You are in class waiting patiently for another student to return so you can use the restroom. Six minutes pass, then 10 minutes, and finally 15 minutes, when your teacher decides to let you go. During the break, you rush into the bathroom and see people crammed together trying to check themselves out in the mirror. This is not a new issue; students have left class to roam around the school and talk with their friends. It is frustrating that students are being irresponsible with their time, which has a direct impact on their peers.
Some have suggested that removing the mirror could help solve the problem.
There are plenty of valid reasons why students take so much time during their “bathroom” breaks. I don’t think that mirror usage is a significant reason why students take so long when they leave class. If the school removes mirrors, I do not think it will stop students from “lollygagging” in the hallways.
In my opinion, it would be odd to remove mirrors from bathrooms that already lack windows. Although you can’t see yourself in a window, the illusion of mirrors makes the bathroom look and feel less trapped. If there were no mirrors and no windows, students would feel claustrophobic in the busy bathroom.
On the rare occasion that I leave class to use the restroom, I have never seen anyone using the bathroom but instead talking to their friends or crowding in a stall while trying to be inconspicuous during the act of smoking.
Having a mirror in the bathroom is helpful for students. During lunch or break, they can use them to fix their hair, clothes, makeup, etc. I understand not wanting them to do that during class time, but students will always find a way, whether they are using their camera on their phone or bringing a mirror to school with them.
Having no mirrors is a punishment that would not solve the problem of students spending too much time in the bathroom. Instead, the focus should be on the real time-consuming problems, like smoking in the bathroom, leaving class just to talk with friends, and the lack of respect for other students who genuinely need to use the bathroom while other students abuse the pass.
