How do you handle requests from students to go to the bathroom during class? Every so often you will see a news story that focuses on a teacher who did not let a child use the bathroom during class causing them to have an embarrassing accident. Restroom use during class is a sticky issue that deserves some thought so that you do not end up on the news. This article on Restroom Use focuses on the issues associated with and ways to deal with it during class.
Explore Secondary Education
Must Reads
Most Popular
©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.
A part of The New York Times Company.
Comments
With all due respect, I have to wonder why going to the restroom is a “sticky” issue. Don’t teachers have a bit more to worry about than determining whether a child “really” has to go to the john? Of course, I suppose the teacher could call in the school nurse to “examine” the child to make sure the child really needs to go!
Where is the trust in students in the schools today? There isn’t any. Not trusting your students is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You don’t trust them. They won’t trust you and won’t see you as their teacher.
This is all about power and control and has nothing to do with teaching of which there is darn little left anymore in our public schools. If you have a problem with too many kids asking to go the john, then appoint a student bathroom monitor, have a sign-up list, etc. But the fact is that sometimes kids REALLY do have to go do their business in the restroom, so don’t be an idiot. There are some things in life that don’t need extensive, long-winded policies and staff meetings to do the right way.