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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think this toilet design is madness in a secondary school!

92 replies

Tailtwister · 14/06/2013 09:53

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-22891134

Male/female open plan toilets in a secondary school! AIBU to think this is a crazy design? I could be wrong, but it looks like a recipe for disaster to me.

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 14/06/2013 17:51

You do sometimes wonder who comes up with these bright ideas? Architects who get slightly carried away with designing the space rather than for the function (as it were Grin), I think.

SirChenjin · 14/06/2013 17:51

I not you, and a rogue ? at the end of the first sentence Blush

HollyBerryBush · 14/06/2013 17:51

Armed police? I think not. I can't speak for other areas but schools have had police offices for a long time now. We share ours with the grammar school - it is simply a means to get an insight into 'stuff' that happens outside school - most kids socialise, they hear things, they know who is doing what where in the shopping precinct.

It's like the old 'beat bobby' - they exert very little authoritarian influence, but have everyones confidence. Worth their weight in gold for gleaning snippets of information. The upside being having a regular known officer within the school, children cease to be afraid and suspicious of the uniform - they are more likely to be open if they have a good solid relationship with the police.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 14/06/2013 17:52

so wait, unisex changing rooms at pools have been pretty much accepted as the norm for years in the UK but toilets are not ok?

As for rustling and blood on hands I felt the same way about girls not hearing or seeing. I didn't have my own private toilet at secondary to avoid this discomfort. I carried wipies and yes, flushed to mask the noise.

SirChenjin · 14/06/2013 17:59

Unisex changing rooms are for all ages and are monitored - but the toilets at swimming pools are still single sex. Plus at school, the boys have separate changing rooms and showers (at my DCs school anyway).

DioneTheDiabolist · 14/06/2013 19:54

I am Sad and Angry that in the 21st century women and girls are ashamed that they have periods and feel the need to hide the fact.

WestieMamma · 14/06/2013 20:03

Here in Sweden it's standard for schools to have toilets like this. In fact the only place I've ever been here with separate male/female toilets is Ikea. Everywhere else is unisex.

KatieScarlett2833 · 14/06/2013 20:06

I used the ones at DC school on parents night. Never gave it a second thought, TBH. Neither do the DC.

WestieMamma · 14/06/2013 20:06

In fact my daughter's old school was built in 1641, although I suspect they may have updated the bogs at some point. :o

OvO · 14/06/2013 20:17

I like the look of those loos. Wouldn't worry about using them myself. I can see why some people dont like them but I do think people would get used to them very quickly.

My DS's will have to. That'll be their secondary school in years to come!

Grin
McPie · 14/06/2013 21:11

OvO hello Grin have you been past recently, its looking amazing.
Im not sure if thats just the community toilets or if they are through out the whole school but they still look nicer than what they had to me.
The leisure side opens in 2 weeks time Grin so will get to use unisex loos for the first time then.

pinkr · 14/06/2013 21:15

These work brilliantly in our school. The toilets face the social area, the doors are floor to celling, about half are boy half girl and the hand washing but even has dyson hand dryers. It stops loitering and bullying and not one kid seems bothered by it. On the noise front there are three hundred odd kids in the social area so if someone can hear a rustle they have supper human senses!

OvO · 14/06/2013 21:21

I've not been properly past for a while. Just saw a glimpse between houses a few days ago. But will definitely go for a snoop around when it opens! Grin

If I spot a woman loitering in the loos I'll know it's you. Wink

McPie · 14/06/2013 21:28

Nah I will be the one constantly in the dance or fitness studio doing one of my 17 classes I do each week Grin (wheres the crazy nutter smiley?). The staff are so used to me now they dont even ask what I'm in for now Smile.

jamdonut · 14/06/2013 21:35

I think they seem like a good idea. I don't have a problem with the idea of unisex toilets...so long as everyone has a cubicle, what does it matter?
My daughter (16 now) will hang on all day rather than go to the toilets at her school,(due to the girls who frequent them) which is far more unhealthy than worrying about who can hear you open packaging.
I think more places should be like this actually. But men would hate queuing up for toilets like women do!!

Apples7 · 16/07/2013 17:10

I find the idea horrible!
Truthfully im a student at the high school in fourth year & im 14!
Im dealing with gender identity issues so the bright pink toilets arent very welcoming for someone who identifies as female but know they are truly male!
The fact is these toilets are connected to the school from the lunch hall to main corridor so whislt everyone is on way to classes others will be using the toilets its like a corridor & room at once! Conecting via the lunch hall were people eat food! Very unhygienic in my opinion tucking into lunch then a nice waft off un cleaned toilets YAY!
Also for girls dealing with periods while all the boys are in the same room wether using a stall or not its kinda weird!
Also i get bullied enough by both male& females constantly in school now if i want to go to the toilet it wil make it worse cos the boys will try to bully me in there aswell & i know it will happen i get bullied enough in all female school toilets & around school now this! :(

celticclan · 16/07/2013 18:39

Dingit me too! I thought the first picture was the individual toilets in an open plan hall Hmm

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