From the age of being toddlers, we have been conditioned to use the toilet when nature calls. Most do, but depending on the setting some of us would rather push it off. One of these places people will sacrifice their bladders for is the school restrooms. Something about them makes students and even teachers averse to stepping foot within the space. The answer may seem obvious, but a lot of reasons create the shared feeling of repulsion towards using the school’s latrines.
Over the years the word restroom has taken on many forms, but the term itself dates back to the late 17th century. Workplaces and public buildings had rooms specifically made for rest and relaxation accompanied by toilet rooms, which were later added on. By the early 20th century it became a euphemism for the lavatory or toilet. In today’s time, the six minutes we are given during transition do not allow for a lot of chit-chat. Students are often rushed with relieving themselves and then hurrying to class. Though ironic, they serve the same general purpose as they did 100 years ago.
However, Apopka’s bathrooms seem to have more than one purpose other than just using the toilet. A common problem many teachers, like Ms. Brown, witness is skipping. “… people like to be bathroom dwellers. I don’t know why they like the bathrooms more than class. I can’t understand it,” she shared. However, Ms. Brown’s confusion can easily be answered if you know what’s going on. When asked, Junior Shila Gillis shared, “… people are always in the stalls either vaping or having sex…” To put it plainly, students are having more fun within the stalls than they are in the classrooms. Some bathrooms are even known to be connected to particular activities. Gillis also let us know that students like to “… get down with it in the 1600 building bathrooms…” Similarly, Junior Brady Braun recognizes North Campus as the, “… sex, vaping, and skipping bathroom.” However, Ms. Shafer makes a good point that any bathroom can be designated by a certain act “… if the right people are around.”
Besides the lack of actually using the toilets, it’s a consensual agreement that the restrooms are frankly just dirty. When you walk in you can often find hair, paper products, and other items not meant to be in a communal bathroom. Though trash cans are sometimes stationed outside the entrance, most people seem to miss it when they’re done, as seen by several students who have also come across bloody sanitary products casually lying around. Additionally, Ms. Brown once discovered a sink that was used as a toilet. “The bathrooms look like no one cares about the school,” said Ms. Gardiner, and I can’t say she’s wrong. Lots of the soap dispensers are found empty, and the walls are littered with drawings. Some of the markings admittedly are funny. However, most agree that others are unsightly and should be removed. “I’ve seen people write some really mean and nasty things on there,” commented Junior Addison Hodge. The problem is with the students and their lack of consideration for a public space. “I think it would be lovely if we were able to do murals or something on the walls, but I’m also not sure I trust the student body to not destroy those as well,” added Brady Braun.
The school can only do so much to fix some of the problems. We can restock on soap, upgrade the amenities, and create beautiful art-filled walls. But at the end of the day, the people who use the restrooms need to start using them appropriately, otherwise, the bathrooms will never get better. Until then, people will continue to $#!+ on the bathrooms.
