In March 2024, the reconstruction of Hoover Elementary School began, initially planning to only construct gender-neutral bathrooms. However, the updated plan now includes both gendered and gender-neutral facilities. The bathrooms include both single-stalled and multi-stalled options, with height partitions and gap-free doors added for privacy.
The new plan is a great decision. The original plan of only gender-neutral bathrooms was an inappropriate decision as it put students in uncomfortable situations.
Just as gender-neutral people should have their own space, other individuals who identify as female or male should reserve that same right. Ultimately, the implementation of only gender-neutral bathrooms is a massive invasion of privacy for students, and it is inappropriate to assign everyone to the same bathroom. Instead, we should be appreciating and understanding the differences between various gender identities.
According to NPR, the percentage of girls getting their periods before age 11, which is the age of most elementary school graduates, is 15.5%. For female students who are menstruating, or just began their menstruation cycle during school, it could be very stressful or emotionally distressing if they had to share a bathroom with people of other gender identities. It is a subject many younger people are self-conscious about, and children can lack a sense of sensitivity, meaning sharing a bathroom with boys could be very uncomfortable for girls in that situation.
As expected, many Hoover students and parents spoke out at school board meetings and contacted the administration about their concerns about only offering gender-neutral bathrooms. In a September Palo Alto Online article, many Hoover students voiced they were uncomfortable with sharing bathrooms with students of the other gender. Additionally, parents said that their children felt embarrassed when using the same bathroom with people of other genders and would end up holding off on using the bathrooms throughout the school day.
Not only have Hoover students and parents continuously voiced their opinions on this subject, but they also made a petition for gendered bathrooms that has been signed by over 1000 people. The recent administrative change to include gendered bathrooms has pleased many parents and students, although some are still skeptical. This new decision made by the administration was the right choice and should start happening more in all Palo Alto School District schools. Catering to the parents and students in this situation was the best way to create a fully inclusive environment for students of all identities.
