The 2025-2026 school year at DGS has brought about changes for many. A large number of new policies were introduced with the hope that students would succeed, and many have been beneficial. The number of Ds and Fs has decreased by about five percent just this year. The cellphone, attendance, homework, and other recently introduced policies have all contributed to this.
However, the bathroom policy isn’t for the best of everyone because of its unintended side effects on the learning environment and on student health. For most students, the “ten-minute rule” is not ideal and should be changed.
It is true that lessons, work, group-work, or just assignments in general were being passed over or disrupted during previous years. In one of my classes last year, when there was a substitute teacher, I believe that over fifteen bathroom passes were written. It was definitely very distracting to see green pass after green pass filled out and hear the door open and close so many times.
Most students, including me, did not get as much work done as they should. In addition, so much paper was wasted. The reason behind the policy was to prevent that from occurring. It has done that, yes, but a new issue has arisen. Students who want to go to the restroom during non-interruptive times have to see prime opportunities wasted.
For example, a professor asking the class how their weekend was at the start of the period, the last few minutes when students are packing up, or homework time at the end are being banned. Because of that, we are forced to ask a teacher to use the restroom during instructional or educational periods of the class and are often denied.
When we aren’t denied, the instructor, student, or some mix of both has to fill out the pass, which can often derail learning for a bit. I could name over twenty students who have confided in me about the said situations.
Many students, including myself, don’t have time during passing periods and rely on time in class. My own schedule is arranged in a way that does not allow for many bathroom breaks. The first half of my day includes many weighted AP and honors classes. In my AP Spanish class, it is extremely rare to have downtime, so in class is not really an option. I also have the need to arrive at my classes early, so I have time to prepare for the lessons.
Teachers and administration say to go during the passing period, which is achievable for a few people, but not all. Many of my peers and I have to traverse crowded hallways, and if we were to take a less direct route, no time would be saved. I also have to climb two flights of high-traffic stairs for most passing periods, with some students going up 3.
Those elements eat up a very good chunk of the time and don’t leave much opportunity for a bathroom break unless you want to be marked tardy, which I have a great fear of. I acknowledge that not every DGS student is in my exact situation, but many of us are in similar boats.
A positive environment, which our school strives for, promotes positivity and success. DGS makes sure that everyone feels included, can get help if they need it, and has opportunities to get involved in something fulfilling and meaningful. That is done through our selections of activities, classes, athletics, and programs. That positivity should also apply to health, which the bathroom policy is not promoting.
It has been revealed that holding your bladder for too long over an extended period of time can cause pain, UTIs, damage to the bladder and pelvic muscles, and other negative side effects. While learning has been enhanced for some through the recently implemented rules, a good portion of the student population’s health can plummet if something doesn’t change.
One way to find a compromise beneficial to everyone would be to ban bathroom passes for the first five minutes. Those first few minutes can be critical in terms of teachers explaining the lesson plan for the day, and teachers could always use their discretion at that or at any point in the class.
I am also aware that the halls need to be swept after the bell. Students running around would hinder that mission, so some time at the beginning should be prohibited. I have to admit that I have no idea how long that takes. If it takes five, then the former solution is ideal. If it takes ten, not letting students use the restroom during that time only is better.
Why I say that the last ten minutes being banned does not have too much function is because in most cases, the end of the class isn’t critical, as I have mentioned previously. Therefore, nothing important is missed, and the school’s health doesn’t get the chance to suffer. It is time to find an alternative bathroom policy.