It’s back-to-school time across the United States, which comes with a lot of feelings for teachers, students, and parents. For moms and dads, we of course hope our kids feel safe, happy, and loved when we are away from them for so many hours a day. Thankfully, many schools go above and beyond to ensure the best experience they can create for students.
A Virginia high school will unveil something new this year, aiming to make all students feel comfortable throughout the day. Some believe, however, that Christiansburg High School’s new “open plan” gender neutral bathroom will have the opposite effect.
Alecia Vaught, a 49-year-old grandmother of two students at the high school, shared her concerns about the new bathroom plans with The Daily Signal. She said back when she was in high school, the thought of sharing an open bathroom with a boy would have “mortified” her. She thought about how uncomfortable that time in life can be for adolescents.
“Could you imagine just starting [your period] for the first time and not being able to get what you need?” she asked.
Vaught added that the stalls may separate the genders but sounds will still carry.
“How would you feel coming out of the stall, washing your hands, and having to look at the boy or man who just heard you and is now right beside you at the sink? That is NOT OK!” Vaught shared.
According to The Daily Signal, Josh Bower of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates discussed the bathroom concept at a June 2023 meeting of the Montgomery County School Board. He said the goal of the “open plan” is to ultimately thwart bullying.
“The bathroom is the highest level of anxiety a student has,” Bower shared. “They don’t want to go to the restroom because of some of the nonsense that happens in there. When you’re doing your most private activities, the stalls go from floor to ceiling and they are completely private when you are doing your most private activities.”
Per WFXR, Christansburg High School’s district, Montgomery County Public Schools, adopted a new bathroom policy in 2021.
“Students should have access to facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their consistently asserted gender identity or expression,” the policy states. “Upon request, a single-user, gender-inclusive facility, or other non-stigmatizing alternatives should be made available to any student who seeks privacy.”
Christiansburg High School alum J.R. Putnam posted photos of the new bathrooms in a public alumni Facebook group he took during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“For the short amount of time that I was in the building I took several pictures. I hope you enjoy what I could get,” he wrote.
“They have unisex bathrooms in the new high school? School board is asking for problems,” someone commented on the post.
“I feel sorry for the females…get use to wiping the seats,” another person wrote.
This alum agreed and wrote, “Oh yea that’s going to be a lot of problems that girls are going to complain about.”
The Virginia Department of Education explained to The Daily Signal that local school divisions have their own governing boards and policies.
“We trust all divisions in Virginia are reviewing local policies—including bathroom and locker room policies—to ensure alignment to Title IX and maintaining safe educational environments free from discrimination,” the Virginia Department of Education noted.
