School policy for young kids going to the bathroom?

[Lynn CC]

I remember when my son was in Kindergarten his teacher sent a note home to tell me to make sure my son went to the bathroom before he got to school because he had to go every day as soon as he got there. Well, he had an hour bus ride to school, and he was 5. Why is it that they are so obsessed with kids having to use the rest room? I don't think I replied back to her, but from that point on I volunteered in the classroom 2x a week just to see what was going on. She had those kids so stressed out about going to the bathroom. I just told my son to make sure he used it if he had to, but I'm sure he ended up holding it more than he should have.
I would tell your daughter to forget about the stars, if she wanted a "prize" you can get it for her. Give her her own stars at home for using the rest room LOL...

My son is in college now, but I wish I had the gumption back then to let that teacher know how I felt, I guess it comes with age!

 

[Mkrop]

When DS11 was in 3rd grade teacher, (not a new teacher) the kids had sticks and if they had all three sticks by the end of the week they got a prize. She used it to discourage bathroom time as well. When DS came home and told me, I told him that was not a good policy but if had to go try going at lunch, the lunch monitors dont care, or ask the specials teachers to go. I told him to look for opportunites to go but if he really needed to go, no stick was worth it and to get his butt to the bathroom.!!!!!!

Well about two weeks into this idea, my friend's son came home from school and went flying into the bathroom barely making it. She asked him if he was ok and he said he hadnt used the bathroom all day since 10 am! She had no idea about the policy but when her son told her he didnt want to lose his sticks, she went up to school the next day and told the principal that this was the most assinine idea and the kids need to use the bathroom and there were other ways of controlling the siutation.

Out went the sticks! (at least for bathroom)

Then this teacher refused the boys at the end of the line bathroom time bc the girls were finishing up first and since they were fooling around in there the boys in the back of the line suffered the consquences. Once the girls were done, everyone had to go back to the classroom. Yeah some parent went up and "discussed" that plan with the principal too.

I can appreciate the need to control bathroom time and get things moving but if kids need to go they need to go!

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

We are pretty lucky - our preschool, K, and 1st grade rooms all have bathrooms in the rooms -- so the kids can go when they need. I think it is suggested that they not go during instructions, but if they must -- GO!

The older grades all have different policies since you need to leave the classroom. I liked our 4th grade teachers - they had a secret hand signal, so the kid would do the signal, the teacher would respond, and the kid could leave the room with out being vocal about their bodily functions.

It has to be tuff for the teachers at the beginning of the year - I volunteer in the library and I had a K last week who had to go to the BR, ok so he went and came back. 5 minutes later he asks to go again, the librarian says "no, you just went". He grabs himself and starts screaming "I got to Pee now" and had quite the show going on. She just gave him the librarian look and told him to stop the drama. He stopped and was fine for the rest of the class. (at least BR wise, don't ask about the spitting, talking back, etc)

Going to the BR is one of the big clubs that the kids hold over us adults -- I certainaly am not going to be the "reason" some kid wets his pants.

BUT, that is not saying the OP's teacher was right -- she needs to learn her kids and who is acting up and who needs to go.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I have a few questions. How old is your dd? Is the a pre-school or is it elementary school? Either way the child should be able to go to the bathroom as many times as needed and that star thing is stupid. I also want to know how she peed her pants twice last week and you didn't know? Didn't she come home wet or in different clothes than she went to school in? I would have a chat with the teacher. If you don't get satisfactory results then talk to the director or principal. If that is the policy and it is a pre-school I would pull my kid out and report them to the state. If it is an elementary school I would go up the chain of command to the Super. and then again report it to the state if it is not rectified. Good luck.

She gets picked up by the girl next door who watches her for an hour until my mom comes over to watch my twins. My kids change every day when they get home from school. The girl next door just told my wife about it last night or we still would not know.

My wife ended up sending the teacher a note today.

 

[mytwotinks]

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.

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.

 

[Wishing on a star]

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.

This is similar to the LAST STRAW, of many issues, that resulted in pulling my son out of school.

How can anyone view this as anything but controlling and abusive.

 

[I_Know_You2!]

This is similar to the LAST STRAW, of many issues, that resulted in pulling my son out of school.

How can anyone view this as anything but controlling and abusive.

Wow, disgusting, but quite predictable, how this has turned into another parent bashing fest....

Except substitute "teacher" for parent...

