Would you be upset??

[Lorix2]

My DS6 always waits until the last possible second as well.

I hope an hour hadn't passed that your son was in the bathroom. I know my DS doesn't fully understand how long an hour is yet. Do you think it may be possible that it just felt like an hour to him? How long are their recesses? My DS' gets 10-15 minutes in kindergarten top play outside.

Poor little guy, I'm sure he'll go now when the urge strikes

(My DS did this to me in a restaurant right before going to a movie - had to throw his undies away right there, clean him up and go without them under his pants)

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Well I'd first definately get the Teacher's side of the story. Especially when they are upset, young boys can really get the facts mixed up.

A couple of points -

I wouldn't be comfortable with any K student wandering the halls alone. A buddy system might be acceptable, but really there should be a Teacher's Aid for these emergencies in a classroom that young.

As you probably now realize, kids that young desperately need pants that they can easily work themselves. I really couldn't let my son wear pants with buttons or snaps until 2nd or 3rd grade because his fingers just weren't strong enough to handle them on his own. Elastic waistbands are his friend.

The classroom should have a student counting procedure in place. It seems that they don't. They never should have LEFT for recess without everybody accounted for. That is something that the school needs to change.

 

[Talking Hands]

There is a definate problem with this teacher. No way should she leave the classroom without all her students accounted for! This did not happen in my community but I was told about it this weekend by another interpreter.
A 5 yo boy was acting up in class and sent to another classroom. The teacher was watching through the window but was distracted and looked away for a minute. When she looked back she didn't see him and assumed the child had entered the other classroom. Later when she told the other teacher she would take him now she was told he never arrived. The child had left, taken a bike and tried to cross a very busy street. He was struck and killed.
No child should leave a classroom without a buddy and the teacher needs to be aware at all times where the students are. It's the teacher's responsibility.
We are lucky in my school because the kindergarden and first grade classes all have bathrooms in them so there is no reason for them to leave without the entire class, or an adult such as a therapist.
Please get to the bottom of this and go to the principal if need be. While it is the child's responsibilty to get in line when called, the teacher has a higher responsibility to make sure she has all her students with her when she leaves that classroom or playground or cafeteria.

 

[Twigs]

I guess I'm repeating what has already been said, but yes I would be furious. I know a child's sense of time is not always accurate, but you said his class was in the classroom when he left and then in recess which meant the theacher left the classroom without being sure she had the whole class there!
The first step is always to talk to the teacher to get their response, then if it is not satisfactory to you, go to the principal. Being this is the second time your child was unaccounted for I would consider going to the principal. It sounds as if there should be some revision of school policies. I would bring this up (in writing) to your PTA and if your school has a Site Based Management Team to them. When DS's were in their prilmary school(gradesK-2) NO child was EVER allowed in the hallways by themselves, they always had to have a buddy. Fortunately in Kindergarten their bathroom was in their classroom, but if they were in a special and had to use the BR, they went in pairs. Also a kindergartner should not have to wait to use the BR. This would also be my primary peeve. It was also a policy in their school that EVERY kindergartner and 1st grader had a change of clothes kept in the classroom and they brought this to the nurses office if they had an accident. (Not all accidents are bathroom accidents, it could be a spill in the cafeteria or classroom). If your school does not have a SBMT your PTA should look into getting it instituted. Good Luck.

 

[chell]

I am upset now just from reading this! I hope you get to talk with this teacher soon to see what she has to say about it. For her sake, I sure do hope she has a good reason (although I doubt she does). You should talk to the principal about it too. To me it doesn't sound like she needs to be teaching children that young. Hope you don't have any more problems.

 

[pw2pp]

Heck yeah! I'd be upset. First of all, a teacher should NOT make a KINDERGARTENER wait to go to the BR.
Second, for her to not notice that he was gone for an hour is outright NEGLECTFUL.
I would be furious!

 

[wdw4us]

in the Second Grade! I was in a catholic school. We had an old - really old nun and she was just plain nasty. Everyone knew it. I could tell you stories!

Anyway, I had to " go". It was just before lunch but we had to say prayers before we left for home(we walked home for lunch). I asked to go to the bathroom because I REALLY had to go. She said NO. I guess she figured I could wait. Well I couldn't so as I was saying prayers I pee'd on the floor.

She never scolded me and after that, I'm sure she let other kids go to the bathroom when they requested it. I came back from lunch with a new outfit and a clean floor where my desk was.

My mother never went to the school. It was never heard of to question the nuns or priests. It was 1962. They were one step closer to God than anyone. - don't get me started down that road!

You'd think I'd be made fun of but no one ever did - NO ONE! All the kids felt sorry for me - they knew what she was like.

If it were my kid - let me tell you, I'd be there at the school in a heartbeat. I've lived through it - I know.

Good luck to you and your little boy.

denise

 

[DisneyTeacher]

I have to agree about getting the other side of the story then going to the principal if you need to. Keep talking until you get this taken care of, go as high as you need to.

My DS had a similar problem the first week of school. He asked to go to the bathroom and didn't make it, he was distracted by the cool drimking fountain. He returned to class and remembered he had to "go", his teacher told him he had to wait because he just went. She made him wait about 2 minutes but it was too late. Lesson learned, I hope.

I have to agree with the buddy system, my 5 year old was just beaten up in the bathroom Friday by another 5 year old. Another student may have been able to go for help since the boy held my DS pinned to the wall in the bathroom after beating him up.