Students Scoff at Buddy Rule : Security: Teen-agers criticize the new restriction on visits to restrooms. School board adopted policy after the rape of a kindergartner.

Take a buddy to the restroom? In adult school? In high school?

Just ask the question and the response from students at several Valley middle and high schools is virtually the same: No way. You’re kidding.

“It’s embarrassing. The other person is going to be like, ‘Hurry up; I want to get back to class,’ ” said Araceli Navarro, 16, a Reseda High School junior.

In response to the rape of a kindergartner in an elementary school restroom three weeks ago, a new Los Angeles Unified School District policy, now requires all students--kindergarten through adult school--to visit the restroom in pairs as a safety precaution.

The policy was adopted by the Board of Education by a 4-2 majority, with one abstention. Most board members said they needed to take strong action aimed at preventing a repeat of the violence that occurred Jan. 24 inside the restroom of 66th Street Elementary School in South-Central Los Angeles.

The rape prompted parental outcries in that community for more security precautions. Parents were also upset that the child was allowed to go to the restroom alone.

“If it happens one time, it’s a severe enough tragedy for me,” said school board member Barbara Boudreaux, who co-authored the motion with Jeff Horton and Leticia Quezada. “We need to do whatever we can to make sure this will never happen again.”

The policy has generally won the approval of elementary school educators.

“You always want to be on the side of safety, and if it will keep someone from getting hurt, it’s fine with me,” said Lorie Norwalt, the principal at Calabash Street Elementary in Woodland Hills.

But several board members and administrators at secondary schools believe the broad rule, which extends the buddy system to office and nurse’s visits, goes too far.

“To me, this seems overly prescriptive and restrictive,” said school board President Mark Slavkin, who opposed the policy along with Victoria Castro. “I don’t have a sense that people don’t care or don’t take safety seriously. I think we should continue to trust schools to do the right thing.”

At several Valley secondary schools, students, teachers and administrators scoffed at the policy.

“It’s a little ridiculous,” said Steve Popick, a social studies teacher and dean of students at Reseda High. “It’s good for elementary schools, but not for secondary. I don’t think it should be a policy.”

Added Assistant Principal Jeff Halpern: “You’re probably not going to find too many people too receptive to it at the high schools and adult schools. There’s some overreaction, I think.”

Some students said they would feel awkward having their classmates accompany them to the restroom and that they are old enough--and big enough--to protect themselves. Others said the school board should be encouraging students to stay in class, not leave in groups.

“I don’t think teachers will like this,” said Matt Rutter, a 17-year-old Reseda senior. “They don’t like to let kids out of class now.”

Sutter Principal Carolyn Baker said she has previously told teachers not to send students in groups to the restrooms or to the office. Middle school children don’t need an excuse to dawdle, she said.

“You put two middle school kids together, and there they go,” she said.

Helen Bernstein, president of United Teachers-Los Angeles, dismissed the new regulation.

“I think teachers are laughing hysterically,” she said. “I think the four board members who voted for it in secondary and adult schools should be required to accompany the students to the bathroom.”

The policy states in part that “all students seeking permission to leave their classrooms or other supervised activity . . . shall be accompanied by one or more students, as appropriate.”

District officials said the policy does give schools some leeway.

“I think it’s fair to say that while an escort is part of the board policy at all levels, they have some limited flexibility as long as schools are deemed to be safe and secure,” said Assistant Supt. Dan Isaacs.

For some students, the concept has merit.

“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” said Jennifer Barthel, 14, a Reseda High freshman. “If we’re together, nothing could happen.”

At schools like Sutter, which does not have a school police officer, student Cory Hayes said he would feel more secure if accompanied by a buddy to the office or restroom.

“It could be safer if you’re going to that bathroom there,” said 13-year-old Hayes, pointing to the boys’ restroom near the campus entrance. “Those gates are always open.”

School board member Julie Korenstein, who abstained, said the policy falls short of providing what campuses really need: more supervision.

“My preference would be to have enough security aides to patrol the bathrooms,” said Korenstein. “Maybe parents will volunteer.”

In an effort to increase school security, Supt. Sid Thompson recommended last spring hiring more school police officers. But budget-tightening shelved the proposal.

“When you consider all the budget cuts that have occurred . . . from a supervision standpoint, our schools are running on a very, very thin thread,” Isaacs said.

Adult school administrators threw up their hands, saying there is no way they can enforce such a policy.

Monte Wolfe, assistant principal at North Hollywood Community Adult School, said: “If I see a single male going into the restroom, I’m supposed to get him out and send him back for a buddy? Unbelievable.”