School policy for young kids going to the bathroom?

[declansdad]

There is a HUGE difference between an adult being able "to hold it" and a child !

So what your saying is a teacher should risk a bladder infection but not the child?

 

[mhsjax]

Well Teachers know the risk before they get into this
profession, just like nurses do. And don't start in on me for knocking teachers. I have nothing but respect for them, I volunteer a lot and I see what they go through. In my opinion, there isn't enough money around to pay them what they are worth.

 

[declansdad]

Well Teachers know the risk before they get into this
profession, just like nurses do. And don't start in on me for knocking teachers. I have nothing but respect for them, I volunteer a lot and I see what they go through. In my opinion, there isn't enough money around to pay them what they are worth.

I agree, I'm just trying to point out that there has to be some guidelines to help teachers manage a classroom. Schedule breaks will work in most cases, but there are exceptions such as the OPs daughter.

 

[mhsjax]

Well than guess what, I guess we agree. lol

 

[Kath2003]

I'm an adult. I've had bladder issues since the third grade. I usually have to go pee every 2-3 hours. I have basically an overactive bladder so my bladder sends a signal to my brain that I have to go. Over time, my bladder has shrunk. I can't sleep through the night without a bathroom break. I'm 23 and have no children. There's nothing physically wrong with me which can be fixed, it's just something I have to deal with.

Let me tell you, I HATED school. Theoretically even if a teacher didn't let me go to the bathroom, I would most likely have been able to 'hold it' because my bladder was sending the signal way too soon. However, we all know how uncomfortable it is to need the bathroom REALLY badly. Why would you want your child to sit like that?

Anyway my school, especially the one went to from 6th grade to graduating was a royal pain in the butt. They used to lock the bathrooms to stop graffiti etc. so whilst most teachers were more than happy to let me go to the bathroom in class, I couldn't even get into them. Some days the bathrooms didn't open at break time. They weren't open before school. You're telling me that you'd expect an adult to go from 8am (when I left the house) until 1.30pm (lunch) without a bathroom break? Even if they were open at recess, that's 8am until 11.30am - 3.5 hours. Most adults pee every 4 hours! The classic happened if someone got sick. Even if they made it to the bathroom, they'd have to vomit outside the locked door.

Our policy (grades 6-12) is we don't let the students out to go to the bathroom on the whole. If a student clearly has to go to the bathroom then that rule can be waived. That said, a student in our school doesn't have to 'hold it' for more than 70 minutes without a bathroom break. There are 5 minute breaks between each period to go to the bathroom, a 20 minute break mid-morning and an hour for lunch.

Personally I think it's incredibly cruel to make children who need the bathroom 'hold it'.

 

[declansdad]

Well than guess what, I guess we agree. lol

Cool!

 

[SeaShelley]

So what your saying is a teacher should risk a bladder infection but not the child?

Of course that's not what I was saying. Good grief.

I was simply saying that a seven year old child can not (should not) be expected to "hold it" like an adult can.

 

[Talking Hands]

What would you think if the teacher left the classroom everytime they felt the urge?

Actually it is nor uncommon for a teacher to ask the teacher next door to keep an eye out for their class if they are really in need of the bathroom. Other solution is to take the entire class for a potty break and ask a staff members to supervise as you quickly use the facilities.

 

[MrsPete]

I totally understand the domino effect of one kids goes the ALL have to go. It can be quite disruptive in the class.

It's one thing to be aware that it can happen -- it's quite another to see it in action. Seriously, I can have a class of 30 students working hard on something, and if ONE asks to go the bathroom, at least SIX other hands go up IMMEDIATELY. It's also annoying that students raise their hand and ask OUT LOUD IN FRONT OF CLASS in the middle of a lecture or other instruction! These are 17-18 year old students!

These are high school students who have a 7 minute break between 90 minute classes. They have no shortage of clean, safe bathrooms to use between classes. Sickness aside, this is plenty of time. I can make it halfway across our (very large) school to the teacher bathroom and back in less than the 7 minute break!

And in high school actually using the restroom isn't always high on their list of priorities: sometimes they come back smelling of cigarette smoke, often they need to go to the bathroom NOW because they just felt their phone vibrate in their pocket and they want to read a text message, some arrange "meetings" with their friends at a certain time.

These are the things that drive teachers crazy!

 

[aprilgail2]

What would you think if the teacher left the classroom everytime they felt the urge?

What do you think the teachers do if they have to go to the bathroom?? They GO- they ask the teacher in the next room to keep an eye on their class while they run to the bathroom.

 

[Cindy B]

That's too bad.

What do the kids who can't wait do?

My daughters health problems are not that uncommon. She is a pretty severe case, but there are lots and lots of other girls out there with the same issues. I would be really surprised if there isn't at least a few at every school.

I have to follow the rules set forth by my administrator(s). The bathrooms are LOCKED when they are not in use and a Bathroom key has to be signed in and out.

I don't have a bathroom in my classroom but that would be so much easier if I did. (There are no restrictions for teachers that have Br's in thier own rooms).

