What is your opinion on my policy of not letting children go to the toilet during class time? ( teach y6 so 10 and 11)
Toilet breaks during class time - British Heart Fou...
Toilet breaks during class time
Written by
Teacherlass
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38 Replies
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I don't agree with it.
Could you elaborate as to why ?
Sure, I think if someone needs to use the rest room they should be able to.
If it becomes a habitual habit for a particular student then I would address it with that student.
I know teaching is a tough job. My daughter is a teacher also.
I'm a nurse. If someone needs to empty their bladder during a class I think it should be allowed.
Totally agree
If you need to go you need to go
Only teachers can’t we have to go in breaks the same
So. What. You're an adult and unless you're on medication that causes you to need the lav frequently it should be safe to assume you've matured to the point of being able to control your bladder - children the age of your students do not have the same control of their bladders.
I honestly cannot wrap my head around an adult being so cruel as to refuse a small child permission to leave the room for a lav break.
You are an adult. However if you had a situation I'm sure another teacher in the next room would cover for you. Just open the door between classrooms and excuse yourself.
I assume not then
You assume what?
Ignore that comment
What is classed as class time. In junior school we had four sessions a day - it was preferred if you went in the mid-morning, mid-afternoon or lunchtime breaks but if a child wanted to go it was allowed. There was the occasional mucking about by older kids. In senior school bar double lessons you were expected to go during subject change. How long are your sessions?
Our sessions start at
8.40-10.25
10.25-10.40 (can use the toilet)
10.40-12.10
12.10-12.55 lunch (can use the toilet)
12.55-3.15
To me the sessions seem slightly long particularly the first and afternoon ones to make all children hold on.
However, what is the relevance to a Heart Forum? Mumsnet might be more appropriate.
in reply to MichaelJH
Totally agree
Didn't even look to see that this was the heart forum.
I would say it has no relevance unless someone is on a diuretic.
Have to agree with MichaelJH particularly afternoon session at over two hours!
As far as I remember ( I am a retired nurse) it is not particularly good to empty bladder " just in case" though as an older lady I do this all the time. It is certainly not good to "hang on" with a full bladder.
An anxious child would be under extra stress knowing that they are not allowed to go ( and we all know how stress affects tbe bladder!) It also discriminates against a child who might have bladder issues - drawing attention to their problem.
I'm sure as an experienced teacher you will be aware of the time wasters and if you need a rule it should be only one child leaves class at a time.
I was very anxious at school and would have found this an extra stress. Having said that, it was arare occasion if anyone did need to go.
I tend to ask if people need to go before setting off in the car as I find looking for toilets 15 - 20 minutes after leaving home frustrating. On a motorway it can cost 20 minutes plus!
Oh yes definitely. My grandchildren have huge capacity. It's usually me!!
I try and plan a proper break every two hours on long drives up to Scotland or down to the West Country.
Your school should have a policy - most class teachers at primary level should know who has a medical condition that necessitates frequent toilet visits and deal with that sympathetically. The embarrassment of asking for children with medical problems is great. In secondary schools sometimes a system of yellow cards (laminated cards with name and "has permission to leave class" signed by Head of Learning Support and dated is implemented). So small that they can be held in palm of hand and all the child has to do is put their hand up with the card hidden in palm. Sympathetic teachers just nod and off goes pupil. Everyone in school knows the system and how to ask for a card.... other pupils asking use your discretion. If you know about Maslow's Learning pyramid you will know any child desperate for the toilet won;t be concentrating on learning. In some schools you have to weigh the balance of the dangers outside the classroom against the child's need. One at a time of course. Don;t forget too that girls may need more frequent trips to the toilet at puberty. Your senior management team should be advising you on this question. I am a little surprised by your comment about teachers not being able to leave the classroom. Teachers are adults with more developed nervous systems - they should not identify with children; the adults in the room are not there to be one of the group but to do a job.
I think you may be teaching at a school where pupils get up to mischief so often in the lavs that teachers are restricting lav breaks to prevent said mischief.
That said - children through to aged around 15 have notoriously weak bladders - how can you not know that?!
I will NEVER forget being ten years old and the teacher telling me I didn't need to use the lav, and when I 'had an accident' owing to her refusal to let me leave the room, telling me I did it on purpose and refusing to let me leave the room or try to mop up the wet. I will NEVER forget sitting there for over an hour in a urine puddle and I will NEVER forget the horror of my classmates making fun of me for that hour with the teacher's full encouragement.
My father pulled me out of that school - I never went back. He lodged a formal complaint and when the school did nothing, he took it to the local newspaper - end result was policy was changed, no child ever had to go through what I did and the teacher took early retirement.
I am 63 years old and to this day still want to cry every time I think of that cruel woman and the school that supported her in her cruelty.
I have had a heart condition (rheumatic heart syndrome) since age seven - one of the side effects of the medication is frequent, urgent need to empty the bladder and I was on that medication when she refused me permission to leave the room. It is unconscionable for any teacher to restrict lav breaks and especially when the pupil may be on medication.
Since you've brought this up on a heart forum, I want to know what your justification is for trapping a ten-eleven year old child in the classroom rather than give a lav break!
Having had a quick look at your profile and in spite of the responses, I think you may have posted your thread in the wrong place. This merry band (BHF group) are linked by our heart conditions and/ or those of loved ones.
It has been a pleasant change for some to consider school days and revived various memories for those like me for whom school days were a trial.
I really only enjoyed education when I got to college and went on to a polytechnic!
Ditto but I was determined to improve things - and so became a teacher. It's really interesting to be on the other side and see why things happen. By the way I loved the job - but I was interviewed for a job at the secondary school I attended; I was in my early 40''s and there was still a teacher who had taught me. He was on the interviewing panel and said to me " I can;t believe you are a teacher - you are too thick." I took my degree and five post grad qualifications elsewhere after I pointed out it was people like him who inspired me to try to change things.
I really enjoyed school, my only downside to it was I had poor eyesight and refused to wear glasses so had to sit in the front of the classroom to see the blackboard!! Am I showing my age?? 😂
Yes cos I don't think the thought police let you say blackboard now. It has to be chalk board! I met a lovely lady recently who said she knew it was time to leave employment with an international charity when she asked for a black coffee and was asked did she mean a coffee without milk?
☺ That chalkboard eraser really hurt when it was launched across the classroom at you!! 😂 Think my teachers took lessons from olympian shot putters! The PE teacher was a pretty mean shot with a medicine ball as well!! And now I'm wondering why I did actually like school!!!
You probably posted this in the wrong section. Though some will say it's heartless!
If you feel you have a particular child who is asking to go to the toilet regularly then tackle the problem like an adult. Involve the parents & senior staff in case it is a medical issue.
Totally heartless to expect children to "Hang On" because it disrupts your class! Kids can be a nuisance, of course they can, but I would suggest you look for a different way of dealing with the issue.
My school was brilliant, it was so good it was approved🤣. (Just kidding.......showing my age now).
Wondering why this is on a heart forum too.
However as an ex teacher I would never prevent any child from going to the loo even when you know one is just wanting a break.
Hi, I’m also Gransnet and we get this question every so often, it’s regarded as a wind up and gets reported and deleted. It’s assumed to be a bored teenager posting. Why on earth should it appear on a heart forum?
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