An article in yesterday’s Richmond-Times Dispatch is about how Tuckahoe Middle School  students may be refusing to wash their hands because there is no warm water in the bathrooms. Between the ice cold water and that they have to exit to the outdoors instead of a hallway on the campus-style school students are sometimes skipping washing their hands on the coldest days. Some say that could be contributing to more sickness. 

There’s a dirty little secret at some area schools.

Kids are not washing their hands after using the restroom — which, admittedly, is not breaking news.

But there’s an explanation.

One student at Tuckahoe Middle School in Henrico County, who wishes to remain anonymous lest her friends and parents think her unclean, admits it: If it’s too cold outside, even ordinarily fastidious students won’t wash after using the restroom.

Tuckahoe, like several other schools in the county, does not have warm running water in the restrooms. The campus-style architecture means students go directly from classrooms or restrooms to the outdoors. There are no interior halls. Three middle and three high schools are affected.

On chilly mornings, the choice between cleanliness and warmth can be difficult, and many prefer a few germs to icicles.