Teens Blast School Restroom Conditions; Lack of Soap, Paper Towels Cited as a Problem

ROSWELL, Ga. -- As many as 7.8 million secondary school students across the country avoid using the student restrooms during the school day, according to a recent national study.  And it's not because the kids are busy studying or rushing to class.  It's because of the deplorable state of their school restrooms.  In fact, 30 percent of school students called their student restrooms "gross."  About one-quarter of students surveyed went as far as to say that students should strike to protest bad restroom conditions.

Thirty-five percent of the teens surveyed said their student restrooms are missing toilet paper, soap or paper towels -- the basic sanitary supplies that in other public settings are mandated by local health departments.  This lack of restroom supplies was a particular issue among female high-schoolers; 53 percent of girls age 15-17 said their student restrooms lacked the basics.

When asked what school officials should do to improve restroom conditions,

more than three-quarters of the teens surveyed implored their schools to make

sure that toilet paper, soap and towels don't run out. 

The survey of 256 students age 12-17 nationwide was conducted by telephone

May 20-23, 2004 by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Kimberly-

Clark Professional.  The margin of error is plus or minus 6 percent.

Source: Kimberly-Clark Professional