Secondary school BATHROOMS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unbelievable. My mind is completely blown after reading this thread.

All I have to say is that my private school tuition is absolutely worth it even if ‘our kids all end up at the same colleges.’

Why don't you stick to the private school forum then? Bye.

it's ok.. we can troll the private school forums

Not sure paying $100K for four years so the kid can use the bathroom of their choice is worth it, but whatever floats your shLt.

private school parent is clueless. plenty of private school students doing similar things over at the privates.

Yeah, I’m sure there’s some kids at our school who vape, but my daughter said she feels comfortable using the bathroom anytime she wants and that it’s generally very clean and well maintained, for what it’s worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking about my high school days which were when the legal age to buy cigarettes changed from 16 to 18 which meant the system got rid of the smoking courtyard at my high school. Then kids just started smoking right off campus on non-MCPS property and occasionally in bathrooms. I ended up transferring to a newer high school that had never had a smoking section and had nicer bathrooms and kids smoked occasionally but nobody was vandalizing them other than maybe a little bit of graffitti here and there.

One thing that I think isn't talked about enough is that the bathrooms are gross even when they are technically clean. I went to an event at an up county high school and used the bathroom. There was mismatched paint on the walls, non-functional things like hand dryers on the walls that just looked like clutter. The toilet seats seemed to be sanitized but looked terrible - cracked, stained, and just icky. The doors either didn't shut or had wonky locks. It was just a truly unpleasant atmosphere and clearly the building services either don't care or don't have the resources to keep them looking like the condition matters. I can't help but think that maybe if the bathrooms weren't gross, kids wouldn't destroy them as much.

That may have been true in the past, but at Wheaton the bathrooms are being damaged on a daily basis. It is no longer possible to keep up with the frequency of the destruction. Teens roaming from high school to high school during the day don't help to keep control over high schools. Free bus service is not helpful during school hours.

+1 Wheaton is one of the newest HS and has beautiful facilities. Kids don’t care and vandalize / destroy bathroom property.

Not an issue with “how nice it looks.” Kids with behavior issues shouldn’t be allowed to continue in mainstream education. Send them to an ALT school or maybe even military school (ok kind of joking but not really).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds silly but can't security guards, or any staff willing to give up their lunch period, stand outside the few bathrooms that are open to manage the number of students who go in? Maybe check student IDs? Jot the name down. Cross it off when they come back out. Those smoking vaping can go outside. Oh wait, MCPS doesn't want students outside smoking because that would look bad on schools? Did I understand this correctly?

Teacher here. Rest assured, we DO this. We stand outside between class. Heck, during planning periods. But kids know there is no consequences. They will laugh or literally cuss us out. Until change comes from the top and a central office comes up with consistent policies for behavior, this will not change!!

All roads back to THAT central office. Sigh.

Lol. It’s almost like leadership has to… omg wait for it… lead. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People saying this can't be done or that can't be done, what would you tell students who need to use the bathroom to pee poop or change pads/tampons at lunch time? Are you offering your fancy house bathroom for them to use? And are you offering to give them a ride to that posh bathroom of yours? Offer solutions.

What kind of nonsensical post is this? How does offering my (non-posh) bathroom help kids use the bathroom during school hours?

Also, people are offering workable solutions in this very thread.

DP. Maybe your bathroom is closer to use than running (err, walking fast not to get yelled by security) around the school checking to see which bathroom is open while leaving a blood trail in the hallways? Just maybe.

Again with the nonsense. You must work for Central Office.

[Anonymous]

How about turn the bathrooms into family/assisted bathroom during lunch? Only one person uses it at a time while an adult stays outside bathroom managing who goes in-out. Let's say your school has 15 bathrooms, you'd need that number of adults to stay outside each one. Central Office staff - are you ready to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unbelievable. My mind is completely blown after reading this thread.

All I have to say is that my private school tuition is absolutely worth it even if ‘our kids all end up at the same colleges.’

Why don't you stick to the private school forum then? Bye.

it's ok.. we can troll the private school forums

Not sure paying $100K for four years so the kid can use the bathroom of their choice is worth it, but whatever floats your shLt.

private school parent is clueless. plenty of private school students doing similar things over at the privates.

Yeah, I’m sure there’s some kids at our school who vape, but my daughter said she feels comfortable using the bathroom anytime she wants and that it’s generally very clean and well maintained, for what it’s worth.

It's BACK!

[Anonymous]

Can the current SMOB or if next year's has already been selected bring up the concerns at next BOE meeting? What can the students who are also concerned do at this point? Write to the SMOB? Can a rep from the AAP testify at a meeting? Not that it should even be necessary but still it could help if presented from a medical standpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted in the thread Safety in Schools but it could be its own thread.

What is the situation with locked bathrooms at some (all?) mcps high schools? Some of these schools have over 2000 humans who need access to bathrooms. Where do students go when lines to the bathrooms are long to last the entire lunch period? Not all high schools have open lunch for students to go use a bathroom at a nearby establishment. Can you share your kids experiences at their high school?

