A high school in Brooklyn denied students the right to use all but one restroom.
School administrators defended themselves saying that budget cuts forced them to lay off the school aide who used to supervise the bathrooms. Because of issues with boys fighting in the bathrooms, they said it was too dangerous to keep them open. While that may be a problem, it shouldn't prevent the majority from using a restroom that's perfectly functioning.
Given that budget cuts are impacting high schools nationwide, it's safe to say that what happened at this school in Brooklyn probably isn't an isolated incident. It's also safe to say that this kind of thing wouldn't be tolerated in a wealthier school: Lawsuits would fly, and all the money the school district saved by cutting campus aides would be paid out in settlements.
It remains to be seen whether Science Skills will revert back to its one bathroom policy once the media hype dies down, or if the principal will face any disciplinary action for what's been happening there. Our students already feel ostracized, underfunded, overtested, underserved, overinvestigated, undermined, and misunderstood. Now, their school leadrs won’t even let them use the bathroom. Many students may not have cared much about school before, but now that they’re pissed off and pissed on, would anyone be surprised if they care even less now?
Photo via (cc) Flickr user Liz Henry