North Carolina middle school removes bathroom MIRRORS after students kept cutting classes to go and film TikTok videos
- At Southern Alamance Middle School in North Carolina, mirrors were removed from the hallway bathrooms this week
- School officials observed students using bathrooms to make TikTok videos
- The school district has also implemented a digital hall pass system that allows students to check in and out as they leave classrooms
A high school in North Carolina removed bathroom mirrors after students skipped classes to make TikTok videos in the bathroom.
The Alamance-Burlington School System announced this week that Southern Alamance Middle School had removed mirrors from its hallway bathrooms to reduce distractions.
The move came as school officials saw many students going to the bathroom seven or eight times a day, and in many cases during class.
“Students were going to the bathroom for long periods of time and making TikTok videos,” ABSS PR officer Les Atkins said. WFMY News.
Removing mirrors has proven effective so far, as school officials noticed fewer visits to the restroom and students spending less time there.
A high school in North Carolina removed bathroom mirrors after students skipped classes to make TikTok videos in the bathroom (pictured above: a similar video was posted by a social media user at the high school)
The Alamance-Burlington School System announced this week that Southern Alamance Middle School has removed mirrors from its hallway bathrooms to reduce distractions
This move came as the school district saw many students going to the bathroom seven or eight times a day, and in many cases during class
Removing mirrors proved effective as school officials noticed fewer bathroom visits and students spent less time there. (Image: stock photo of a bathroom)
“Since removing the mirrors, we have seen a dramatic decrease in bathroom visits from students who excused themselves just to take videos,” Atkins said.
“(The school) didn’t see as many bathroom visits, and (students) didn’t stay as long.” he said.
‘And students are held accountable. When there is accountability, you will see a big difference,” he added.
The school district also implemented Smart Pass, a digital hall pass system, which allows students to check in and out as they leave classrooms.
The system is part of the school’s existing software; it will therefore not entail any additional costs for the district.
‘We strive to limit distractions so that students can focus on learning. While this is an adjustment, we believe these changes will promote a better learning environment by minimizing disruptions,” the school district said.
“Students were going to the bathroom for a long time and making TikTok videos,” ABSS PR officer Les Atkins told WFMY News
Removing mirrors proved effective as school officials noticed fewer bathroom visits and students spent less time there
Parents and social media users support the school’s approach, noting that there are too many distractions for high school students.
A mother of a 12-year-old boy wrote, “Am I the only mean parent of a high school student who doesn’t let him or her have a smartphone?”
She added that her son uses a Nokia, which has “avoided a lot of problems.” She added, “Why does a child need more than the ability to make a phone call during an emergency while at school?”
Another person said, “High school kids have no reason to even need a phone at school. It’s one big distraction.’
They said, ‘I’m not saying they can’t have a phone. Rather, it should be treated as a reward or a privilege. Give it to them when they get home from school as a reward for their hard work at school. Problem solved.’
Other social media users offered their solutions, with one saying: ‘I know a substitute who has a rule of handing over his phone to go to the toilet. They’ll get it back when they come back.’