Blame Jack Smith for stripping discipline and consequences away from MCPS. If students could actually be disciplined, the bathrooms wouldn't be a no mans land of crazy activity. Bring back actual discipline and consequences and the bathrooms could actually be used normally.

Exactly this. There could easily be bathroom monitors but what would come of it? Writing an apology letter?
Kids did bas things when we were in high school. Someone dropped a cherry bomb in a toilet once and there was a time when they would go flush all the toilets at the same time... I can't even remember why.
But the general vandalism and smoking and sex in the bathrooms was swiftly caught by teachers who would go in and catch them between classss and send them to the office. It was an automatic 3 day at home suspension and parents had to come get the kids the day they were caught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In addition to physical limitations (closing facilities) many schools also limit numbers of passes for students. I counted what my child is "entitled to" based on the policies at his school and he can go 5x/class during a marking period, and has 7 classes, so he can go to the bathroom 35/45 days. I guess the other days he just has to go during lunch or hold it.

I have given him permission to just leave the room if he's denied access to a bathroom and needs it. I'll deal with the discipline. His doctor is willing to write a note because my kid has suffered from health consequences related to holding pee and poop before.

+1 we ended up in the ER due to blockage from DC holding it too much.

It really makes me mad that all kids are being punished for the actions of a few. If those kids want to vape, let them vape their little hearts out. Why should my kid be punished for the bad things those kids do?

That’s just the way things are now in Montgomery County.

The Fallsgrove Panera had to quit leaving coffee cups out because people were stealing them. It’s a pain for both staff and customers who used to use them.

Our Giant had to lock the second set of doors because of too much shoplifting where people would just take stuff and walk right out. Again, more hassle for people.

We have created a culture where nobody follows rules anymore here in Montgomery County (people ignore housing codes, residency requirments for school attendance, immigration rules) and it’s accepted and embraced.

There are rules in place for expected behavior in high school bathrooms. But those rules are universally ignored and the bathrooms are a sh&tshow, so it’s easier to just close them.

I went to buy my kid a Panera gift card for Christmas. They didn't have any gift cards -- people had stolen them all. They hadn't even been activated -- people are just jerks.

MCPS already has rules in place with its Code of Conduct. Students are expected to behave appropriately in bathrooms.

But that is not happening. The kids have learned that they can ignore the rules (just like adults do) and get away with it.

What else can schools do? MCPS would prefer to spend money on random initiatives, versus hire more staff. It’s kind of a mess. Easier to just close bathrooms.

How about informing students/families it'll go on student's school record if vandalizing, inappropriate behaviors inside school etc.? Can a school social worker, if within their job description, visit student's home to talk to caretaker if caretaker is not responding to school admin's calls or messages?

Vandalizing public property is already a crime that should be prosecuted by the county.

How do you expect schools to investigate an incident of vandalism in the bathroom? How can they prove who vandalized a particular bathroom stall? How can a school prove that a kid was smoking weed in a restroom?

There is not enough security staff in schools to do this. And cameras in bathrooms are not a viable option.

Here's a thought. Pull back the one million dollars that was spent on letting you know where the bus is and hire 20 bathroom monitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In addition to physical limitations (closing facilities) many schools also limit numbers of passes for students. I counted what my child is "entitled to" based on the policies at his school and he can go 5x/class during a marking period, and has 7 classes, so he can go to the bathroom 35/45 days. I guess the other days he just has to go during lunch or hold it.

I have given him permission to just leave the room if he's denied access to a bathroom and needs it. I'll deal with the discipline. His doctor is willing to write a note because my kid has suffered from health consequences related to holding pee and poop before.

+1 we ended up in the ER due to blockage from DC holding it too much.

It really makes me mad that all kids are being punished for the actions of a few. If those kids want to vape, let them vape their little hearts out. Why should my kid be punished for the bad things those kids do?

This is the absolute insanity that MCPS has turned into! Having students who can't take a piss during the day while cow towing to nervous Nellie's who can't handle an unexpected bump in the road when the bus is late.

That’s just the way things are now in Montgomery County.

The Fallsgrove Panera had to quit leaving coffee cups out because people were stealing them. It’s a pain for both staff and customers who used to use them.

Our Giant had to lock the second set of doors because of too much shoplifting where people would just take stuff and walk right out. Again, more hassle for people.

We have created a culture where nobody follows rules anymore here in Montgomery County (people ignore housing codes, residency requirments for school attendance, immigration rules) and it’s accepted and embraced.

There are rules in place for expected behavior in high school bathrooms. But those rules are universally ignored and the bathrooms are a sh&tshow, so it’s easier to just close them.

I went to buy my kid a Panera gift card for Christmas. They didn't have any gift cards -- people had stolen them all. They hadn't even been activated -- people are just jerks.

