While people normally categorize going to the bathroom as something relieving, here at East High School, it can be one of the most stressful things. With the addition of more “modernized” automatic-flush toilets, students have been hit with two things: one, the unexpected spray of disgusting toilet water, and two, the dawning fact that these funky restroom necessities are a bit too sensitive and, well, automatic.
You might currently be asking yourself: “If the toilets don’t work and always flush when they’re not supposed to, why was the decision made to install them?” While I can’t say I’ll be able to provide an exact answer to that brilliant question, there is one theory (yes, only one) that I’d like to share.
First, last, and least: Germ-reduction. Having to press down on the dirty, home-to-various-microscopic-bacteria handles can allow more people to catch colds during the school year. While it’s completely preventable (use your foot, people), this could constitute as a reason as to why the school made the decision to replace their former “old-fashioned” toilets with newer (yet somehow more dysfunctional) ones. However, if the soap dispensers themselves don’t have sensors to recognize when your hand is ready to be cleansed, aren’t you just taking in germs again by having to use your hand to press the soap out? Plus, the germy spray from the toilet’s unexpected flush can get all over you. Not only that, but the school is essentially blowing money by having these poor automatic toilets flush every five seconds. Water is constantly being wasted.
I suppose now would be a good time to get to the actual “commentary” part of this article. In my opinion, if you haven’t guessed already, these automatic toilets are unnecessary, expensive, and a pain to deal with. I’d rather walk all the way to the manual-flush restroom in the gym locker room than deal with the automatic ones everywhere else…but unfortunately, there’s a time crunch to get to class. I suppose the highly desired demolition of these automatic toilets is probably not going to happen as it is both most likely out of our control and quite expensive. So, for now, sit still and keep that toilet paper close: you’ll just have to cross your fingers for an expected, spray-free flush.
