Tom Keating is once again engaging in his usual behavior. He is discussing unclean and unsanitary restrooms, including toilets, sinks, and urinals. He is leading a fast-paced tour of a typical American high school’s filthy bathrooms, paying attention to every disgusting detail.
Keating points to a men’s room stall that lacks a door and exclaims, "A space for privacy, and yet there is none." He also remarks on the row of stained urinals that lack dividers between them.
Continuing the tour, more dirty restrooms reveal even more unpleasantness. There is graffiti, spit wads stuck to the ceiling, paper towels stuffed in urinal drains and scattered on the floors, a filthy ceiling fan, no hot water in one sink, soap dispensers without soap, empty toilet paper rolls, unflushed toilets, dimly lit naked bulbs, and mysterious stains on pink tiled walls. The details about the stains are better left untold.
Having earned a doctorate in education policy and spending decades teaching, advocating for school districts, and consulting on issues like dropout prevention and desegregation, this highly energetic 61-year-old has found a new purpose: becoming America’s champion for clean restrooms. Since 1996, when he established Project CLEAN (Citizens, Learners, and Educators Against Neglect), he has visited or worked in 50 schools across 14 states. People refer to him as the Bathroom Man, Toilet Man, or Dr. Toilet. However, Keating has no objection to these labels. To him, dirty school restrooms symbolize many of the problems plaguing schools. By advocating for their cleanliness, he believes he is not only fostering better academic performance ("Kids can’t learn if they’re uncomfortable all day"), but also building a foundation for responsible citizenship.
Keating declares in his booming voice, "Dirty school bathrooms are a disgrace to our nation. This is about maintaining cleanliness, safety, and hygiene. It is also about schools respecting their students and students respecting themselves. It is about teaching students to be proactive and self-governing citizens. This is my way of promoting democracy."
(Keating’s dedication to democracy is genuine, although he mentions it with a smile. The same smile he displays when he hands you his business card and mentions its color: "urine yellow.")
Engaging in a campaign for clean restrooms in a New Mexico town may seem unusual. The town consists of stucco buildings with brownish hues, set against a vast blue sky, and is located 18 miles away from the Texas border, known primarily for its peanut production. However, Keating has chosen this town because its schools face various challenges, and yet, they have made an exceptional commitment to address them.
Jim Holloway, the superintendent of the town’s eight public schools with 2,700 students, had previously overseen districts in his home state of Georgia and was familiar with Keating’s work as a consultant in Atlanta-area districts. Holloway initially hesitated to devote time and limited resources to restroom issues, but recognized their importance. Keating paid a visit to the town.
Keating was everywhere, conducting interviews at the town’s only movie theater, asking the girl behind the counter, "So, you attend Portales High? How are the restrooms?" He also inspected the nearby bathrooms during baseball practice. Melvin Nusser, the assistant principal and baseball coach, responded jokingly, "Who is going to clean them?" thinking Keating was some sort of weirdo. Minutes later, Keating returned wearing rubber gloves and cleaned the restrooms himself.
Given these circumstances, Toilet Man secured a one-year contract worth $12,000 to assist the local schools in developing cleanup plans, starting with Portales High School. The school now has a student committee dedicated to inspecting bathrooms during school hours and submitting work orders to ensure proper maintenance. Nusser serves as a co-sponsor of the committee, and Kimberly Jones, an 18-year-old student who works at the movie theater, is a member.
Holloway reflects on the skepticism surrounding their focus on bathroom improvement, "With all the pressure to achieve high test scores, it might seem amusing that we are prioritizing restrooms. Some people suggest concentrating on more important matters." Holloway counters this by stating, "But my belief is that if students take responsibility for the state of restrooms, it could extend to other areas of the school. It’s about creating a sense of pride in the school. I argue that improving these areas could even help reduce the dropout rate."
I believe that if children take responsibility for the cleanliness and maintenance of the bathrooms, it can have a positive impact on the overall environment of the school.
Jim Holloway, Superintendent, Portales Municipal Schools
Experts in the industry suggest that a new era is emerging for school restrooms, with a shift towards creating more welcoming spaces. The focus now is on spacious and well-lit areas with sensor-triggered toilets, sinks, and lights to minimize odors and conserve resources. The use of durable plastics has resulted in partitions and doors that are both attractive and resistant to damage. Even schools with limited funds can make a significant difference by simply improving the lighting.
There are currently few regulations in place regarding the upkeep of school restrooms. Proposed legislation that aimed to ensure fully stocked bathrooms failed to pass in two states last year. Schools and districts have implemented various approaches to address this issue, with varying levels of success. For example, one high school principal in Sacramento, California, made budget cuts in other areas to hire an additional janitor. Berkeley High School in California has seen improvements in restroom stocking and maintenance since concerned parents put pressure on the school board in 1998. However, issues such as vandalism and misbehavior still persist. The Los Angeles school district established a toll-free bathroom hotline three years ago and forwards numerous complaints to custodial and maintenance staff. The district also continues to install toilets and sinks with infrared sensors in 100 restrooms each year. At the prestigious Boston Latin School, where students used to bring their own toilet paper, restrooms have improved since students voiced their concerns in 1999. However, student council President Calisse Pollina admits that the bathrooms are still not perfect, although some seniors help clean off graffiti for community-service hours. Students at Lowell High School in San Francisco have been successful in their campaign for better restrooms. Through donations and organized efforts, students have cleaned, painted, and installed automatic-flush toilets in several restrooms. The walls have been adorned with murals created by student-artists, and vandalism has been kept at bay. Tom Keating recently assisted students at Cross Keys High School in Decatur, Georgia, in documenting and addressing bathroom problems. Student clubs have taken on individual restrooms, refurbishing and monitoring them.
