s never my kid” parents whose children definitely are problematic to believe that will ever change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student had an issue in the student bathrooms. Discussed with his counselor. Counselor lets him/unlocks the adult bathroom near his office for DC to use.

This is is every kid lately. All of the staff bathrooms are now taken over by students. Lots of empathy for your kid, but maybe we should try solving the problem with the bathrooms rather than moving all the kids to the staff areas.

I’m the parent of the kid with the issue. Go ahead and solve the problem. This was how the administration decided to fix the problem for my kid instead of solving the root cause. Frankly they don’t have the personnel to monitor the bathrooms and other students behavior. Don’t think teachers want to take on bathroom duty in addition to playground duty and lunch duty (and not implying they should have to). But my kids deserves to be able to go to the bathroom in the meantime. And I have had to pick him up early from school in the past because he was in so much pain and refused to go in the school’s bathrooms. Some kids just suck these days.

[Anonymous]

Completely not possible, but one bathroom per classroom would work wonders. I am a substitute and it is amazing how kids from k-3 have that and how non disruptive it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bathrooms in the classrooms (no this isn’t really possible except in Renos or new builds) BUT it would solve the problem.

I work in a MS and I actually love that idea. Every time students don't want to do something in class - let alone want an excuse to wander the building or do something like vape - they ask to go to the bathroom. It would be great to have it in the room. If I have a student I think legitimately needs to take a walk for a few minutes I can create a different reason for them to leave the room.

Some of the elementaries have this set up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bathrooms in the classrooms (no this isn’t really possible except in Renos or new builds) BUT it would solve the problem.

I work in a MS and I actually love that idea. Every time students don't want to do something in class - let alone want an excuse to wander the building or do something like vape - they ask to go to the bathroom. It would be great to have it in the room. If I have a student I think legitimately needs to take a walk for a few minutes I can create a different reason for them to leave the room.

That’s awesome idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are all middle schools in FCPS like this? I have a child starting MS at Carson next year. How worried should I be and about what, specifically?

When my kid was at Carson, all but one set of bathrooms were closed due to vandalism from a tik tok challenge. With e-hall passes & only one set of bathrooms in use, admin could then better monitor who was causing problems. This is what happens when kids rule the roost & parents don't say no to destructive apps.

Unfortunately, there was also a rape at Carson MS and Oakton HS. This is link for references (multiple news resources; not all same incident):

https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fairfax_county/former-teacher-retired-principal-s-testimony-reveals-a-rape-culture-in-fairfax-county-schools/article_2e5aaab4-e6cd-11ee-8d51-f3178e2bcbaf.html

https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2022/06/amended-suit-claims-fairfax-school-covered-up-minimized-sexual-assault-complaint/

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/lawsuits-target-fairfax-county-school-board-sex-assault-response/3089897/?amp=1

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/woman-suing-fairfax-county-middle-school-over-alleged-sexual-harrassment-rape-12-years-ago.amp

[Anonymous]

This is RAIN link: https://www.rainn.org/resources

Please share with other parents, community members, and use the tools to have conversations with your kids about prevention and how to be an advocate for victims. We need to help victims come forward and teach students we all have a role in if you see something, say something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re right, it sucks that kids feel unsafe using the bathrooms. Everyone should feel comfortable with that basic need. I teach high school and it breaks my heart when kids are scared to go.

But what do you suggest? Schools are trying all sorts of things, and none of it is making a dent (closing popular drug bathrooms so there are less to monitor, putting cameras in the hallway to review who goes in there for more than 5 minutes, ehallpass to monitor who is out of class when, limiting hall passes for prior offenders)

I think the only things that would work would be literally stationing an adult inside the bathroom as a monitor. A) that’s cost prohibitive, b) no one is going to sign up to sit in a hs bathroom for 8 hours a day, and c) I think you’d get a lot of pushback about adults in restrooms with kids.

Alternatively, we could put airport security scanners in every school and scan every bag, instrument case, sports equipment, jacket, shoes. It would take 2 hours for kids to get in and they’d miss 75% of contraband) because vape devices literally look like flash drives or pens), but it might discourage some.

Do you have other ideas? I’m serious, I’m happy to bring them to admin. We brainstorm around this a lot and haven’t had any grand ideas.

What about having two additional security guards, whose only job is to randomly check bathrooms. A male and a female. They randomly check the bathrooms throughout the day. If caught, make the punishment severe. Have them wear some kind of audio recording as a check on guards themselves.

So…2 people at $40,000 a year at 100 MS and HS schools. That would cost 8 Million dollars a year.

