Ohio Students Enraged After High School Locks Bathrooms During Class: 'That's a Basic Human Right'

Some Schools Continue In-Class Learning As Others Shutter As COVID-19 — Signs mark a bathroom next to an "isolation room" set up for students or faculty with potential COVID-19 symptoms at Rogers International School on October 21, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

Whetstone High School in Columbus Ohio, has been restricting access to restrooms during school hours, and students are fed up and speaking out, accusing administrators of violating their rights.

The bathrooms, which are said to be often locked during school hours, are also dirty and lack mirrors, per students. According to local NBC affiliate WCMH-TV, the children are required to request permission from teachers or administrators to unlock stall doors between breaks, and must frequently endure long wait times and other humiliating frustrations in their attempt to relieve themselves.

A Columbus City Schools (CSS) spokesperson insisted the policy was implemented with the students' safety in mind. It was reportedly sparked by physical altercations which took place in school bathrooms.

"And if they need to use the restroom during class, they can get a hall pass from their teacher to use an individual bathroom, which can be unlocked by a school staff member," CCS Media Relations Coordinator Tyler Carter told the news station.

But some students are denying these claims, saying they are encountering a different reality.

"Today, I had to use the bathroom so bad and my teacher gave me permission to go run there real quick and all of them were locked," Freshman Nora Hardesty told NBC4. "I had to wait 10 whole minutes to use the bathroom, I was on the verge of peeing myself. That's a basic human right, like, you can't not let me go to the bathroom, especially when it's an emergency."

"As a female student, I've had to leave school because of bleeding through my clothes and have had issues with having to use the restroom and being told no or having to stand in a very long line," added sophomore Tegan Arthur.

Some students say they've stopped drinking water for fear they will need to use the restroom only to find it locked.

At least one student claimed that certain teachers have gone so far as to place a quota on the number of times a student may visit the restroom per semester.

The outrage has now compelled some parents to speak out as well.

"My main concern as a parent is access to clean restrooms and access to education," said one concerned mother. "It seems that we can't have both."