Keating partnered with Kimberly-Clark Corp., a towel and toilet paper manufacturer, to sponsor a rally and bathroom cleanup day at Avondale High School in Decatur. The Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps led the efforts to improve four restrooms by painting the walls in warm colors, ensuring stalls had doors, and adding flowers, ribbons, and artwork. However, progress has reportedly slowed due to interpersonal conflicts and changes in school leadership.
The persisting problem of unsanitary bathrooms can be attributed to various factors. Students do not feel a sense of ownership over these communal spaces and therefore do not treat them with respect. Additionally, aging school buildings with worn enamel and grout, as well as fixtures prone to breakage, contribute to the issue. Janitor Roger Chavez, who attended Portales High School himself decades ago, reflects on the unchanged state of the bathrooms and emphasizes the need for children to learn about respect. The prison-like design and poor upkeep of the restrooms also foster destructive behavior. Bathroom management is not typically addressed in administrator training, and teachers rarely emphasize the importance of restroom respect in their lessons. Consequently, administrators are reluctant to allocate time to deal with this unpleasant task, as they are already overwhelmed with pressing matters.
"I should be focusing on monitoring teachers’ performance, not checking on bathrooms. A principal cannot do everything."
Shawn Ashley, Co-principal, Polytechnic High School, Long Beach, California.
"The responsibilities of a principal encompass various aspects," he asserts. "We are not only instructional leaders, but also managers who strive to strike a balance." According to Young, the principal must establish a conducive learning atmosphere by ensuring that every facet of the school, including its physical environment and instructional practices, combine harmoniously to create a positive setting. Melvin Nusser from Portales agrees wholeheartedly. Working with Bathroom Man has enlightened the assistant principal. "I used to be too preoccupied to think about the condition of the bathrooms. I would simply use them quickly and leave," Nusser admits. "But when you think about it, how can effective learning take place if our facilities are in a dreadful state? We need to make the entire school welcoming and inviting. "From a philosophical standpoint, I believe that improving the bathrooms can positively impact test scores." One might assume that if Portales High School has the time to focus on upgrading its restrooms, it must not face many other issues. However, Principal Murphy Quick remembers that six years ago, when he assumed the role, the school of 700 students was a hub of conflict and gang violence. Quick has since managed to bring that under control, but he still faces pressure to improve test scores and reduce the number of students transferring to the alternative high school. Despite being swamped with responsibilities, Quick emphasizes that improving the restrooms remains a priority, albeit one that does not overly consume his time, as much of it can be delegated to Nusser and the committee. Fostering a positive learning environment is crucial, particularly for students who struggle academically, explains Quick. He is a soft-spoken and wiry man, often seen in jeans and sneakers. That is why the folks in Portales have welcomed the presence of Toilet Man in their district, and his impact has been significant. Keating, with his fastidious appearance, always sporting a neatly tucked-in turtleneck and blazer, moves swiftly between buildings, frequently bending down to pick up litter such as Twinkie wrappers or paper cups. He celebrates the accomplishments of the school’s football team and speaks using the word "we." He greets students by name and even expresses concern for a janitor’s sick child. The teenagers on Keating’s committee initially exhibited reluctance, but his passion for improving their environment has turned them into enthusiastic partners. "When I first heard him talking about bathrooms, I thought, ‘This guy is really strange,’" admits Calvin Griffin, an 18-year-old football player. "But when I saw him actually taking action and caring about it, I thought, ‘Okay, I can do that too.’" Kimberly Jones describes a "warm and tingly feeling" that she gets from being entrusted with power by adults who genuinely listen to their perspectives. And the students are indeed highlighting areas for improvement. Keating has trained the committee members in his method of inspecting lavatories: they begin in the hall, observing the condition of the entrance. Is it dirty? Well-lit and inviting? Do the signs promote a sense of responsibility or do they convey childishness? Inside the bathrooms, they use all their senses, with the exception of taste, as quipped by Keating. They feel the walls for cleanliness, visually scan the area for any signs of graffiti or damage, and assess the quality of toilet paper. They also listen for proper ventilation and pay attention to any unpleasant odors. These inspection techniques have not only helped identify problems but have also led to improvements. Portales High School now boasts stall doors where none existed before, and receptacles for sanitary products are on their way. In addition, dimly lit bathrooms have been transformed with the installation of bright fluorescent lighting, creating a more open and welcoming environment.
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