A new bathroom pass system was implemented at Cal High last month.
The system uses a color-coded method for bathroom passes in different buildings and floors of the main building. The passes are also labeled so the building of the student’s classroom is known.
These distinct passes aim to limit students wandering around campus since hall monitors will be able to see their passes and immediately know if students are where they should be.
But the effectiveness of this system is doubtful.
The system relies on staff members recognizing the color of each building’s pass and ensuring students are in the correct place.
But many staff members do not strictly enforce these rules. Students can easily wander campus without being told to go back to class because staff members often don’t watch students carefully enough to know where they should be.
Many students leave class without passes, facing no repercussions and students who do take the designated pass with them can easily stuff it into their pockets. With the pass not visible, students are free to wander unless stopped by a staff member.
But staff members are not diligent enough in stopping students.
The countless ways to get around the new system render it ineffective. It’s incredibly easy to avoid being caught in a different building and the system fails to meet its goals.
Even attempting to place restrictions on which bathrooms students use is questionable.
Oftentimes, students in different buildings are not wandering. There are many reasons why students want to avoid certain bathrooms, such as cleanliness and crowds.
Plus, some bathrooms are closed and students have to look for other restrooms on campus.
In such situations, students will be allowed to use other bathrooms as long as they are back to class in time. But if students are permitted to use any bathroom under the condition they are back in time, passes labeled with specific buildings serve no purpose.
The new bathroom pass system will not bring any changes, and modifying it is a waste of time and resources.