 

[mhsjax]

I for one would NEVER follow school rules if it meant that my child couldn't go to the bathroom, that is crazy, in our classrooms we have bathrooms and the kids are allowed to go when needed, without any questions, and that is the way it should be. I never did understand blindly following rules, rules should be challenged when they can do damage to your health.

 

[MushyMushy]

Maybe you should get a note from your doctor.

My DS had chronic constipation problems (came close to needing surgical intervention) and I had to fight every year with the whole bathroom issue. His doctor made it clear that when he had to go, he had to go! If he was found to be abusing the restroom privileges, I assured them we would deal with that issue. I went through this all the way through middle school. There were some years that I did tell him to walk straight out of the classroom and to the nurse's office if need be.

 

[declansdad]

I haven't read all the responses but I can imagine where some have gone.

Before you jump all over the teacher, you need to let them know that your daughter has a problem. It is not uncommon, especially in elementary school for teachers to try and schedule bathroom breaks. For one thing, children are suppose to be supervised and if you have a couple going to the bathroom all the time, it would be extermely difficult for that teacher to supervise the bathroom and the classroom. In situations such as your daughter's, there are always accomadations that can be made. Discuss it with the teacher.

 

[declansdad]

I for one would NEVER follow school rules if it meant that my child couldn't go to the bathroom, that is crazy, in our classrooms we have bathrooms and the kids are allowed to go when needed, without any questions, and that is the way it should be. I never did understand blindly following rules, rules should be challenged when they can do damage to your health.

Not every school has bathrooms in the classroom. Unless you have a health issue, scheduled bathroom breaks every two hours shouldn't be a problem. In the case where someone really has to go, exceptions can be made.

 

[mhsjax]

I know that not every classroom has bathrooms in them, but I also know that I don't schedule my bathroom breaks every two hours, even when I did work out of the home, sometimes your body has to go, and maybe not every two hours. Nobody is going to schedule my kids bathroom breaks. Thank God I live in a school district that feels the same way I do.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I haven't read all the responses but I can imagine where some have gone.

Before you jump all over the teacher, you need to let them know that your daughter has a problem. ....... Discuss it with the teacher.

Who jumped all over the teacher? My wife sent a note today.

 

[declansdad]

Who jumped all over the teacher? My wife sent a note today.

I didn't say you did. I was suggesting that you didn't because there is usually someone on a teacher thread that suggests just that. If there wasn't I apologize to all the posters on the thread.

 

[declansdad]

I know that not every classroom has bathrooms in them, but I also know that I don't schedule my bathroom breaks every two hours, even when I did work out of the home, sometimes your body has to go, and maybe not every two hours. Nobody is going to schedule my kids bathroom breaks. Thank God I live in a school district that feels the same way I do.

I did say that sometimes you just have to go and they should be accounted for but there also has to be some guidelines. Having a break every couple of hours is fairly normal.

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

 

[Papa Deuce]

I didn't say you did. I was suggesting that you didn't because there is usually someone on a teacher thread that suggests just that. If there wasn't I apologize to all the posters on the thread.

Ah, OK.... but I will admit, PRE heart attack PD might have jumped all over the teacher, though.

 

[declansdad]

Ah, OK.... but I will admit, PRE heart attack PD might have jumped all over the teacher, though.

No problem

 

[mickeyboat]

We were having bathroom issues at our GS meetings. Meetings last an hour and 15 minutes and kids were going to the bathroom and getting drinks almost the entire time. Kids were asking to go to the bathroom 5 minutes after the meeting started, and right in the middle of important instructions. We weren't getting anything done.

We started having bathroom breaks about half way through the meeting. It seemed to help but the bathroom is a huge distraction. One mother told us we had to let her daughter do when she needed to. I think she had a medical issue. I completely understand, but there has to be some balance between her being able to use the bathroom and us being able to get some work done.

I do think it is reasonable to have some sort of bathroom policy to keep bathroom breaks from being social time, but kids should still be allowed to go if they really have to go.

Denae

 

[SeaShelley]

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

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

 

[mhsjax]

Exactly, there is a big difference between a child and an adult. To expect a little child to hold it is a little unreasonable, now if there is an abuse of the bathrooms then you need to correct it, but so far we haven't had that problem, even in our middle school they can go between classes, and then they get so many times that they can go in class without getting in trouble.