Drinks During Gym Class? (inspired by WDWAurora's "fire lane" thread)

[sunkissed212]

This thread is inspired by the “Fire Lane” thread posted by WDWAurora a few days ago...

I take a step aerobics class 2 nights a week that’s held in the gymnasium of a local elementary school. I noticed a while back that there is a sign posted above the drinking fountains in the gym that reads “No Drinks During Gym Class”. At first, I didn’t think much of it but after thinking about it more, this sign upsets me. We all know how imporatant it is to keep hydrated during exercise and physical activity yet this sign is telling children that they are not allowed to use the drinking fountain during gym class. I know that elementary school gym classes probably aren’t the most strenuous workouts for children but still, if they’re running around playing basketball or soccer or floor hockey, they’re sweating and losing water. Shouldn’t they be rehydrating themselves during class? Every time I go to my step class and see the sign, I get more and more unnerved about it. I am thinking about calling the school and asking them about it. I don’t have any children that go to this school nor do I have any children of my own so some might say to mind my own business or whatever but I’m really concerned about the fact that they’re not letting these children drink water during their physical education class.

Am I crazy for being concerned about this? Would it bother you if your children were not permitted to use the drinking fountain during gym class? Am I overreacting?

 

[Marseeya]

It does sound ridiculous.

Along the same lines, there are the teachers who won't let kids go to the bathroom more than once a day.

Hello! Health! Let's use some common sense here.

(I know, there are kids who probably abuse it, but use some judgment with it and don't make all the kids suffer.)

 

[Barb D]

They may have a problem with kids CONSTANTLY running to the water fountain, and disrupting the class. They're probably allowed to use it before and after class. Elementary school gym classes don't last long, so they should be able to survive.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd is required to bring a water bottle to gym class and she can have it at her desk at school all day.

I guess I would ask why before complaining. Maybe the kids can bring their own water bottle??

 

[mickeyboat]

I don't think I would be concerned. My kids have to stop at every water fountain they see to take a drink. I am sure the sign reminds the children not to interrupt or fool around in gym class by getting a drink, and that they are allowed to rehydrate if necessary after the activity is over. I can't believe that a teacher would deny a parched child a drink of water.

Denae

 

[anewvance]

It seems odd but like a pp said, they probably have a problem with kids constantly running to the fountains all class long. They probably have a few scheduled breaks where they can run to the fountain for a drink or they provide drinks. I'd ask if I were concerned though...

 

[sunkissed212]

Good thoughts here. Maybe they are allowed to bring water bottles and maybe they are allowed drinks before and/or after class.

I realize that the classes don't last long but it doesn't take long for a child to get dehydrated either.

I'm sure there are kids that abused the privilege at one time as well. All very good points. It's just that the sign is so adamant. It's on a bright piece of yellow poster board and in bold big black magic marker reads NO Drinks During Gym Class!!! It's just a little disturbing to an outsider reading it.

I may call and just ask out of curiosity. I don't have any right to complain really because I don't have a child that goes to that school but I guess for my own satisfaction, I'd like to understand.

 

[disykat]

If I were the gym teacher I would have the same sign. Kids would be allowed to get drinks at set times only. Without the sign kids would be constantly running to the fountain while I was giving instruction or constantly asking my permission for a drink. I think having the sign and then giving the whole class permission to get drinks at certain times would solve the problem.

The times when the kids stop running long enough to get drinks are usually when the teacher is trying to talk to the group - having kids break ranks to run to the fountain would make this instruction almost impossible. However, if I, as the teacher, controlled it - it would be easy to finish instructions and then say "team A grab drinks and line up at the goal line" etc. allowing everyone to stay hydrated without interupting anything.

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

I think that you have a right to be at least a little concerned. I don't remember the drink policy in my elementary school gym class, but I do remember the everyday drink policy. Every time we came in from recess, our line walked past the bubbler, and we were only allowed a "1-2-3" drink. (That means that you could only take a drink for as long as it took the teacher to count to three). I can see the teacher's perspective of not wanting to spend 15 minutes at the bubbler every day. But, remember feeling very angry about this b/c as kids coming in from running around at recess, we were all very thirsty! Finally, enough kids and parents complained that they allowed the students to bring in water bottles to keep at the desks.

