What stands between you and the bathroom

 By Emily Beaupre '26

Imagine needing to use the bathroom since first period, but not being able to during class because there is never time. Finally, during lunch, there is a line four deep between you and nature's calling. “People are doing things they aren’t supposed to” is all anyone says. The next day, it is the same thing. Suddenly, your only chance to relieve yourself since you got out of bed is gone.

For some students, lunch is the only break in the day when they feel comfortable going to the bathroom. Those with heavier class loads might miss key lessons if they leave during instructional time. While study halls provide breaks, not all students have them in their schedules. Consequently, lunch is the only option for many. Having to wait in a line is more than an inconvenience; it is problematic.

I developed two proposals to address this. First, during lunch, students in the library and music hall could use the bathrooms in the athletic wing, while students in the art and technology education hallway could use the first-floor bathroom. This would leave the cafeteria bathrooms free for students at lunch. My second proposal suggested opening the second-floor bathrooms if the cafeteria lines become too long.

I spoke to Wethersfield High School Assistant Principal Tyler Webb, who explained the administrative perspective. “There’s a whole bunch of different factors as to why it is how it is," Webb said. He noted that many proposed solutions are not feasible. Staff members cannot always block off an hour and 20 minutes a day to monitor bathroom traffic. “They have stuff to do!" Webb said.

Some bathrooms are also located in areas with less foot traffic, making it easier for students to engage in prohibited activities behind closed doors. Furthermore, redirecting students from the cafeteria to the first-floor bathrooms might simply create larger lines outside smaller facilities. Splitting the traffic often moves the problem to different parts of the building rather than solving it.

The issue even dates back to the school's renovations. Because it was a renovation rather than a new construction project, there was limited "wiggle room" to build new bathrooms or expand existing ones.

Administration members say they are as frustrated as the students. They understand the difficulties of long lines and short breaks, but they cannot easily implement changes. "It’s not as easy as we would hope it would be," Webb said.

However, when asked what would happen if a feasible solution came to light, Webb said the administrative team would be open to the conversation, though there are many moving parts to consider.

I went into Webb’s office with the mindset that bathroom lines are purely problematic. In response, Webb said, “It is dumb, but there is some sense behind it." I now believe he is right. There is only so much the administration can do, and currently, they are making the best of a difficult situation.

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