Editorial Writing

Invitational B Meet • 2023

Leaguetown High School has 4,400 students enrolled in grades 9-12. After
a series of hallway fights and students caught vaping in bathrooms during
first semester, principal Dr. Patricia Monroe introduced a new bathroom
pass system to reduce unsupervised hallway time. When the system was
implemented on Jan. 3, students received a personalized printed copy of the
student handbook with a bright, yellow cover to use as their bathroom pass.
You are a reporter
On the back of the handbook is a table with five rows where students will have
for the Leaguetown their teacher list the time leaving class, the time returned to class, the date and
Press, the student their signature. Students will have five opportunities to go to the bathroom
newspaper of during class time in the spring semester and no more. Students with certain
medical needs will be able to use the bathroom more often, as needed.
Leaguetown High Members of the school board and Dr. Monroe received numerous email
School. From the complaints as a result of the new system, and parents took to the district’s
given information, Facebook page to share their opinions as well.
write an editorial A group of concerned parents and students said they will speak during the
public comment section at the school board meeting on Feb. 6 and formally
as you would for ask the board to intervene and remove the new bathroom pass system.
the high school You are writing for the issue of the Press to be distributed Friday, Feb. 3.
newspaper.
THOSE SUPPORTING THE NEW SYSTEM
After social media trends that urged students to destroy school property
Remember that as last year, the number of fights in the hallway this year and the amount of
an editorial writer, vaping that happens in the bathrooms, it’s clear that students aren’t responsible
you should support enough to be in the halls unsupervised. Limiting the number of times a
or oppose policy or student can be excused from class to go to the restroom is one way to cut
down on the number of people in the hallways causing problems when they
action; you should should be in class learning.
not sermonize. You
have 45 minutes. THOSE OPPOSING THE NEW SYSTEM
Students should not be limited on the number of times they can use the
bathroom. It’s unhealthy to hold it when it’s time to go. The six-minute passing
Do not write your period is not enough time to go from one end of the building to the other and
name or the name stop along the way. Access to the bathrooms is also a necessity for girls having
of your school on their periods. High school students are almost adults and should be able to
take cues from their own bodies and know when it’s appropriate to take a
this sheet or your
break.
entry. Put your
number on your
paper.
 2023 INVITATIONAL B MEET EDITORIAL• PAGE 2

■ DR. PATRICIA MONROE, principal

“As an administrator, I am tasked with keeping students safe at this school. That is my number one
priority. Period. And if reducing the number of bathroom passes available for students is going to help
me reach that goal, then that’s what we’re going to do. Last year, students tore apart our bathrooms, and
the repairs cost us thousands. This year, we are averaging two major fights a week, and the vaping issue
is a daily occurence. It would be dereliction of duty for me as the leader of this school not to take any
substantial action in making this campus a safer place for our students and teachers. Of course, we will
listen to parent and student input at the school board meeting, but I try not to take too much advice from
keyboard warriors on Facebook. I’m going to do what needs to be done to keep the school safe.”

■ EMMA HUNZEKER, senior

“Here we are in the fifth week of this hall pass program, and I used all my bathroom passes the week
I had my period. What are we supposed to do? Just sit there in class when we know we need to go? And
since basketball season started, I’ve increased my water intake a ton. I fill up my water bottle at least twice
during the school day. I guess I’ll just be late to class if I have to use the bathroom. I don’t see any other
choice. My mom and I will be at the school board meeting to ask them to have administrators remove
this ridiculous system. I’ve never felt as uncomfortable or as unsafe as I do now at school.”

■ JACK VINSON, parent of a junior

“I plan to attend the school board meeting to protest the new bathroom pass program. My son plays
football and needs to hydrate throughout the day. And now they aren’t going to let him use the restroom?
That’s not going to happen. He will use the restroom when he needs to, regardless of how many signatures
are on his bathroom pass.”

■ ELI JAY, World History teacher

“It’s nice to see students having to take responsibility for their actions. Five trips to the restroom is
plenty. They can take a break before or after school and during passing periods or lunch. There are plenty
of opportunities. And now they aren’t missing valuable class time.
“I always had the same kids leave my class a few times a week to use the bathroom. I know of at least
one student who left my class to use the bathroom and left the building in handcuffs because he really left
class to go fight someone. And everyone puts these fights all over TikTok now, so other kids who know
about it will ask to leave class just to go record the fight and hope their video goes viral. The fewer kids
walking around the halls, the better.
“The only thing I don’t like about the new system is that I have to touch this disgusting, yellow student
handbook to sign their pass that goes with them into the bathroom. What are kids supposed to do with
this thing while they go? Then I have to sign it when they get back. I’ve just been making the kids sign it
themselves.”

■ JONNAY JACKSON, freshman

“I’ll be honest. I don’t always go to the restroom when I ask to go. Sometimes I just need to do a lap
around the building to refocus and take a little brain break, especially in the afternoon. A short walk
helps me do that, and then I come back to class and can do even better on my tests and assignments. I
guess there’s no way I can do any of that now. I need to save my bathroom passes for emergencies.”
 2023 INVITATIONAL B MEET • KEY PAGE 1
DO NOT PASS OUT TO STUDENTS BEFORE OR DURING THE CONTEST
Editorial Writing/Invitational B • 2023
Contest Tips and Sample Editorials
Contest Director: Give one copy to each judge to use during critique/judging. Also,
staple one copy of the contest and one copy of the contest tips to each student’s
returned entry. The purpose of the tips is to provide immediate feedback to students.
However, it is not meant to replace written comments from the judge.