MCPS already has rules in place with its Code of Conduct. Students are expected to behave appropriately in bathrooms.

But that is not happening. The kids have learned that they can ignore the rules (just like adults do) and get away with it.

What else can schools do? MCPS would prefer to spend money on random initiatives, versus hire more staff. It’s kind of a mess. Easier to just close bathrooms.

How about informing students/families it'll go on student's school record if vandalizing, inappropriate behaviors inside school etc.? Can a school social worker, if within their job description, visit student's home to talk to caretaker if caretaker is not responding to school admin's calls or messages?

Vandalizing public property is already a crime that should be prosecuted by the county.

How do you expect schools to investigate an incident of vandalism in the bathroom? How can they prove who vandalized a particular bathroom stall? How can a school prove that a kid was smoking weed in a restroom?

There is not enough security staff in schools to do this. And cameras in bathrooms are not a viable option.

Here's a thought. Pull back the one million dollars that was spent on letting you know where the bus is and hire 20 bathroom monitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the current SMOB or if next year's has already been selected bring up the concerns at next BOE meeting? What can the students who are also concerned do at this point? Write to the SMOB? Can a rep from the AAP testify at a meeting? Not that it should even be necessary but still it could help if presented from a medical standpoint.

SMOBs are children. They will fold and acquiesce to the more powerful adults. Don’t expect them to go against their fellow board members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the current SMOB or if next year's has already been selected bring up the concerns at next BOE meeting? What can the students who are also concerned do at this point? Write to the SMOB? Can a rep from the AAP testify at a meeting? Not that it should even be necessary but still it could help if presented from a medical standpoint.

SMOBs are children. They will fold and acquiesce to the more powerful adults. Don’t expect them to go against their fellow board members.

SMOBs are more mature than 95% of DCUM posters. And easily the match for most of our elected BoE members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the current SMOB or if next year's has already been selected bring up the concerns at next BOE meeting? What can the students who are also concerned do at this point? Write to the SMOB? Can a rep from the AAP testify at a meeting? Not that it should even be necessary but still it could help if presented from a medical standpoint.

Good luck. AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) DC-based communications staff:

Devin Mazziotti
[e-mail]
202-347-8600

Jamie Poslosky
[e-mail]
202-347-8600

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In addition to physical limitations (closing facilities) many schools also limit numbers of passes for students. I counted what my child is "entitled to" based on the policies at his school and he can go 5x/class during a marking period, and has 7 classes, so he can go to the bathroom 35/45 days. I guess the other days he just has to go during lunch or hold it.

I have given him permission to just leave the room if he's denied access to a bathroom and needs it. I'll deal with the discipline. His doctor is willing to write a note because my kid has suffered from health consequences related to holding pee and poop before.

+1 we ended up in the ER due to blockage from DC holding it too much.

It really makes me mad that all kids are being punished for the actions of a few. If those kids want to vape, let them vape their little hearts out. Why should my kid be punished for the bad things those kids do?

That’s just the way things are now in Montgomery County.

The Fallsgrove Panera had to quit leaving coffee cups out because people were stealing them. It’s a pain for both staff and customers who used to use them.

Our Giant had to lock the second set of doors because of too much shoplifting where people would just take stuff and walk right out. Again, more hassle for people.

We have created a culture where nobody follows rules anymore here in Montgomery County (people ignore housing codes, residency requirments for school attendance, immigration rules) and it’s accepted and embraced.

There are rules in place for expected behavior in high school bathrooms. But those rules are universally ignored and the bathrooms are a sh&tshow, so it’s easier to just close them.

I went to buy my kid a Panera gift card for Christmas. They didn't have any gift cards -- people had stolen them all. They hadn't even been activated -- people are just jerks.

MCPS already has rules in place with its Code of Conduct. Students are expected to behave appropriately in bathrooms.

But that is not happening. The kids have learned that they can ignore the rules (just like adults do) and get away with it.

What else can schools do? MCPS would prefer to spend money on random initiatives, versus hire more staff. It’s kind of a mess. Easier to just close bathrooms.

How about informing students/families it'll go on student's school record if vandalizing, inappropriate behaviors inside school etc.? Can a school social worker, if within their job description, visit student's home to talk to caretaker if caretaker is not responding to school admin's calls or messages?

Vandalizing public property is already a crime that should be prosecuted by the county.

How do you expect schools to investigate an incident of vandalism in the bathroom? How can they prove who vandalized a particular bathroom stall? How can a school prove that a kid was smoking weed in a restroom?

There is not enough security staff in schools to do this. And cameras in bathrooms are not a viable option.

Here's a thought. Pull back the one million dollars that was spent on letting you know where the bus is and hire 20 bathroom monitors.

There is 20 HS alone so clearly 20 bathroom monitors would not be enough. But okay. 🙄

[Anonymous]

MCPS School System Medical Officer
240-740-1594
Patricia_Kapunan AT mcpsmd.org