Due to the new bathroom policy implemented after the 2021-2022 school year, only one person from each class can go to the bathroom at a time and are required to bring a bathroom pass.
While many students believed this would be a nuisance, a few teachers are trying to make the experience more enjoyable with unique passes.
Last year, teachers used small passes such as lanyards and slips of paper. Some teachers had no pass at all.
Teachers, such as technology education teacher Brian Ruth, have expressed the need for bathroom passes so that students are “there to learn,” Ruth said.
“I think that’s what the goal is for teachers, to prevent kids from leaving your room,” Ruth said. “It gives [students] a conversation starter out in the hallway.”
Some teachers, like Ruth, make their bathroom pass unique to decrease trips to the bathroom. Ruth requires students to bring a cardboard cutout of actor Tom Holland with them to the bathroom. Some students prefer the unique passes.
“It gives you something to talk about when you’re in the hallways and something to do. It’s more interesting than just a sticky note,” senior Zach Gross said. “It’s just kind of boring without a creative pass.”
Junior Connor Massey agrees.
“I definitely prefer creative [passes] because it’s more to talk about with your friends,” Massey said.
Still, other students prefer more practical passes.
“A lot of passes that are bigger are an annoyance. I like passes that I can clip to my sleeve,” sophomore Norman Boell said.
According to Boell, he agrees that unique passes are more enjoyable than mundane ones just as long as the pass is “practical.”
Another motive for teachers to come up with unique passes is the monthly bathroom pass award.
Band director Adam Tucker made his pass a Funko Pop with accompanying music not only to offer his students a distraction, but also to try to win the next award.
“The award is unbelievably important. You have no idea how important it is,” Tucker said.
Ruth, who won the October award with his cardboard cutout of Tom Holland, expressed his interest, as well.
“I heard at the first faculty meeting that they were giving out an award. I said that I’m winning it next month and I did,” Ruth said, “and now I have to swap it up for next month and get something even better.”