I have seen the kids wait until the last period of the day and go. I also did receive one doctors note.

 

[Cindy B]

What do you think the teachers do if they have to go to the bathroom?? They GO- they ask the teacher in the next room to keep an eye on their class while they run to the bathroom.

Not allowed in my building. You can not leave your kids at any time. It is a safety issue.

 

[MrsPete]

Not allowed in my building. You can not leave your kids at any time. It is a safety issue.

Ditto for my school.

It was tough when I was expecting, especially with my second when I had morning sickness. I was lucky though: I had a small class of good seniors. I kept a special trash can by the door. I'd step just outside the door -- the way people do when they're blowing their nose -- I'd throw up, then tie the bag in a knot. If you've had morning sickness, you know that it isn't like sickness-vomiting; it's less violent, and it's over quickly. I kept it lined with several bags so there was always another one there, but I rarely did it more than once a morning -- and usually once I'd thrown up once, I was done for the day. I think my students knew what was up, but they were a good bunch and didn't say anything.

 

[Cindy B]

Ditto for my school.

It was tough when I was expecting, especially with my second when I had morning sickness. I was lucky though: I had a small class of good seniors. I kept a special trash can by the door. I'd step just outside the door -- the way people do when they're blowing their nose -- I'd throw up, then tie the bag in a knot. If you've had morning sickness, you know that it isn't like sickness-vomiting; it's less violent, and it's over quickly. I kept it lined with several bags so there was always another one there, but I rarely did it more than once a morning -- and usually once I'd thrown up once, I was done for the day. I think my students knew what was up, but they were a good bunch and didn't say anything.

That's a shame. I remember morning sickness-- and you found a good way to "solve" that problem.

It is a rough problem that I have.. but that is the school policy and I need to follow those rules.

 

[MM27]

What do you think the teachers do if they have to go to the bathroom?? They GO- they ask the teacher in the next room to keep an eye on their class while they run to the bathroom.

Not even close. You can't just leave a class of students with another teacher "keeping an eye on them". That would be an automatic write up in my district. I could see it now..."My kids teacher left all the kids in the room when she went out to pee. Can you believe it? I think I'll call the principal tomorrow to complain" If I have to pee during the day, I can go before school starts, at lunch or on my prep which changes ever day. Any other time, I'm out of luck. My classroom gets very hot so I have to drink a lot or I get severe headaches from the heat.

To the OP, I'm glad your wife contacted the teacher. If she (the teacher) has any sense she will back off on your daughter a bit.

From a teacher's POV, the bathroom can be a big issue. Especially in the beginning of the year many kids test how much they will be able to get out of class. I teach math and science. I very rarely have kids that ask to go out of the room during science, because we are very hands on and the kids love it. During math, it's an entirely different story. The kids that are very weak in math try to use the bathroom and the water fountain as their pass out of a difficult situation. As a teacher, I've called parents to ask if there is a problem I should know about and explain the overuse of the bathroom. I've had a bunch of parents that told me to NOT allow them to go out during math.

 

[teacups]

Even after all of this discussion I have to think it would be less disruptive to let the kids go to the blasted bathroom than clean up after all the wet pants that the OP talked about. Not to mention mental trauma for some kids. It sounds like it has been a repeat problem in this class. Are they faking??? I dont think so. The proof is in the wet seat. This is silly!

 

[declansdad]

What do you think the teachers do if they have to go to the bathroom?? They GO- they ask the teacher in the next room to keep an eye on their class while they run to the bathroom.

Not in the school my wife teaches in. THey can't leave students and there isn't always another teacher available to watch the class.

 

[declansdad]

Of course that's not what I was saying. Good grief.

I was simply saying that a seven year old child can not (should not) be expected to "hold it" like an adult can.

So what should the teacher do?

 

[JoyG]

I have 2.5 hours of instruction time before lunch and 2.5 hours of instruction time after lunch.

My students are allowed to use the bathroom once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Exceptions are made for kids who have medical conditions and those who look like they're bouncing in their chairs.

With that policy, it seems like someone is out of the room ALL the time. As soon as one kid gets back another has to go.

 

[shortbun]

My school is very strict on the bathroom use. Because of vandalism and physcial threats to students, the bathroom remains locked during the day and each classroom has a scheduled time to use it. (I work at an inner city school) My class has two times-- once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

The students also need an escort to the bathroom at all times.

If it isn't your time, well-- too bad. I'm not fond of this policy, but that is the policy where I am. I follow the school rules and this is one of them.

Whaaawat? The principal at your school needs to get some security in there. Children should have safe bathrooms. My son goes to an inner city school too and the kids in his school can go any time they want. If we had this kind of problem, parents would come in and take care of it.

OP-your daughter's teacher is an idiot. With two children having repeated accidents she should have quickly figured out that her 'rewards' system was horribly flawed. Since she hasn't gotten that perhaps you should help her along. I would NEVER have allowed any teacher of my child to have treated him this way. never.