A principal has resorted to limiting access to toilets at a high school after students were found to have routinely smeared faeces on the walls, ceilings and sinks.
The disgusting practice took place at Grant High School in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
A letter was issued in May by principal Fleur Roachock who revealed that the school had been ‘unsuccessful’ in stopping the culprits.
Students at Grant High School (pictured) in Mount Gambier, South Australia, have smeared faeces on the walls, ceilings and sinks in their own bathrooms
‘This has now become a significant health and safety issue for our cleaners and handypeople,’ she wrote.
‘We have undertaken some research about how other schools manage this type of situation and, as a result, we are going to limit student access.’
Ms Roachock said the bathrooms at the school, with the exception of the senior toilets, would be locked up during class time.
Students have to sign out a key to access them.
She explained in the letter that the drastic measure had been taken because the school had ‘run out of options’.
Ms Roachock added that the school would also visit its phone policy and possibly ban students from using mobile phones.
Staff members discovered the excrement inside the boys’ and girls’ toilets.
It was thrown on the walls and ceilings by students and smeared over bathroom sinks.
The school’s principal, Fleur Roachock, has locked the school bathrooms during class time in an effort to stamp out the vandalism (stock image)
She explained in a letter issued to parents that the school had resorted to the measure as they had ‘run out of options’
A parent, who provided the letter to the Mount Gambier News, expressed her concerns over the school’s decision to lock up the toilets despite the grotesque vandalism.
‘With toilets needing to be locked during the school day, I’ve also been made aware of a number of instances where a child has been locked inside the toilets.
‘Staff are having to enter the toilets and call out to children to ensure nobody is there.’
The parent said that having teachers constantly enter bathrooms to check for students was ‘uncomfortable’ because it was a private space for children.
They added that it could be traumatising for students who are accidentally locked inside or being checked on by a teacher as they use a toilet.
Ms Roachock claims the lockout system undertaken by the school has since resulted in a ‘significant reduction of vandalism’.