In many classrooms at KHS, the same question is asked every day by students. Although some teachers find the question unnecessary, many still ask. In a 37-11 vote, The Kirkwood Call decided that needing to ask to use the restroom is ridiculous.

It’s halfway through second hour and suddenly that Venti Pumpkin Spice latte no longer seems like quite as good of an idea as it did on your morning Starbucks run. You’re squirming in your seat as the teacher clicks through a PowerPoint on the ActivBoard, waiting for the first pause in the lecture. Finally it comes as the teacher stops for the class to take notes. Your hand creeps into the air. With an exasperated look, the teacher calls on you, and punctuating the sound of pencils scribbling is the dreaded and unnecessary question: “Can I go to the bathroom?”

On one hand, the teacher can say yes, and you can make your merry way to the bathroom. On the other hand, the teacher can say no, whether it’s because you just came from lunch, or class is almost over, or she thinks you can certainly wait until after the PowerPoint.

Certainly whether or not they need to go to the bathroom is a decision KHS students, some of which are legal adults, can make on their own.

This is a plea to teachers. Some already employ a policy which mimics real life. You have to go to the bathroom, so you go. Students are given free rein to recognize their own bodily needs, stand up without fuss, grab a pass and head to the restroom. Class continues without any interruption, and students’ needs are addressed quickly and appropriately.

Students are completely able of knowing when exactly they need to go to the bathroom. Having to ask permission to fulfill such a basic human need reduces students. Despite the argument that teachers need control of their classrooms, until students show they are unable to handle such a large responsibility as relieving themselves, they should not be punished. Even if that turns out to be the case, individual students should be dealt with, not the student body as a whole.

For now, teachers should let their students make their own decisions regarding when they take bathroom breaks. The best policy is to let them grab a pass, absolutely no questions asked.