Is five minutes really enough time to go to the bathroom, grab a drink of water, and still make it to the next class? What if your next class is all the way across the building? Have you ever skipped going to the bathroom because you didn’t have enough time? Then, when you ask your teacher to go during class, they tell you that you should have gone during the passing period.

My friend is in band, and she has to arrive three minutes early to set up her equipment. Her teacher is also strict about allowing students to use the restroom during class. This means she only has around two minutes (or less) to go to the bathroom.

One solution would be to add an extra 15 to 20 minutes to the school day. That time could be used to make passing periods longer. Another option is to shorten class periods by a few minutes and add those extra minutes to passing periods.

If we had longer passing periods, it would be easier for everyone. Students could use the restroom or get a drink of water without rushing. It would also be easier for teachers, as students wouldn’t have to constantly ask to leave the classroom for these needs, meaning they wouldn’t miss out on learning. Additionally, the hallways would be calmer, as students wouldn’t have to rush to their next class. This change could make a positive difference for everyone in our school.