A school in England has removed all mirrors from its toilets, arguing that students are spending too much time in them.
“Mirrors can encourage students to spend too much time in toilets, often in large groups,” said Grant Edgar, headteacher of William Farr Comprehensive in Welton, adding that this can make some children feel “uncomfortable,” BBC reported.
Mixed reactions from parents
Reactions from parents ranged from calling the decision “silly” and “a bit extreme” to “strange.”
According to Mr. Edgar, the academy faced “some issues at transition times,” which could “affect punctuality to lessons.”
He reiterated that mirrors “encourage” students to spend excessive time in toilets, where they often gather in “large groups,” making it “uncomfortable for some students to use the toilets.”
If any student requires a mirror for medical purposes, they can request one at the reception, he added.
“They’re just mirrors, aren’t they? We have mirrors at home, why can’t we have them in school?” BBC quoted a parent as saying.
Similar cases in other schools
In January 2024, a middle school in North Carolina reportedly removed bathroom mirrors due to an increase in students using class time to create TikTok videos in restrooms.
In 2023, Christopher Whitehead Language College in Worcester replaced mirrors in girls’ toilets with posters describing makeup as a “harmful drug” that makes women “feel ugly,” Daily Mail reported.