School bathroom policies

kellyrn9956 · April 2014

So, my coworker was called today to pick up her 6 year old. He had a pee accident because the school's policy is absolutely no "hall passes" (is that still a "thing"?), and all classes have scheduled bathroom break times. You don't go during that time, you don't go until the next one.

OK, #1 - she had to leave work and is missing three hours of time to go pick him up.

#2 - how embarassing for him - he's 6. Old enough to be made fun of for this.

#3 - sometimes I have to pee at unscheduled times. Is it really acceptable to ask a 6 year old to schedule his bathroom breaks? What if the child has diarrhea?

This kind of broke my heart today, so thought I'd ask if your schools have similar policies, what your thoughts are, and how you handle it as a parent?

oscarwao · April 2014

Our school has a 10/10 rule - no using the bathroom in first and last ten minutes of class. But, this school is a high school - kids old enough to figure out how to time everything, etc.

I would say that this school is probably making an effort to control the chaos (bathroom breaks can be a huge problem for classroom structure, etc), and it backfired big time for that poor kid. I've never worked elementary so I can't totally say how I feel about this (except for that I feel bad for her kid, obviously)

fancynewbeesly · April 2014

In our district they have scheduled bathroom breaks, but depending on the kid/time of day it is/etc--teachers will let them go at other times as well. I teach media/tech so I actually have NO clue when the bathroom breaks are, so if I send a child to the bathroom--I let them know (and the teacher know) that they just went. Because seriously, some kids are in the bathroom a zillion times a day.

SpaceGirlSpiff · April 2014

That's a very shitty policy.

ETA: OK that pun really was not intended ..but I'm gonna leave it.

kellyrn9956 · April 2014

I totally get high school. And even middle school. Although in high school when I had my period, I'd have been screwed if I wasn't allowed a bathroom break...

But I think elementary is just too young. Especially in a child who has never had a problem with taking excessive breaks or trying to get out of class.

ready-or-not · April 2014

Awe bless him. That would tramatize my kindergartner & I would be SUPER pissed about it. But DDs school has a bathroom in the K class rooms, & I've seen the 1st & 2nd graders in the hallways doing the buddy system on their way to the bathroom. Its unacceptable to expect a 6 year old to plan out their pee breaks.

EVA116 · April 2014

Poor kid.

BeebopandBuddy · April 2014

I get that they don't want kids roaming the hallways all the time, but there has to be a better solution for this. I don't think it's reasonable to ask a child that young to hold it for an entire class. I would be questioning that policy.

shadypines · April 2014

That would not fly with me.... How you don't let a 6 yr old use the bathroom?!?!? FOH!!!!

bumpuser1691848 · April 2014

So wait, they'd rather take like 15 minutes a few times a day to have scheduled bathroom breaks instead of just letting them go as needed and not take a chunk of time out of the day? I mean, let's be honest, if you have a class of 25 kids, it's gonna take a while to get all of them to go to the bathroom and then wash their hands and then back to class.

That policy sucks.

And even in high school, I was rushed to get from one class to another sometimes, there's no way I could stop between classes with the two minutes between bells.

lildevil968 · April 2014

I work at a University, and our department has a similar policy. Our class is 50 minutes a day, cadets get 10 minutes between classes to use the bathroom. If it is an emerency, then we let them use the bathroom, if it's not, they wait. Our reason for doing this is that our cadets are going to be moving on to pilot training from here, and they don't have a bathroom in the cockpit of a C130.

For elementary, middle, and high school, i think this is pretty assinine.

kellyrn9956 · April 2014

I do know that this particular school does need to keep a structured day, as they have a lot of behavioral issues to deal with.

But there has to be a better way for these tiny ones.

fancynewbeesly · April 2014

I will say I have some accidents in my class because the kid doesn't tell me until the last minute. Like the 6 year old will tell me at the VERY last second they need to go to the bathroom, and unfortunately the computer lab/library isn't the closest to the bathroom--so by the time they get there it is too late.

ToastieSimons · April 2014

That's ridiculous. In high school the rule was no bathroom breaks during class only during change time. We had block scheduling so classes were over an hour. We had 3 minutes between classes. Not one teacher evr obeyed the rule. It was ridiculous. In elementary they expected us to have scheduled bathroom breaks and I remember I pooped my pants because the teacher wouldn't let me go, so I can only imagine how your friends child will feel. I can remember it vividly. I think scheduled bathroom breaks are a great idea especially for the kids who get absorbed in playing and forget to go, but they need to use proper discretion between bathroom times. If every day a kid asks to go during math you talk to the parents, etc. but you let the poor kiid go to the bathroom.

fancynewbeesly · April 2014

In our school, usually call someone for change of clothes. Send kids to the nurse. I will say that the ones i have sent with accidents (and I feel terrible!) usually aren't huge ones--like they got to the bathroom and started and then ran to the toilet.

