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Going to the loo during lessons.

M

Misskel

New Member
I am a primary school teacher (year 3). I don't let children go to the toilet during lessons. Would you have a problem as a parent with this rule?
 
Do you mean autistic students? How long is the lesson? How is this connected to autism? More context/information needed here.
 
Progster said:
Do you mean autistic students? How long is the lesson? How is this connected to autism? More context/information needed here.
Click to expand...

Sorry no that is why I put it in off topic, I have a sister with autism which is why I joined.

Lessons are 2 hours max.
 
I would have a big problem with that. If they can't go when they need to go, they could end up going in their pants. Other kids would make fun of them and they would become social outcasts. Or worse, they could get a urinary-tract infection. Would you want to be the cause of either of those things? I hope not.
 
I'm not a parent, but I am a teacher (private lessons). If a student asks to go to the toilet, and it is in the middle of the lesson, I let them. Especially if it is a small child. If it is five or ten minutes from the end of the lesson, I tell them they should wait. If they are having a 'problem' and really can't wait, I let them go and just finish the lesson early.

For a two hour session, I give them a short break after the first hour to go to the toilet or drink water (I need the break, too).

I think that they should be allowed to go (I'm not a parent, but if I had kids, this would be my opinion), if they can't go when they need to and they are sitting there feeling uncomfortable, they are not likely to be able to concentrate on the lesson. There's nothing worse than genuinely needing to go to the toilet, but the teacher won't let you. A half hour wait can seem like an eternity to a small child. Sometimes people forget what it's like to be children. Also, as @Beguiling Orbit points out, it can lead to urinary tract infections or embarrassment.

However, if I notice that one particular child is constantly asking to go to the toilet and it's obvious that they are exploiting my leniency in this matter, I will stop them and make them wait. If the problem persists, I mention it to the parents.
 
Progster said:
A half hour wait can seem like an eternity to a small child. Sometimes people forget what it's like to be children.
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Indeed. Not to mention how a child's attention and focus can go so easily from the lesson itself to their bladder. That I can still recall! As for the lesson, not so much. :eek:
 
Sometimes you just gotta go. You can't always plan a toilet break. You also can't expect young children (or anyone) to just hold it for two hours. That's unnecessary, cruel, and unhealthy.
 
WTHeck? Why would you have that rule? Kids should not be made to feel ashamed of bodily functions. No one would abuse it! If you thought someone was, maybe they would need a medical exam. This seems like something from the 70's. Get with the 2000's. People have issues.

As for doing it at a break, that's nonsense. Maybe they don't need to go at that time! Maybe once break is over and they hear everyone peeing, they started to have to go! Sheesh. This actually seems like something from 1800's English boarding schools. Kids don't have forthought and they should not be punished.
 
I can't imagine that "absolutely no potty trips during lessons" is the policy at the school where you teach. If it isn't, then why do you have different, stricter, rules?
 
Progster said:
I'm not a parent, but I am a teacher (private lessons). If a student asks to go to the toilet, and it is in the middle of the lesson, I let them. Especially if it is a small child. If it is five or ten minutes from the end of the lesson, I tell them they should wait. If they are having a 'problem' and really can't wait, I let them go and just finish the lesson early.

For a two hour session, I give them a short break after the first hour to go to the toilet or drink water (I need the break, too).

I think that they should be allowed to go (I'm not a parent, but if I had kids, this would be my opinion), if they can't go when they need to and they are sitting there feeling uncomfortable, they are not likely to be able to concentrate on the lesson. There's nothing worse than genuinely needing to go to the toilet, but the teacher won't let you. A half hour wait can seem like an eternity to a small child. Sometimes people forget what it's like to be children. Also, as @Beguiling Orbit points out, it can lead to urinary tract infections or embarrassment.

However, if I notice that one particular child is constantly asking to go to the toilet and it's obvious that they are exploiting my leniency in this matter, I will stop them and make them wait. If the problem persists, I mention it to the parents.
Click to expand...

I agree. But I do disagree that anyone would abuse it. Kids are very sensitive. If they are the ones known to be in the loo all day, well......if they SEEM to be abusing it, they may have a medical or nervous condition. Which means, they need MORE understanding, not less.

How many of us needed understanding and got a fist (or less, maybe a public reprimand and verbal humilation, etc......)

Think of that poor kid . Will he be on here needing our support next?
 
In this day and age if I were a school teacher, I would never want to risk my liability of being considered the proximate cause of a student's potential bullying, online harassment and humiliation. Possibly resulting in suicide. Even with a union to provide legal representation and support. Not worth the risk.

Though my perspective is relative to tort law of the US and not the UK. Here teachers can and are sued over such practices.

Elementary school sued over ‘harmful’ bathroom policy
 
Judge said:
In this day and age if I were a school teacher, I would never want to risk my liability of being considered the proximate cause of a student's potential bullying, online harassment and humiliation. Possibly resulting in suicide. Even with a union to provide legal representation and support. Not worth the risk.

Though my perspective is relative to tort law of the US and not the UK. Here teachers can and are sued over such practices.

Elementary school sued over ‘harmful’ bathroom policy
Click to expand...
If I could give this 100 Winner icons, I would! It's akin to bullying!!!!
 
OkRad said:
WTHeck? Why would you have that rule? Kids should not be made to feel ashamed of bodily functions. No one would abuse it! If you thought someone was, maybe they would need a medical exam. This seems like something from the 70's. Get with the 2000's. People have issues.

As for doing it at a break, that's nonsense. Maybe they don't need to go at that time! Maybe once break is over and they hear everyone peeing, they started to have to go! Sheesh. This actually seems like something from 1800's English boarding schools. Kids don't have forthought and they should not be punished.
Click to expand...

Once one goes they all want to go, lessons aren't that long. As a teacher I have to plan my toilet breaks.
 
NT
 
A two hour no-pee rule for 8-10 year olds is too strict. I'm a mother and grandmother, and when kids need to go, well, then they need to go. I allow my autistic 18-24 year old students to go to the bathroom whenever they want during a 4 hour class, and we take short breaks twice during the lesson. Of course, they are adults and responsible for their own education (and bladders) but it would be crass for me to deny them bathroom access if they want to go. It would be the rare child who would abuse the "privilege" but if one appeared to do so, then I'd advise the parents that their child might have a bladder issue and tell them why I think so. Heck, I'm not sure I could wait two hours to pee (nor would I want to) and I'm a healthy 64 year old.
 
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