Access to bathrooms is an ongoing and complex problem for both teachers and students alike, as explained in this Atlantic article, "When Schools Tell Kids They Can’t Use the Bathroom."

The April 8th newsletter from Kellogg Middle School in Portland, OR, notified parents that:

"...we are implementing a new hall pass system.

• Students will have a chart in their planner that gives them five passes per class, for the quarter.
• They will need to budget these hall passes.
• Students will have their teacher sign their planner and then can take the classroom pass to use the restroom or go to their locker. Once they have used up their five passes for the class period, they won’t get to leave any more."

There are numerous practical issues with this system. More important, are the serious health risks it poses. 

Dr. Steve Hodges, M.D, pediatric urologist and author of the K-12 Teacher’s Packet, states,

"It is essential that students use the restroom:

• Right when the urge arises — not 10 or 20 or 60 minutes later. 

• As often as they need to.
• For as as long as they need to."

This consensus statement on bladder health states, "...restrictions on the frequency of children's access to bathroom facilities...may have adverse effects on bladder health (104). In addition, the bathrooms in schools are reportedly often lacking in privacy, cleanliness and safety (e.g. a place where bullying may occur), which may contribute to urine-holding behaviours and dysfunctional voiding (104,106)."

Additionally, middle school is a time of menstruation and other physical changes of puberty that may require timely and discreet restroom access.

Please join us in telling Kellogg Middle School that it is the duty of public schools to not restrict bathroom access for students.