Student’s petition for better toilet paper in elementary school successful

HOLLADAY, Utah — A student’s request for better toilet paper has been granted, bettering the quality of life for current students and students to come. Some on social media are calling him “a hero.”

The student, who is identified just as Jacob because he is a minor, is a fourth grader at Cottonwood Elementary School. He noticed a problem and sent a letter to the Granite School District.

The letter states, “A lot of kids at elementary schools don’t like the toilet paper at their schools and here are some reasons:

“First, the toilet paper feels like sandpaper and I think most kids avoid going to the bathroom (including me) for that reason. Also the paper is so thin it breaks so you have poop in your fingernails.

“Finally, if you don’t want to spend your money on kids bums then I request to let kids bring their own soft toilet paper to school.”

Jacob’s request was answered with a letter from the Granite School District’s warehouse director.

“Your letter resulted in a conversation between your principal, Ms. Cooper, and your teacher, and me where we discussed your two concerns and your request,” the letter stated.

(The teacher’s name has been blacked out for the privacy of the underage student.)

As to the first concern about the paper feeling like sandpaper, the letter said that because the toilet paper dispensers are used for industrial purpose to allow for many students in a school and the paper that fits those dispensers is “simply not as soft as some of the toilet papers you will find at your local grocery store.”

However, in response to Jacob’s second concern about how thin the paper was the letter stated, “We may have a solution here. During my call with Ms. Cooper and [your teacher] I was able to provide them with the information about a two-ply toilet paper that is available from the district warehouse that can be ordered in place of the one-ply that your school typically orders. Ultimately it will be the decision of Ms. Cooper and your school custodian to determine which paper they will order. The paper is twice as thick which certainly helps your expressed problem.”

Finally, the letter expressed that there was no “district policy that would prohibit you from bringing your own toilet paper.” Although the letter warned that flushable wipes were not allowed as they were found to clog sewer pipes which is a “messy and stinky problem.”

The school shared the following post with photos and videos of Jacob in his class with the new toilet paper.