Sad that teachers had to resort to passports

I would like to share my perspective on the bathroom passport issue.

I have been a school nurse for 22 years, the last seven at a large, diverse high school in the Northwest suburbs. The majority of students follow the rules - they arrive to class on time, they come prepared, they turn in their homework, they pay attention to the teacher.

But unfortunately, many do not. Imagine trying to get through a challenging lesson plan when you have students asking every five minutes if they can go to the bathroom. Students who get permission to use the bathroom are often found loitering in the hallways, meeting up with friends who they texted after they left the classroom.

Even though my school is large, most students are able to take care of their hygiene needs during passing periods or during their lunch or study hall periods. For students with medical conditions that require them to have frequent and timely access to the bathroom at all times, I am able to issue them a special pass that allows them to do that.

It is sad that teachers had to resort to bathroom passports, but it appeared to be the only way for them to manage their learning environment. Teachers are under tremendous pressure to show that their students are making academic progress.

Students who are out of the classroom are not available to learn.

Julia Olsta

Bartlett