With the new school year underway a change in school policy affects some students and their typical bathroom pictures. The everyday photo, usually including a group of people crowding around a mirror, making faces and throwing up peace signs, is no longer permitted in school (at least not in the bathrooms anyway).The school is enforcing the “No Picture Policy,” meaning that no one is allowed to take any sort of picture or video in a school bathroom or locker room.
“No one is allowed to take a picture in a restroom or locker room,” Principal Scott Roberts said. “Also nothing is allowed to be filmed in a classroom without a teacher’s permission.”
For returning students, this policy creates a change from last year. The annual talk assistant principal Lisa Wilson gives to all communication arts classes at the beginning of the year had an additional point this year.
“There’s just too much stuff going on in there,” counselor Kristi Dixon said. “There’s no need to be taking pictures in the bathroom, especially with all the privacy issues and concerns.”
While snapping a photo in the bathroom mirror may seem harmless, one could never know who else could end up in the photo which then causes the issue of whether or not one has their permission to post this photo on a social media network.
“I understand when it comes to people taking inappropriate pictures of others changing clothes or being in the stalls, but if you and your friends want to take pics in the mirror it shouldn’t matter at all,” junior Rachel Rutledge said.
Although the rule is set in place, some students, like Rutledge, feel that it’s not that big of deal especially with the type of photos they are taking.
“I don’t think students will follow this because it’s kind of a ridiculous rule,” Rutledge said. “No one is taking inappropriate pictures, so they are going to keep taking pics with their friends wherever they want.”
Even though the school itself cannot enforce any sort of punishment, other than a disciplinary speech, a lot more is at stake when breaking the policy. Later on in life, when a student tries to apply for a job or has to have a background check, any sort of photo that has been taken in a bathroom or locker room and shows up on a social media website, can be examined and have the consequence of that person becoming a sex offender. That will remain on a personal record.
The “No Pic Policy” relates to rules that other districts, such as Olathe, have tried to enforce, which banned girls from wearing yoga pants. Although taking pictures in bathrooms is a more punishable escapade, students are still not fans of this.
“It makes the school look paranoid,” junior Alex Peuser said. “The fact that they don’t want us taking photos at school is ridiculous. Cause we all know what sexting looks like and it involves clothes off. Not one with some friends. We understand sexting is bad.”
Trying to combine capturing a moment with friends and not breaking the school rules can be difficult for some now, but the bathroom is certainly not the only place one can pose for a picture.
“The solution to this problem is easy,” Dixon said, “You flip the camera on your phone, step out into the hallway and take your picture there.”
