Can you share your kids' MS 'Bathroom Policy'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There should be enough time in between classes. Most kids need to bring the same things to every class except PE: a binder (which includes a pencil and agenda), and their Chromebook. So they shouldn’t be going to their locker between every class. They often pass a bathroom on their way to the next class. They also have access to bathrooms in the locker rooms before and after PE.

It takes teachers some time as well to get on a bathroom schedule. I have a different teaching schedule this year and have to set a reminder on my phone to use the bathroom before 5th period because I don’t have a break until the end of the school day.

You may need to help your 6th grader plan a bathroom break to get into a routine. Maybe they were used to class bathroom stops in ES?

Is this developmentally appropriate for kids? Probably not, but this is how we ensure safe public schools. We don’t have the staff to come stably sweep the hallways and bathrooms during the class. Teachers are pressured to get kids to achieve certain grades and standardized gets scores with large class sizes. Can’t reteach material for every kid that uses the bathroom or visits a water fountain in the middle of class.

OP here. Thank you for this!

No class bathroom stops in ES. But he was comfortable going when needed. And there were not as many rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. How are they supposed to go to the bathroom if they only get four hall passes her class per quarter?? People should go to the bathroom when they need to, not suppress the urge.

Ugh.

I think it’s particularly tough on girls. Stressful enough being a newly menstruating teen. This makes it MORE stressful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. How are they supposed to go to the bathroom if they only get four hall passes her class per quarter?? People should go to the bathroom when they need to, not suppress the urge.

Ugh.

I think it’s particularly tough on girls. Stressful enough being a newly menstruating teen. This makes it MORE stressful!

+1 this is a big deal imo

[Anonymous]

I def thinks this contributes to some of the chronic absenteeism from girls. I even have boys that often miss a lot of class in the afternoon due to extended time in the bathroom to go #2.

But our public schools are run more like prisons or factories due to the number of students in the building and limited resources. I even tried getting our pediatrician to write a note for my ES to get more bathroom breaks and the doctor refused and told me “she just needs to get used to the schedule”.

[Anonymous]

What does that mean by four hall passes her class per quarter? How many kids can use bathroom per day for a classroom?

My kid has anxiety, and I told teacher that he can use bathroom as many as he wants. He still in ES, so it has not been a problem so far. We got a doctor note from a specialist.

[Anonymous]

Our school has the same or similar policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean by four hall passes her class per quarter? How many kids can use bathroom per day for a classroom?

My kid has anxiety, and I told teacher that he can use bathroom as many as he wants. He still in ES, so it has not been a problem so far. We got a doctor note from a specialist.

I think they don’t want the kids consistently missing one class. So each class teacher gives out 4 hall passes.

Not sure if the kids are able to get more?

Can you imagine this in the workplace? Your boss saying you can’t use the bathroom when needed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I def thinks this contributes to some of the chronic absenteeism from girls. I even have boys that often miss a lot of class in the afternoon due to extended time in the bathroom to go #2.

But our public schools are run more like prisons or factories due to the number of students in the building and limited resources. I even tried getting our pediatrician to write a note for my ES to get more bathroom breaks and the doctor refused and told me “she just needs to get used to the schedule”.

I think this is true if they dug deeper and asked why some girls miss school during their period.

Cramps are an issue, but also, it’s super stressful to have to deal with managing your flow when you are limited to certain bathroom visits. Some girls just have a super heavy period for a few days. I think I also would have just stayed home as a teen girl instead of trying to manage this at school and not being able to freely access a bathroom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean by four hall passes her class per quarter? How many kids can use bathroom per day for a classroom?

My kid has anxiety, and I told teacher that he can use bathroom as many as he wants. He still in ES, so it has not been a problem so far. We got a doctor note from a specialist.

It is not per class. It is per semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean by four hall passes her class per quarter? How many kids can use bathroom per day for a classroom?

My kid has anxiety, and I told teacher that he can use bathroom as many as he wants. He still in ES, so it has not been a problem so far. We got a doctor note from a specialist.

I think they don’t want the kids consistently missing one class. So each class teacher gives out 4 hall passes.

Not sure if the kids are able to get more?

Can you imagine this in the workplace? Your boss saying you can’t use the bathroom when needed!

I think you can get more if the teachers believe you were legitimately using the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean by four hall passes her class per quarter? How many kids can use bathroom per day for a classroom?

My kid has anxiety, and I told teacher that he can use bathroom as many as he wants. He still in ES, so it has not been a problem so far. We got a doctor note from a specialist.

I think they don’t want the kids consistently missing one class. So each class teacher gives out 4 hall passes.

Not sure if the kids are able to get more?

Can you imagine this in the workplace? Your boss saying you can’t use the bathroom when needed!

Lol yes, I'm a teacher

[Anonymous]

For kid with anxiety, the more you limit them to use bathroom, the more they feel like they need to use bathroom or wet the floor. My kid got UTI and so stressed because teacher thought that he abused the bathroom usage and disrupted the class on purpose. And, it was kindergarten year. She called me to talk about it, and I reminded her that my kid had a doctor note with school nurse and I already send her a copy at the beginning of school year. She limited my kid from drinking more water in class, and that was not helpful, and thus it made it worse. It was a terrible kindergartener year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For kid with anxiety, the more you limit them to use bathroom, the more they feel like they need to use bathroom or wet the floor. My kid got UTI and so stressed because teacher thought that he abused the bathroom usage and disrupted the class on purpose. And, it was kindergarten year. She called me to talk about it, and I reminded her that my kid had a doctor note with school nurse and I already send her a copy at the beginning of school year. She limited my kid from drinking more water in class, and that was not helpful, and thus it made it worse. It was a terrible kindergartener year.

After I reminded her about the doctor note again, she went silent on the phone. There had been no issue anymore. And, my kid's frequent use of bathroom issue was gone without medication/intervention after he felt relieved and not stressed about it 2 months after. It was all psychological in my kid case.

[Anonymous]

I find this to be a very misogynist bathroom policy. Girls are just getting their periods in MS and having to worry about getting to the bathroom or justifying why is mortifying and distracting in school.

Someone should make a Title IX complaint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this to be a very misogynist bathroom policy. Girls are just getting their periods in MS and having to worry about getting to the bathroom or justifying why is mortifying and distracting in school.

Someone should make a Title IX complaint.

Tell me more about the Title IX complaint?

I agree it is misogynistic. But I guess since it applies equally to boys and girls, it would n out be considered discriminatory?