NP. If we got rid of all the useless DEI staff, there would be plenty of money to make this happen.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re right, it sucks that kids feel unsafe using the bathrooms. Everyone should feel comfortable with that basic need. I teach high school and it breaks my heart when kids are scared to go.

But what do you suggest? Schools are trying all sorts of things, and none of it is making a dent (closing popular drug bathrooms so there are less to monitor, putting cameras in the hallway to review who goes in there for more than 5 minutes, ehallpass to monitor who is out of class when, limiting hall passes for prior offenders)

I think the only things that would work would be literally stationing an adult inside the bathroom as a monitor. A) that’s cost prohibitive, b) no one is going to sign up to sit in a hs bathroom for 8 hours a day, and c) I think you’d get a lot of pushback about adults in restrooms with kids.

Alternatively, we could put airport security scanners in every school and scan every bag, instrument case, sports equipment, jacket, shoes. It would take 2 hours for kids to get in and they’d miss 75% of contraband) because vape devices literally look like flash drives or pens), but it might discourage some.

Do you have other ideas? I’m serious, I’m happy to bring them to admin. We brainstorm around this a lot and haven’t had any grand ideas.

What about having two additional security guards, whose only job is to randomly check bathrooms. A male and a female. They randomly check the bathrooms throughout the day. If caught, make the punishment severe. Have them wear some kind of audio recording as a check on guards themselves.

Dream on. If schools could impose punishments, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place.

This is what's really needed. More ability to discipline offenders.

+1. An HS teacher was telling me that she knew a kid was high at school, but without the kid's parent's permission she couldn't search the backpack where she knew weed was. The parent came and picked the completely-out-of-it, obviously high kid up but never gave permission to search the backpack so nothing else was done...all while the parent was complaining that the school should do something about her kid.

No parent would give permission for that search. I'd punish the kid when I got home, but I'm not putting a suspension or expulsion or criminal charges on their record if I have a choice.

So you’re an enabler. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Please name the high schools that this occurs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re right, it sucks that kids feel unsafe using the bathrooms. Everyone should feel comfortable with that basic need. I teach high school and it breaks my heart when kids are scared to go.

But what do you suggest? Schools are trying all sorts of things, and none of it is making a dent (closing popular drug bathrooms so there are less to monitor, putting cameras in the hallway to review who goes in there for more than 5 minutes, ehallpass to monitor who is out of class when, limiting hall passes for prior offenders)

I think the only things that would work would be literally stationing an adult inside the bathroom as a monitor. A) that’s cost prohibitive, b) no one is going to sign up to sit in a hs bathroom for 8 hours a day, and c) I think you’d get a lot of pushback about adults in restrooms with kids.

Alternatively, we could put airport security scanners in every school and scan every bag, instrument case, sports equipment, jacket, shoes. It would take 2 hours for kids to get in and they’d miss 75% of contraband) because vape devices literally look like flash drives or pens), but it might discourage some.

Do you have other ideas? I’m serious, I’m happy to bring them to admin. We brainstorm around this a lot and haven’t had any grand ideas.

What about having two additional security guards, whose only job is to randomly check bathrooms. A male and a female. They randomly check the bathrooms throughout the day. If caught, make the punishment severe. Have them wear some kind of audio recording as a check on guards themselves.

Dream on. If schools could impose punishments, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place.

+1. Also, how about parents actually parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re right, it sucks that kids feel unsafe using the bathrooms. Everyone should feel comfortable with that basic need. I teach high school and it breaks my heart when kids are scared to go.

But what do you suggest? Schools are trying all sorts of things, and none of it is making a dent (closing popular drug bathrooms so there are less to monitor, putting cameras in the hallway to review who goes in there for more than 5 minutes, ehallpass to monitor who is out of class when, limiting hall passes for prior offenders)

I think the only things that would work would be literally stationing an adult inside the bathroom as a monitor. A) that’s cost prohibitive, b) no one is going to sign up to sit in a hs bathroom for 8 hours a day, and c) I think you’d get a lot of pushback about adults in restrooms with kids.

Alternatively, we could put airport security scanners in every school and scan every bag, instrument case, sports equipment, jacket, shoes. It would take 2 hours for kids to get in and they’d miss 75% of contraband) because vape devices literally look like flash drives or pens), but it might discourage some.

Do you have other ideas? I’m serious, I’m happy to bring them to admin. We brainstorm around this a lot and haven’t had any grand ideas.

What about having two additional security guards, whose only job is to randomly check bathrooms. A male and a female. They randomly check the bathrooms throughout the day. If caught, make the punishment severe. Have them wear some kind of audio recording as a check on guards themselves.

Dream on. If schools could impose punishments, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place.

+1. Also, how about parents actually parent?

+1000 to both these two PPs. This is the actual problem.