So...maybe the kids at the school you exercise at do get to keep water bottles and are fine...but maybe the school officals are jerks about letting kids get drinks! It's at least worth a call.

 

[Daxx]

In my school's gym class, students are allowed one "drink break" during gym. They all line up and get a quick drink. I am going to guess that they prob. take drink breaks at the school but aren't allowed to randomly run up to the fountain to get drinks.

I am a teacher who uses the "counting" method when it comes to drinks. Otherwise, my students would be there all day long! Keep in mind, we do take several drink breaks throughout the day and it's the only way I can keep the time at the fountain to a minimum. However, I will say that after recess (which comes at the end of the day), we have snack and drink (usually juice boxes), so there's no excessive need to be at the fountain.

 

[daisyduck123]

They may have a problem with kids CONSTANTLY running to the water fountain, and disrupting the class. They're probably allowed to use it before and after class. Elementary school gym classes don't last long, so they should be able to survive.

Exactly. At my school, kids can get drinks when it is over. If they were allowed drinks during class, that is all they would do....when one wants a drink, they all want drinks...each & every one. Not one gym activity would ever get accomplished. Think about it...25 kids...each one spending 30 seconds at the fountain....that's over half the class time.

 

[disykat]

I have also "1-2-3 next" method at the drinking fountain. However, there are times (like during recess, bathroom breaks, lunch, after they are done with their work, free time, etc.) when they are allowed to take as much time as they like. Kids need to learn that if they need more water, they drink at those times.

There are logistics involved in wrangling 25+ students at a drinking fountain and I have yet to find a teacher that doesn't have some rules to prevent the fountain from interfering with instruction.

 

[Daxx]

There are logistics involved in wrangling 25+ students at a drinking fountain and I have yet to find a teacher that doesn't have some rules to prevent the fountain from interfering with instruction.

You've got that one right!

 

[Marseeya]

I have also "1-2-3 next" method at the drinking fountain. However, there are times (like during recess, bathroom breaks, lunch, after they are done with their work, free time, etc.) when they are allowed to take as much time as they like. Kids need to learn that if they need more water, they drink at those times.

There are logistics involved in wrangling 25+ students at a drinking fountain and I have yet to find a teacher that doesn't have some rules to prevent the fountain from interfering with instruction.

Why not just let them bring water bottles to class?

At my kids' elementary school, they have sinks/fountains in the classrooms, but one of DD's teachers allowed them to bring water bottles to school and it was really nice for the kids.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Why not just let them bring water bottles to class?

I work in a new building and my principal won't allow it - I guess so nothing spills on the carpet? Not sure, but so far, I just look the other way when I see the water bottles. Of course, I have older kids, so they're pretty discreet. I guess if one starts tossing it in the air or something I may have to 'notice' it before someone reprimands me!! So, it may not be a teacher decision but an administrative one for those who don't do it...

 

[disykat]

Why no water bottles?

Now I substitute - and I hate the water bottles in younger classes. Invariably someone spills water and it's always on someone else's project. IMO they shouldn't be slurping water from their bottles when the teacher is talking anyway (smaller kids often do not listen and drink at the same time) - so if they have to wait for the teacher to stop talking anyway, why not go to the fountain?

It also bothers me to see water bottles on desks that have been used for who knows how long with no washing. Yuck! I'd rather deal with a yucky fountain that gets sanitized daily than the gunk growing in water bottles.

Every room I've been in has plenty of opportunity to use the fountain. The only planning it involves on the student's part is to not interupt the teacher(in which case they get sent back to their seat) or not to line up at the fountain at the same time everyone else is( in which case they get the 123 next). If the children take the time to stay properly hydrated, short drinks during busy times like immediately following recess are not an issue.

