Whenever students are taking a quick bathroom break in the middle of class, they might have a stuffed animal waiting at their desk that’s definitely taking notes for them. 

Before Northwood implemented school-wide bathroom passes, some teachers took the matter into their own hands. For both teachers and students, a stuffed animal sitting where a person should be is a visual cue of who is out of class and for how long.

Because of the policy that only one person can use the restroom at a time, these stuffed animals can discourage students from staying out too long, as the pass is a marker of their absence.

“I think that it’s a helpful way of holding students accountable,” junior Elisha Tran said. “I also like that they’re stuffed animals because it adds a fun element to the classroom.”

Science teacher Nelly Tsai’s stuffed polar bear is symbolic of the ICE course she teaches. When it kept getting dirty when students accidentally dropped it on the floor, she decided to dress it up in various outfits.

“I figured that I could change it based on the time of year,” Tsai said. “In the summer, he has a hat and sunglasses, and for Mental Health Week, I gave him a green bandana.”

Other teachers, like history teacher Logan Sewell, wanted something completely different for their bathroom passes. To amuse his students but also deter students from mismanaging bathroom time, Sewell ultimately decided on a potted tree. 

“It’s a fun, goofy way to get across the serious policy for minimizing students’ time out of class,” Sewell said. “I can talk about it in a manner that is befitting of my personality and how I try to approach my classes.”

Teachers don’t want to absolutely restrict students’ bathroom use during class, but it is important for students to use their bathroom privileges in an appropriate way that maximizes their time spent learning. Their cute companions serve as a fun reminder of these policies.