Newton High School has many wonderful features, such as the Ravenscroft gym, the auditorium, and the cafeteria. These are all destinations in the school where students can hang out and socialize with one another. Another popular hangout spot also seems to be the Railer Mural Bathrooms. Since my freshman year, the Railer Mural Bathrooms have never been a place where I have felt comfortable using the restroom.
The mural in front of the bathrooms creates a hidden area that makes it easier for students to engage in inappropriate behavior without being seen. This lack of visibility creates an opportunity for some students to participate in activities that are against school rules. This includes vaping without the fear of being caught by school administrators. Another potential consequence is the risk of school violence in this area. The lack of supervision and visibility is an issue.
Throughout my years at NHS, I have observed questionable behavior while simply trying to use the bathroom. The majority of these experiences happened during my freshman and sophomore years. Using the bathroom was almost impossible with the number of girls in one space. From wall to wall, there would be girls hanging out with their friends, sitting or lying on the floor, and using the mirror to get ready for the day. I remember trying to get by other girls to get to a stall, and they would block the stalls, stand in my way because they thought it was funny, or just pretend they did not hear me. Using the bathroom was always a struggle and a lot of work just to complete one simple task. One time, my sophomore year, I remember using the bathroom, and there was another girl in the stall beside me, standing on the toilet and watching me use the bathroom. After this moment, I decided that I could no longer use the mural bathrooms and that the conditions of it were overstepping my boundaries.
This school year, I have noticed a tremendous change in the Railer Mural bathrooms. I have noticed that fewer students are using it as a hangout spot and that there is more supervision. I hope that in the future, the environment of the Railer Mural restrooms will only get better.
