Facilities Report Cards: A Measure of Our School’s Bathroom Conditions, Nursing Services, and Classroom Conditions
By Daniel Terranova, Maritza Murguia, Tiffany Chan and Emma Vides
WHAT WE LOOKED FOR:
Classrooms
Clean, uncrowded, well-lighted classrooms and other instructional spaces with adequate ventilation and necessary heating and air conditioning, reasonably maintained and free of vermin, mold and other health hazards.
Bathrooms
Are they unlocked, accessible, well-stocked and maintained in decent, safe, and sanitary condition?
Nursing
Are there adequate school nursing services?
HOW WE DETERMINED THIS
We surveyed 21 students for their opinions on:
School Nursing
Bathrooms
Classrooms
SURVEY PART I:
SCHOOL NURSING:
Circle: Female/Male
Do you know where the nurse’s office is? (circle): yes/no
If yes, where is it located?
Have you ever been to the nurse’s office? y/n
How many times?
Have you ever been sent away? y/n
Why?
When you need the nurse is she usually there?
When you go to the nurse’s office, is it always open?
SURVEY PART I (continued)
NURSING (continued):
Why have you gone? (check all that apply)
Sex education
Condoms/birth control
Daily medication
Tampon
Tired/need sleep
Band-aid
Feeling sick
headache
SURVEY PART II
BATHROOMS:
Circle: Female/Male
How many times do you go to the bathroom at school per day?
When you go to the bathroom how often is it locked? (circle one)
Never
Occasionally
Often
Always
SURVEY PART II (continued)
BATHROOMS (continued):
In which buildings have you found locked bathrooms? (check all that apply)
History
Language/Library
Technology
North/South Gym
Science
Business
Cafeteria
English
Do you ever avoid using the bathroom at school? y/n
SURVEY PART III
CLASSROOMS:
Are they well lighted? y/n
Is there adequate ventilation? (check all that apply)
Windows
Heaters
Air conditioning
Are the classrooms and other facilities “free of vermin, mold, and other health hazards?” y/n
RESULTS PART I
We see that most of the students have been to the nurse’s office five times or less
RESULTS PART I (continued)
Why the boys and girls were sent away
The majority were not sent away, but the ones who were did not have a note.
RESULTS PART I (continued)
These results state that many students could not be treated by the nurse because she was either not there or the office was closed. These are shocking results.
RESULTS PART I (continued)
Why did the students go to the nurse?
Most went because they were feeling sick or had headaches.
RESULTS PART II
The results show that most students go to the bathroom two to three times a day.
RESULTS PART II (continued)
The results show that many of these students have tried to use the restroom, but were unable to because they were locked. This is bad for the students’ health.
RESULTS PART II (continued)
Every student surveyed has had a situation where they have gone to the bathroom and it has been locked. This means that they have had to search for an unlocked bathroom which causes them to miss class time.
RESULTS PART II (continued)
71% of students surveyed said they avoided using the bathroom at school at one time or another. Many students avoid using the restroom because of poor conditions. This is terrible because when students avoid using the bathroom, they can develop bladder infections.
RESULTS PART III
Santa Monica High School received excellent ratings in the survey when we asked students if their classrooms were well lighted. This is good because adequate lighting allows students to focus, increasing their chances of success.
RESULTS PART III (continued)
Many classes lack windows making it hard for students to feel comfortable, making it difficult for them to learn and possibly making them sick.
RESUTLS PART III (continued)
Many students were asked if there were health hazards in their classrooms, and though many said no, there are still many students who have to endure the health hazards.
BATHROOM CHECKS
We went around to all the bathrooms at Samohi to check the conditions. This is what we found.
Bathroom Check #1
Girls first floor English building (time 3:56). Only problem was that it was locked.
Bathroom Check #2
Girls 2nd floor language building (time 3:58) It was unlocked and stocked. Comments include: writing on the wall, sinks do not work, and puddles on floor.
BATHROOM CHECKS (continued)
Bathroom Check #3
Boys first floor English building (time 3:58). Unlocked and stocked. Comments include: tagging on the stalls and walls and ants on the floor.
Bathroom Check #4
Boys first floor History building (time 4:01). Unlocked and stocked. Comments include: Paper and sanitary covers on the floor. Tagging everywhere.
BATHROOM CHECKS (continued)
Bathroom Check #5
Boys second floor language building (time 3:56). Unlocked and Stocked. Comments include: It was smelly, dirty, unflushed toilets, paper on the floor, scratched mirrors, and tagging on the walls.
Bathroom Check #6
Girls first floor history building (time 4:05). Unlocked and Stocked. Comments include: tagging on the walls and stalls, dirty, smelly, and paper and seat covers all over the floor.
GROUP DISCUSSION
Now that we have shown you the facts, we would like to know your opinion
How do you feel about this information that has been presented to you?
Do you have any ideas or solutions for these problems?
What can you do as one person and as a group to begin to make a change?
