The secondary school ‘Wey Valley Academy’ in Weymouth, Dorset, has made a striking decision. All mirrors in the school’s toilets have been removed because, according to the management, students went there too often to admire their own reflection.
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Headteacher Steven Dyer has had enough of ‘the crowds in the toilets’ and sent an email to the parents of the students in which he says that the mirrors even led to behavioral problems.
“We noticed that the mirrors in the toilets contributed to the crowding in the room and that problems arose,” he claims.
“Students often gathered around the mirrors, causing delays, congestion and in some cases behavior that made the space less comfortable for others. “By removing the mirrors, we are making the toilets quieter and safer, and using them for their intended purpose.”
It is currently unclear whether the mirrors will ever return. “We will continue to evaluate the scheme and take student feedback into account.”
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Many parents reacted indignantly. “As a mother of two young girls at school, I am furious,” says one of the parents anonymously. “A friend of my daughter had to remove a piercing and replace it with a transparent bar. Do that safely without a mirror.”
Another commented: “Both boys and girls have so many insecurities and I think this will only add to the pressure.”
Some parents also wonder whether the measure is useful. “When I asked my children about this, they both said that the mirrors “have absolutely nothing to do with the ongoing problems.”