1. Lead with a statement of the situation and then take a clear, definite staff stance. The
situation is whether the school should continue the new bathroom pass program.

2. As a general rule, use third person. If you must use a pronoun, use first person plural (we,
meaning “we, the newspaper staff”). Do not use first person singular (I, me, mine) or second
person (you). Avoid unnecessary use of pronouns. Rather than “We believe the principal
should...,” write instead, “The principal should.”

3. Don’t waddle into the editorial. Get right to the point and, as a general rule, don’t ask a
lot of questions. An editorial should answer questions, not ask them. Above all, remember
that your purpose is to make thoughtful, logical arguments in support of your position, not
to engage in a tirade. The editorial should not be long — 450 words at the most. Although
it’s not recommended all the time, sometimes a writer could use a feature opening to grab
the reader’s attention and get them into the story.

4. Look for the future angle. Your paper comes out before the school board meeting.

5. Once you’ve stated your position/stance, the body of the story should support your
stance and refute the opposition.

6. After the body of your editorial, complete the editorial with a specific solution.

7. Avoid direct quotes unless the quote adds substantially to the editorial. You can pull
information from these quotes, as has been done here, but it’s not necessary to attribute
that information unless the person has a lot of credibility toward the story itself.

8. Watch for factual errors. Pay attention to minor details. Also, stay focused.

9. Don’t clutter up the editorial with cliches or trite phrases such as “adults don’t understand
teens” or any variation thereof. Also, edit out the name of the school unless it is necessary for
clarity. It isn’t necessary to say “Leaguetown Independent School District” or “Leaguetown
High School.” Students know the name of the school. They don’t need to be reminded.
 2023 INVITATIONAL B MEET EDITORIAL• KEY PAGE 2

SAMPLE EDITORIAL/SUPPORTING
In response to hallway fights and vaping in the bathroom, Principal Patricia
Monroe implemented a bathroom pass system that limits students to five bathroom trips
per semester. Students and parents who oppose this new system plan to speak at the
school board meeting Monday.
The school board should keep Monroe’s new bathroom pass system for the safety
and well-being of students and teachers.
Last year, the school had to pay thousands of dollars for bathroom repairs after
students destroyed school property to participate in an online trend. It is clear that
students can’t be trusted to respect their school and keep it clean and safe.
The use of e-cigarettes has become common among teens. Vaping is a dangerous
practice, especially for minors. Since the bathroom stalls are the top hiding spot for
smoke breaks, it makes sense to limit bathroom trips to prevent students from vaping.
The school deals with an average of two hallway fights a week. Limiting the amount
of traffic in the hallways during classes can help prevent fights and subsequently the
crowds and viral video attempts that come from these altercations.
Before the new bathroom pass system, students would ask to use the bathroom
just to get out of class. This new system will help keep students in the classroom,
engaging and learning.
Students opposed to the system say they should be able to go to the bathroom
whenever they want for health reasons, but students with certain medical conditions
will be allowed to receive exemptions and be able to use the bathroom as needed. Five
bathroom trips is more than enough since students can also use the bathroom during
lunch and passing periods.
Monroe has said she is open to ideas and input from students and parents, but safety
will continue to be her top priority. And that’s as it should be.
The school should keep the new bathroom pass system and keep our students safe.
 2023 INVITATIONAL B MEET EDITORIAL• KEY PAGE 3

SAMPLE EDITORIAL/OPPOSING
In response to hallway fights and vaping in the bathroom, Principal Patricia Monroe
implemented a bathroom pass system that limits students to five bathroom trips per
semester. Students and parents who oppose this new system plan to call for its removal
at the school board meeting Monday.
The school board should remove the system and find another way to manage
disciplinary issues without stripping students of the ability to perform a necessary
human function as needed.
The school claims that people with medical conditions will receive
accommodations, but there are so many different reasons that students may need to
use the restroom.
Student athletes try to drink a certain amount of water to help with their
performance, which may require more frequent bathroom trips. For girls, bathroom
access is essential during their periods. The new bathroom system doesn’t account for
how the human body works. When nature calls, you have no choice but to respond.
If administrators want to limit hallway fights and vaping, they should find other
initiatives that affect the students doing wrong, not all students. To prove they really care
about the long-term safety of the students, administrators should invest in programs
that aim to help individuals quit vaping altogether.
The bathroom pass is on the back of the student handbook, and students have
to get the back page signed before and after they use the bathroom. Students will also
have to take this pass into the bathroom with them. This system is very unsanitary
with teachers and students repeatedly touching a book that has been in the bathroom
multiple times. It’s disgusting to make people touch it.
Keeping students safe starts with in-school programs that promote good behavior
and a strong sense of community. Students will not feel safe and comfortable in a school
that limits their every function.
The school board should listen to the demands of the students and parents and
discontinue this offensive system.