Going pee during class time means losing 5 min of recess?

[Satori]

Today was the first day my dd was in class and the teacher was going over the rules and one of them is seriously stupid. If you have to go to the bathroom during class you lose 5 minutes of recess and have to stay in the class with your head down on your desk. You have got to be kidding me!? Yes I can see if the kid is abusing using the bathroom but this is crazy! My dd has bathroom use written into her 504 and I'm just waiting for the teacher to violate it...:

Yes its only about 2-2.5 hours between breaks but still... I'd never get recess if I was stuck with those rules!

[momma2girls]

I would be complaining if my kid went to school there. There is no reason to have that one of the 'class rules'. what grade is this?

[wonderwahine]

that has to be illegal in some way, thats punishing somone for the basic need to urinate. Not to mention making kids hold can cause them serious medical problems.

I would write a letter outlining the serious medical issues that can happen from someone holding instead of going to the bathroom, and sending it to the principal discussing this "rule"

[rabrog]

I'd send the letter to the principal and cc the teacher. This is seriously stupid not to mention unhealthy.

Jenn

[imahappymama]

Have you spoken to the teacher? I would get in there and start a discussion, if for no other reason than being able to tell the principal when you speak with them that you have, in fact, already spoken with the teacher in an attempt to address the problem and it got you nowhere. It has always been protocol, if you will, that you have to start with the teacher and move up the ladder. Start now. That rule is absurd!!!

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by wonderwahine

that has to be illegal in some way, thats punishing somone for the basic need to urinate. Not to mention making kids hold can cause them serious medical problems.

I would write a letter outlining the serious medical issues that can happen from someone holding instead of going to the bathroom, and sending it to the principal discussing this "rule"

Do you know if this is a general school policy or only in DD's class? If school wide, I'd start with the principal. If that class only, I'd start with the teacher.

Either way every child deserves access to the bathroom. If one child becomes a "problem" they can be dealt with, but not all of them should be punished just in case.

[Hannahsmummy]

That is absolutely shocking! Not only will they have to hold it, they are being punished and shamed when they have to go by losing a privledge and sitting with head down.
I don't know about you but for us potty training was all about not having any shame in doing something natural, for a teacher to undo that is awful.

Let us know how you get on.

[momtothree]

I agree...go talk to the teacher. The rule is unreasonable.

[yarngoddess]

I agree with all of you that this is ridiculus (sp) and it also seems to be becoming more of a trend. I live in Sacramento CA, and we recently had a Junior Highs Student that was told to pee in his soda bottle. He did- in the back of the classroom. Teachers have some pretty powerful intimidation ability, and they are really (IMO) abusing their power in some situations.

Talk to the teacher, the principal, and the distric sipervisor, and the school board... Talk until this is resolved and doesn't happen anymore.

[muse]

Oh my..sounds like child abuse to me...

[sullengurl]

That's awful! I would really have a problem with this. My ds had a bathroom accident during the first week of school and I talked with his teacher about it. She assured me that they always have access to the bathroom if needed and that she let my son know that he can go anytime, just let her or the aide know. I talked with her about it because I wanted to make sure he wasn't being kept from going for some reason. I found out he was just busy playing and he didn't want to "miss out" on anything

If our school had this bathroom policy I would be really upset. I'm sorry you are going through this

[Zach'smom]

That is insane! I would make a huge stink to the techer and principal. If that doesn't work head for the local newspaper and tv station. They would have a field day with that!!!

[2crazykids]

what are these teachers thinking???

[moondiapers]

the one semester that my son spent in public school kindergarten was like this. He was in a K/1 split class. The teacher rewarded the kids by giving them pennies...at the end of the week they could buy things from her store (it was a pretty cool math project). If you had to use the restroom during class time you had to pay her 5cents. I got a doctor's note that took care of that.

[philomom]

I have never heard of such a classroom policy. Please calmly discuss this with the principal and see if you can't get it changed.

[Milvudeeshna]

Oh heck no, that "policy" would NOT fly with me.

[MeepyCat]

I would discuss this with the principal and the teacher immediately - don't wait for a 504 violation.

It's a totally dumb rule, and I wouldn't want my kid in a classroom that had this policy.

[meisterfrau]

I absolutely have heard of that kind of policy, and it's teachers like that who give the rest of us (the ones with a shred of decency and common sense) a bad name. My DD is not in school yet, but when she is, any teacher that tries to tell her when she can and cannot use the potty will be in for an unpleasant conversation to start with.

Since I *am* a teacher, I realize just what kind of problems an unhappy parent can cause for me. I wouldn't hesitate to use that knowledge to my advantage if my child was in a situation where she was being essentially punished for an involuntary bodily function. : :

[MyTwoAs]

Yikes that is kind of extreme. I agree to find out if it is a school or classroom policy and then talk to the appropriate person after that.

I have also found that often-times the teachers aren't aware of exactly what is in a child's 504 plan or IEP so it might be a good idea to touch base with her and remind her that your daughter can go to the restroom whenever she needs to. Kind of head it off before it becomes an issue.

What grade is this btw?

[CarrieMF]

My dd's class did that last year, BUT it was Grade 3(a 3/4 split actually), the bathroom was being overused by many of the kids in her class & it was halfway through the year.

I'd talk to the teacher, it may be a "rule" but one she's relaxed on or doesn't push at the beginning when the kids are just learning the ins & outs of school. Last year the school here moved the K room & put a bathroom in the room so it solved alot of that. Before that the kids were allowed to go any time, but they had a ways to go to get to the bathroom.