Teachers are not out to torture children. They are managing their behavior and that includes a certain amount of training about "drink and drain". We give drinking and bathroom opportunities and we also have drinking and bathroom rules. If a teacher gives no opportunities or has no room for exceptions - that's a problem. I don't see basic rules and expectations as a problem.

 

[Marseeya]

Why no water bottles?

Now I substitute - and I hate the water bottles in younger classes. Invariably someone spills water and it's always on someone else's project. IMO they shouldn't be slurping water from their bottles when the teacher is talking anyway (smaller kids often do not listen and drink at the same time) - so if they have to wait for the teacher to stop talking anyway, why not go to the fountain?

It also bothers me to see water bottles on desks that have been used for who knows how long with no washing. Yuck! I'd rather deal with a yucky fountain that gets sanitized daily than the gunk growing in water bottles.

Every room I've been in has plenty of opportunity to use the fountain. The only planning it involves on the student's part is to not interupt the teacher(in which case they get sent back to their seat) or not to line up at the fountain at the same time everyone else is( in which case they get the 123 next). If the children take the time to stay properly hydrated, short drinks during busy times like immediately following recess are not an issue.

Teachers are not out to torture children. They are managing their behavior and that includes a certain amount of training about "drink and drain". We give drinking and bathroom opportunities and we also have drinking and bathroom rules. If a teacher gives no opportunities or has no room for exceptions - that's a problem. I don't see basic rules and expectations as a problem.

I think the problem is that not every teacher uses basic common sense. Of course there are plenty who do, but then you have the one or two who have those stricter rules of no drinking and only one bathroom break per day.

But FWIW, my DD's teacher never seemed to have a problem with water bottles. There were probably only a handful of kids who used the same water bottle most of the time, but my DD went in with a fresh bottle of Dasani every day. In all the times I spent in the classroom, I never saw one spill, although I'm not naive enough to say there weren't any at all.

Personally, I don't know how I'll handle it when I get my own classroom. Being in secondary ed, maybe it's not such an issue since the kids have time between classes to get drinks, although I know they don't have enough time to use the rest room. I guess I'll just figure it out as I go along.

 

[charabby]

I'm probably just an insensitive meanie, but why are modern kids so prone to dehydration when I don't recall a problem when I was in school? We got drinks from the fountain at the appointed time, and I don't recall anyone having problems because they couldn't sit at their desk sipping water all day long. IMO, kids today are being raised to be such needy wimps - have water on demand all day - get snacks constantly (why can't they finish a one-hour soccer game w/o snack?!?!?) - etc. It's just so self-centered to me. But I'm sure many will disagree.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm probably just an insensitive meanie, but why are modern kids so prone to dehydration when I don't recall a problem when I was in school? We got drinks from the fountain at the appointed time, and I don't recall anyone having problems because they couldn't sit at their desk sipping water all day long. IMO, kids today are being raised to be such needy wimps - have water on demand all day - get snacks constantly (why can't they finish a one-hour soccer game w/o snack?!?!?) - etc. It's just so self-centered to me. But I'm sure many will disagree.

I'm tending to agree with you...but...I am a teacher that allows my 1st graders to bring a water bottle (it must have a pop top, no open tops due to spills) on their desks each & every day. This alleviates the problem of parents who might think I'm mean not let them go to the water fountain all day long. This way, I don't get any heat for kids being thirsty.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Personally, I don't know how I'll handle it when I get my own classroom. Being in secondary ed, maybe it's not such an issue since the kids have time between classes to get drinks, although I know they don't have enough time to use the rest room. I guess I'll just figure it out as I go along.

This is what I do that really works for me. Once I have taught the lesson and they are working independently, I let them go to the RR or get water one at a time if they ask me. As long as no one abuses that or is gone for 20 minutes or anything, I let them just trade off - as one comes in someone else can leave and they trade off the pass. At the beginning of the year they tend to do it a lot almost like a novelty that they can do it, but by this time of year the newness has worn off and most of them only go if they really need to. Our school only allows 4 minutes between classes and that can be hard to go to the RR and your locker in that amount of time.