Justified?

School locks toilets during lessons

Symbolic image

(Bild: Shisanupong - stock.adobe.com)

They are a nuisance for many teachers: pupils who go to the toilet during lessons. One school in Graz is now taking a special step: the toilets are only unlocked during breaks! But the reason for this lies elsewhere.

It is a very unusual step that the BG/BRG Klusemann in Graz has decided to take - and one that not everyone can understand. Since Monday, all sanitary facilities have been locked during lesson times and only unlocked again during the breaks. "This means that pupils have no access to the sanitary facilities during lessons or outside break times, unless they are in the short 15 to 25-minute breaks," an informant, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Die Krone.

And if you "have to"? Then you have to contact one of two school attendants, who unlock the toilets if necessary. However, they are "mainly busy with gardening work or repairing various things", they say. "With all this procedure, you would quickly miss 15 to 20 minutes of lessons."

Whistleblowers contacted the "Krone": "It is irresponsible to restrict access to basic hygiene facilities"

(Bild: P. Huber)

Follow-up: "This situation is not only unacceptable, but also extremely worrying, as it endangers the health and well-being of pupils."

7000 euros in damage due to vandalism
The principal of the Klusemannstraße grammar school, Klaus Tasch, does not want to let the descriptions stand. Although he confirms that the toilets are blocked, there is a reason for this: "The action was necessary because a few pupils caused a lot of damage to the toilets and made it impossible for the rest of the pupils to use them at all." Paper dispensers had been torn down and toilets were unusable. 

The damage so far this calendar year amounts to 7000 euros.

Direktor Klaus Tasch

If you have to go to the toilet, you can go easily. "Health is not at risk, pupils can easily go to the toilet during lessons by asking the school caretaker. Which has already been used today."

Discussion still pending
The new measure does not appear to have been discussed with the parents' association, although the acts of vandalism have often been discussed by the school community committee. According to Tasch, the measure was "an emergency decision by the school management" and will be discussed at the next SGA meeting.