"We’re scared to use our own school bathrooms. A flawed anti-smoking policy is punishing innocent students and putting our futures at risk."

A new system was introduced at Stephen Lewis Secondary School this year to fight smoking and vaping in the bathrooms. While the goal is good, the way it works is extremely unfair.

Right now, if the smoke alarm goes off in the bathroom, students inside get punished — even if they weren’t smoking. After three warnings, students face suspension. This means that innocent students who just needed to use the washroom can end up with a suspension on their record.

This policy has already caused fear and stress among students. Some of us have already received warnings in the first week of school. Many are now afraid to even go to the washroom because they don’t want to be accused of something they didn’t do. For Grade 12 students, a suspension could hurt university applications, scholarships, and our future opportunities.

Many students now feel unsafe and uncomfortable using the school bathrooms. Some have even stopped going altogether during the school day because they fear being wrongly accused or caught in unsafe situations. "It's dangerous to go to the men's. There are such beatings there, it's horrible." Bathrooms should be a basic necessity, not a place of fear. The current system does not address the real problem — it only makes students avoid the washrooms instead of solving the issue of smoking and disruptive behavior. We need better solutions that actually reduce smoking and make school bathrooms safe again, such as increased supervision, clear consequences for proven offenders, and fair methods of identifying those responsible. Every student deserves to feel safe and respected in their own school.

We believe the school should fight smoking, but in a fair way. Innocent students should not be punished just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead of automatically blaming everyone, the school could explore better solutions, like:

• Testing methods (such as nicotine checks) in disputed cases,
• Conducting proper investigations before sending warnings,
• Exploring safe monitoring options that don’t invade privacy,
• Making sure punishments are based on real evidence, not assumptions.

We are asking the administration to review this policy and replace it with a system that is both fair and effective. Students should not have to risk their education and future because of a flawed rule.

Sign this petition if you believe in fairness and want to protect innocent students at Stephen Lewis Secondary School. Together, we can push for a healthier, safer, and more just environment for everyone.

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