No Soap in school bathrooms

[angelat]

So, my DH and I went to our DS open house at his school last night. (This is a brand new school btw-built in 2008) My DH had to use the bathroom and when he came out he asked our son if all the bathrooms were like that. I said, "like what?" He informed me that there was not only no soap, but no soap dispensers either!! Our DS told us only the cafeteria bathroom had soap in it. I placed a call to the school this morning and am awaiting a return call after they speak with the CUSTODIAN. I imagine this will have to be escalated to the school board.

Until I see an solution, I am going to BJs and getting a large bottle of Purell for my DS classroom!

I googled this and found this problem is across the country. No wonder MRSA is breaking out in all the schools! Does anyone else see a major problem here??

 

[RUDisney]

The soap supply in the restrooms is scanty. I think they allot so much per week and when it's gone, it's gone. I've already went to Sam's Club and bought the 2 liter bottle of hand sanitizer for DD's classroom. The teachers usually buy that stuff for their classrooms, but I think we, as parents, should help the teachers and not make them responsible for things the district should be supplying.

 

[GoodFairies]

I suggest that instead of Purell, you purchase soap for the bathrooms, if that is the issue.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Gross....

 

[laurie31]

Our schools don't have soap either

They do have Purell on the list of school supplies, and when the kids go to lunch or to the bathroom, they do all use the Purell (the teacher puts a squirt in each kid's hand as they line up for lunch, and in the bathroom, one kid is the "monitor" and gives everyone some as they come out) ...but Purell just kills germs, it doesn't remove....umm....stuff. (aside from "bathroom stuff" there's dirt from the playground, etc. I guess they can use plain water, but still...eewww.

One of the PTO officers has it as her personal vendetta to get soap and paper towels in the bathrooms this year.

I think the issue is that kids waste it and make a mess with it, but why not have the "bathroom monitor" kid who's passing out Purell be authorized to take names or something if kids squirt soap in the floor?

 

[Par8hed]

I suggest that instead of Purell, you purchase soap for the bathrooms, if that is the issue.

Agreed. Purell should not be used routinely. Soap and water ....yes.

 

[Stitchfans]

The soap in the bathrooms where I work (high school) is so watered down they may as well just leave it empty. Still "washing" your hands with just water.

 

[jen0610]

Our schools don't have soap either

They do have Purell on the list of school supplies, and when the kids go to lunch or to the bathroom, they do all use the Purell (the teacher puts a squirt in each kid's hand as they line up for lunch, and in the bathroom, one kid is the "monitor" and gives everyone some as they come out) ...but Purell just kills germs, it doesn't remove....umm....stuff. (aside from "bathroom stuff" there's dirt from the playground, etc. I guess they can use plain water, but still...eewww.

One of the PTO officers has it as her personal vendetta to get soap and paper towels in the bathrooms this year.

I think the issue is that kids waste it and make a mess with it, but why not have the "bathroom monitor" kid who's passing out Purell be authorized to take names or something if kids squirt soap in the floor?

This is exactly why they took the soap out of the hallway restrooms in our grade schools. The amount of playing that was going on in the restrooms, by both girls and boys, resulted in them getting yanked years ago.

The only bathrooms with soap are the K rooms, as the teacher can easily step in after a kid and spot check.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

I remember my bathrooms in college didnt have any soap either...

 

[Sonya]

We have a limited supply of Boraxo (powdered) soap. I teach HS. I think it would be horrible to not have soap!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Agreed. Purell should not be used routinely. Soap and water ....yes.

I know...I had to send a note in elementary to let my kid wash her hands with soap and water before lunch.

My dd has excema and Purell is like pouring acid on your skin.

 

[SeaShelley]

I imagine this will have to be escalated to the school board.

I'm hoping that you'll be able to resolve this at the school level.

 

[connorlevismom]

This is crazy! No soap? That just makes my skin crawl. My DS will be in kindergarten next year and now I am going to be looking for soap in the bathrooms when we go on school tours.

Kristine

 

[sunny_]

Now I'm wondering if there is soap my kids' elementary school bathroom. I'll have to ask them tonight when they get off the bus.

I hope they get some soap for all the kids soon at your school.

 

[horseshowmom]

I think the issue is that kids waste it and make a mess with it, but why not have the "bathroom monitor" kid who's passing out Purell be authorized to take names or something if kids squirt soap in the floor?

Your point about wasting it and making a mess is one of the main issues. Most teachers won't go the route of having a kid take names. It's more trouble than it's worth since it becomes one child's word against anothers, and unfortunately, you can probably guess where that will lead.

I agree with you, it's disgusting to think of children not being trained to wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

Our school does still have soap dispensers and paper towels, but due to budget issues, the children are being trained to get one squirt of soap and one paper towel (which, of course, is better than none).

 

[wilderness01]

That is gross.

 

[minniecarousel]

15 years ago, when I was a kindergarten aide, there was no soap in the kindergarten-only bathroom. When I brought it up to the teacher, she said that the kids just waste it, and play with it. I asked if I could bring some in to see how this new group handled it, she let me. They were fine with it.

It just grossed me out!

 

[angelat]

I suggest that instead of Purell, you purchase soap for the bathrooms, if that is the issue.

Well, that is what I pay taxes for...I'll buy the Purrell so that when my son gets back into the classroom after using the boys room he can make sure he is mostly germ free. I know that he uses the water too and that will get dirt or "whatever" off his hands, but until there is soap this is my next best.

 

[castleview]

Our school has the foamy soap. It disappears quite quickly. Kids think it's fun. I'm not big on Purell. Not only will it dry out the hands of of some kids, it really just spreads the germs around your entire hand.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

In the new school they just built in our district, there are bathrooms in every classroom- totally cuts down on the playing socializing in the bathroom!

When I've gone to my kids' schools, there is rarely paper towels or soap, but I have seen it. We also provide hand sanitizer for the classroom (every kid brings a bottle.)