It is hard because I have them in my class for 40 minutes and if they wait to the very last minute to tell me--the bathroom is far away. It isn't a situation where the bathroom is across the hall. Plus since I am by myself in the library--I usually have to send with a buddy. And even with a buddy 6 year olds take the LONGEST possible route to the bathroom. Or go to the one that they know-which is right by there classroom. Never mind that they may pass two other bathrooms on the way upstairs. The teachers and I do try to remind them to use the bathroom before they come into the library, but unfortunately as proven time and time again--sometimes it just hits you! Luckily it doesn't happen too often.

RondackHiker · April 2014

My niece (kindergarten) had a pee accident this year because her teacher wouldn't let her go because "the bus will be here in twenty minutes". And then sent my niece home in wet clothes. X(

A friend had an accident in fifth grade for a similar reason. She'd gone an hour before on a scheduled but had to go again.... We'd drank a lot after gym. Teacher said no.

jesuisfatiguee · April 2014

Poor kid's probably only been potty trained for 3 years. I know that's half of his life, but geeze. I would be livid if I were the parent, for so many reasons.

kellyrn9956 · April 2014

I supported mom and told her I'd be pissed. On another note, I feel badly for her because she is out of PTO and this time is without pay. Which she cannot afford at all. I am thinking of leaving her $50 secretly at her desk to help cover. Is that too forward?

Unknown · April 2014

This content has been removed.

azmama20 · April 2014

So I don't have any school aged kids, but I wanted to add that my work tried to do this. Like you can only go to the bathroom on your break and if you have to go in between breaks, it comes out of your next break or lunch. Talk about micromanaging.

I think making adults, much less kids "schedule" when to pee, etc is ridiculous.

katlizabeth · April 2014

My kids are 3 and 5, but in daycare they're allowed to go whenever, as far as I know. I teach fifth grade and allow kids to go whenever necessary. I ask that they don't go during my mini lessons (active teaching) unless its an emergency. During work time they can go whenever they want, unless I notice someone is abusing the privilege. By fifth grade can ask if it is an emergency, they'll be honest, and if it's not they wait. I think this school op wrote about is in the wrong.

Breakfast4dinner · April 2014

My students are allowed to go as they please...within reason when I am not in front of the class actually teaching. We have hand sanitizer labeled boy and girl and they place it on their desk to let me know they are in the bathroom. If I am teaching whole group, I ask that they only go if it's an emergency and if it's not they hold it. I'm not whole group teaching for that long of periods of time.

I also have the do not interrupt during reading group policy (as does every teacher I know) but it's soap time during reading group time meaning kids can put the soap in their desk and just go.

I feel bad for this particular kid because obviously he had to go but playing in the bathroom starts very early...yes like in kindergarten and first grade. I try to always accommodate going to the bathroom and have never had students have an accident because of my system but I tell kids no all the time.

We've had kids make plans to meet up and do cartwheels in the bathroom, have water fights, or just see how long they could hang out in there...I teach early elementary by the way.

ferris0906 · April 2014

It is clearly not a good policy.

However, just to play devil's advocate, consider the other side. If students are allowed to leave the classroom and no longer be under adult supervision, what happens if a student does something inappropriate or gets hurt? At my old school, we were told we were no longer allowed to send students to the bathroom alone because two first grade girls jumped on top of the older sinks ripping them from the wall. One girl got significantly injured and left the school via ambulance.

Clearly that situation is not the norm, but it could happen.

azmama20 · April 2014

bearsbearsbears said:

rfred20 said:

So I don't have any school aged kids, but I wanted to add that my work tried to do this. Like you can only go to the bathroom on your break and if you have to go in between breaks, it comes out of your next break or lunch. Talk about micromanaging.

I think making adults, much less kids "schedule" when to pee, etc is ridiculous.

Are you serious? That is jacked up. I hoped it was a short lived policy.
I would quit.

It's still policy but not really enforced. I think because I came back from mat leave and threatened to pee on my office chair. :-\"

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