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Money better spent on arts in school

NANAIMO – Re: School trustees urged to investigate gender-neutral washrooms, March 5.

To the Editor,

Re: School trustees urged to investigate gender-neutral washrooms, March 5.

I see a simple solution to this problem. Why not change the sign of the handicapped bathroom to “gender neutral” so Jesse Jepson feels comfortable using this bathroom?

This is not to say that Jesse has his own private bathroom, but would have to share it with those who also have need for privacy due to special needs or circumstances.

Even considering putting in private gender-neutral bathrooms in schools with money that could go to artistic or academic venues is ridiculous.

Everyone wants their own private bathroom, but schools (and all public spaces) don’t work that way.

At the mall they do not have gender-neutral stalls. They have men, women and handicapped washrooms. That’s life. Jesse will have to deal.

Changing the sign on Jesse’s school washroom should put the issue to rest, without more money being spent on bathrooms. Already our tax money might go into a very pricey toilet downtown.

Maybe, with the time saved on this issue, Bill Bard and the other trustees could look into getting more academic and artistic outlets for all the kids.

Artists in the schools, fashion shows, chess club, science fair, debate team, short fiction contests, short dramatic scenes or monologue opportunities, math teams, etc. If there were more of these things I bet Jesse would spend less time in the loo and more time learning and creating.

Valentina Cardinalli

Nanaimo