Question for DIS Teachers

[DisneyATlast]

I used to teach elementary school kids (who are not as good at controlling their bladder) and never had an issue with them needing to go to the bathroom all the time. That could be because young kids tend to listen to "authority figures" more than older kids so when there was a bathroom break and they were told to try to go to the bathroom, that's what they would do.

I suspect that older kids who aren't chaperoned to the bathroom for a break would rather spend their time socializing in the hallway instead of using the bathroom.

I had a bathroom pass that hung on the wall which was actually a string tied to a big plastic key. There was only one. If it was hanging up then it meant nobody was using it and it was okay to take it and go to the bathroom. That way no 2 students were out of the room at the same time. Being as though the little kids didn't need to socialize in the hallways between classes, it really didn't get abused. If there was a kid who was going every single day then obviously it would've been addressed, but it just didn't happen.

Typically, there's enough time between classes or lunch or "related arts" to go to the bathroom. If an older kid (or even elementary school kid) is having an issue with needing to go to the bathroom so much during class that it's a problem, then it's either a medical or behavior problem. I would tell my kid to try to use the bathroom between classes or whatever designated time they're supposed to go (whether they think they can or not). Only after they've REALLY done that and still had a problem would I question the teacher. I'd be more concerned about why my child was needing to use the bathroom so urgently every day. I know when I was a kid, there were times I'd wait until I was about to burst before I really felt like I needed to go. As I got older, I realized if I sat down and tried then I could actually go most of the time.

 

[Sparkly]

Did they use the word "puke"? I don't allow that word in my class or in my house.

They actually used "If you're going to be sick, just go." Being sick as in puking.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think the students should reverse the rolls and keep track of the teachers. every time a teacher has to leave to go to the bathroom they are deducted $20 from their paycheck. That would even things out.

Trust me when I say there are times when I'd have happily paid $20 to go to the bathroom. I used to work in a school where teachers covered their own classes for lunch and recess. One year my kids had the last specials, 6 hours after school started. I knew better than to drink much at breakfast or during the school day, but sometimes you just have to go change a tampon.

I actually think that one of the reasons why some teachers, and I think it's a small subset of the profession, are so stingy with the bathroom breaks is that they've been conditioned to think that it's somehow OK to deny someone a bathroom break.

I also have to say that I'm surprised that there are schools that have "bathroom breaks" in elementary school. My school does them with the 3 year olds, and with the 4's and K's during the first few weeks, but beyond that we don't take them en masse, and certainly not in the upper elementary grades. Kids go when they need to go, with reasonable limits, IMO, such as not during mini lessons unless it's an emergency (mini lessons last about 10 - 15 minutes at the start of each class), not during fire drills, and no more than 2 kids of the same gender out of a class to use the bathroom at a time.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Did they use the word "puke"? I don't allow that word in my class or in my house.

Just curious? What is wrong with the word puke?

 

[Mkrop]

Did they use the word "puke"? I don't allow that word in my class or in my house.

Just curious? What is wrong with the word puke?

I too would like to know why they cant say puke

I volunteer at my kids school a lot, I have all my clearances. I was across from DS10's classroom emptying communication folders. His teacher saw me and motioned me over. She asked me to do her a huge favor and watch her classroom while she used the restroom. Kids were taking a test so I said sure. She was gone 10 minutes if that. She then came back, thanked me profusely, she was dealing with a UTI, was on antibiotics but she was desparate. I was glad I was there to help her.



In elementary school K-8, the kids go at break 10:30ish, they can go at lunch. Most teachers wil let them go, one at a time, but most ask if they can wait until the end of class. Some say yes, others say no and they let them go. DS10 when he was in 2nd grade was becoming a frequent flier, he would leave right at the beg of the instructions, so when he got back, she would have to repeat them to him. She called me to ask if there was a medical reason. I said not that I was aware. We both talked to him and it stopped. He needed to be told to wait. He stopped asking.

In HS, DS15 gets a break period, the whole school, for 15 minutes, sometime around 10ish. Than they also could go at lunch.

 

[DisneyATlast]

Trust me when I say there are times when I'd have happily paid $20 to go to the bathroom. I used to work in a school where teachers covered their own classes for lunch and recess. One year my kids had the last specials, 6 hours after school started. I knew better than to drink much at breakfast or during the school day, but sometimes you just have to go change a tampon.

I actually think that one of the reasons why some teachers, and I think it's a small subset of the profession, are so stingy with the bathroom breaks is that they've been conditioned to think that it's somehow OK to deny someone a bathroom break.

I also have to say that I'm surprised that there are schools that have "bathroom breaks" in elementary school. My school does them with the 3 year olds, and with the 4's and K's during the first few weeks, but beyond that we don't take them en masse, and certainly not in the upper elementary grades. Kids go when they need to go, with reasonable limits, IMO, such as not during mini lessons unless it's an emergency (mini lessons last about 10 - 15 minutes at the start of each class), not during fire drills, and no more than 2 kids of the same gender out of a class to use the bathroom at a time.

There were never any "bathroom breaks" penciled in the schedule or anything, but any teacher who is reasonable and doesn't want 10 different kids asking if they can go to the bathroom during class is probably going to make a stop by the bathroom on the way back to class from lunch, gym, recess, etc. Besides the fact that it makes sense to take a bathroom break while the whole class is near the bathroom, it's good for the kids to know, "Well, after lunch we'll stop by the bathroom so I don't need to ask right now." They kind of know when they'll have another chance to go just like they know when they're going to eat lunch. I never told a kid they HAD to go during a break, but they knew if they didn't go then I really didn't wanna see them going to grab the bathroom pass 10 minutes later. There's a big difference in not needing to go to the bathroom and not wanting to stop what you're doing to go to the bathroom because you're not about to bust.

 

[dogluva]

Just curious? What is wrong with the word puke?

I don't know, I guess it is just one of those words I don't like. I have many but puke is up there. Am I the only one? I would rather say vomit althought hat is not much better.

 

[Mkrop]

I don't know, I guess it is just one of those words I don't like. I have many but puke is up there. Am I the only one? I would rather say vomit althought hat is not much better.

Now see vomit sends chills down my spine, I would rather hear puked. Funny how certain words bother people.