[Cherie]

Don't want to be controversial but we always had time to go to the loo between lessons, do they not have that time any more? like really unless you have an upset stomach then really is there any need to leave class to go to the toilet, as for having period products in toilets that is never going to work as they will just get stolen, maybe have a stash in the office, but again like we were pretty poor but I always had period products and didn't expect them to be provided .... strange times we are in, everyone expects freebies....

[BBXX]

Expelling your bladder in a toilet is a basic human right and nobody should be forced to risk a UTI by holding it in because they might miss 3 minutes of class.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by BBXX

Expelling your bladder in a toilet is a basic human right and nobody should be forced to risk a UTI by holding it in because they might miss 3 minutes of class.

Hundreds of thousands face that hardship every single school day now


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[Cherie]

Originally Posted by BBXX

Expelling your bladder in a toilet is a basic human right and nobody should be forced to risk a UTI by holding it in because they might miss 3 minutes of class.

Originally Posted by Zizu

Hundreds of thousands face that hardship every single school day now


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I don't think it was any different when we went to school? Teachers were not inclined in secondary school to let people out of class but there was always the opportunity between lessons

[Cherie]

It was different in primary you put your hand up and off you went 😂

[Maru]

School just seems like hell now for kids.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I don't think it was any different when we went to school? Teachers were not inclined in secondary school to let people out of class but there was always the opportunity between lessons

Teachers have a lot of more trouble now on average controlling the classroom and getting kids to even focus for more than few minutes (thanks, technology...), so I kind of understand their reasoning to try to reign some things in. There's kids now probably trying to sneak off to have "emergency" texts and such. It's not like we could do much of anything else in the bathroom but sit on a toilet back when we were in. That said, we had no problem with asking to go, but it was a different time...

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Maru

Teachers have a lot of more trouble now on average controlling the classroom and getting kids to even focus for more than few minutes (thanks, technology...), so I kind of understand their reasoning to try to reign some things in. There's kids now probably trying to sneak off to have "emergency" texts and such. It's not like we could do much of anything else in the bathroom but sit on a toilet back when we were in. That said, we had no problem with asking to go, but it was a different time...

Your first sentence hits the nail on the head !


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[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Maru

Teachers have a lot of more trouble now on average controlling the classroom and getting kids to even focus for more than few minutes (thanks, technology...), so I kind of understand their reasoning to try to reign some things in. There's kids now probably trying to sneak off to have "emergency" texts and such. It's not like we could do much of anything else in the bathroom but sit on a toilet back when we were in. That said, we had no problem with asking to go, but it was a different time...

True Maru

[Quantum Boy]

Originally Posted by Maru

Teachers have a lot of more trouble now on average controlling the classroom and getting kids to even focus for more than few minutes (thanks, technology...), so I kind of understand their reasoning to try to reign some things in. There's kids now probably trying to sneak off to have "emergency" texts and such. It's not like we could do much of anything else in the bathroom but sit on a toilet back when we were in. That said, we had no problem with asking to go, but it was a different time...

It's a lazy solution though, if there's a kid who seems distracted in class/keeps asking to go out (and doesn't have a medical reason in place) then you might start to suspect they're not actually going to the toilet and that can be investigated/followed up for that specific person. It's not a good reasoning for having a "blanket rule" of not allowing anyone out when they ask. If a kid who rarely asks to go to the toilet asks to go, they probably need to go and should be allowed no questions asked. If the same kid is going for the 5th time in 2 hours / every day then that's the time to ask questions and take some action.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

It's a lazy solution though, if there's a kid who seems distracted in class/keeps asking to go out (and doesn't have a medical reason in place) then you might start to suspect they're not actually going to the toilet and that can be investigated/followed up for that specific person. It's not a good reasoning for having a "blanket rule" of not allowing anyone out when they ask. If a kid who rarely asks to go to the toilet asks to go, they probably need to go and should be allowed no questions asked. If the same kid is going for the 5th time in 2 hours / every day then that's the time to ask questions and take some action.

…yeah totally this, there can’t be a blanket rule that could be devastating for a student(s)….it is sometimes a ‘thing’ even at primary school level that a student may be known to try this distraction/avoidance/time using technique, shall we call it…but in the grand scheme of students on roll it would be a very tiny minority …?…and there are also ‘techniques’ that the school staff can use to try to deter that with that student as well, rather than place a ban or any restriction on them that is being suggested in the article…

[AnnieK]

I remember the one and only time I had to go to my sons primary was over the toilet. He had a year 2 teacher who was very strict for a primary teacher and he put his hand up to ask to go to the toilet and she said unless your question is about the work you are doing now, I don't want to hear from you. He put his hand down (he follows Authority to the letter) and had an accident. He was mortified, he hadn't had an accident for years by this point and then had to wear his pe shorts for the rest of the day in January. His legs were purple by the time I picked him up.

I was fuming and told him if he needs the toilet in future to just go and I will deal with the consequences. He developed an aversion to using the bathrooms at school and even now will only use them if absolutely necessary

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

It's a lazy solution though, if there's a kid who seems distracted in class/keeps asking to go out (and doesn't have a medical reason in place) then you might start to suspect they're not actually going to the toilet and that can be investigated/followed up for that specific person. It's not a good reasoning for having a "blanket rule" of not allowing anyone out when they ask. If a kid who rarely asks to go to the toilet asks to go, they probably need to go and should be allowed no questions asked. If the same kid is going for the 5th time in 2 hours / every day then that's the time to ask questions and take some action.

I would have thought most 'normal' teachers would employ that tactic, of course you always get the sticklers but again kids get to know those teachers pretty well and dont to into class desperate to go, and then you have alot of classes taken by Agency teachers so they dont know the kids at all and have a blanket rule

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I remember the one and only time I had to go to my sons primary was over the toilet. He had a year 2 teacher who was very strict for a primary teacher and he put his hand up to ask to go to the toilet and she said unless your question is about the work you are doing now, I don't want to hear from you. He put his hand down (he follows Authority to the letter) and had an accident. He was mortified, he hadn't had an accident for years by this point and then had to wear his pe shorts for the rest of the day in January. His legs were purple by the time I picked him up.

I was fuming and told him if he needs the toilet in future to just go and I will deal with the consequences. He developed an aversion to using the bathrooms at school and even now will only use them if absolutely necessary

Aww the poor thing

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I don't think it was any different when we went to school? Teachers were not inclined in secondary school to let people out of class but there was always the opportunity between lessons

How long is a lesson these days? People can't go before or after a lesson? No one should be wandering around during lessons unless it's an emergency. Like you say, different in primary school but secondary school kids should surely be able to manage their time and bladder. I can't remember ever going to the toilet mid-lesson.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I remember the one and only time I had to go to my sons primary was over the toilet. He had a year 2 teacher who was very strict for a primary teacher and he put his hand up to ask to go to the toilet and she said unless your question is about the work you are doing now, I don't want to hear from you. He put his hand down (he follows Authority to the letter) and had an accident. He was mortified, he hadn't had an accident for years by this point and then had to wear his pe shorts for the rest of the day in January. His legs were purple by the time I picked him up.

I was fuming and told him if he needs the toilet in future to just go and I will deal with the consequences. He developed an aversion to using the bathrooms at school and even now will only use them if absolutely necessary

That's despicable in a primary school.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

How long is a lesson these days? People can't go before or after a lesson? No one should be wandering around during lessons unless it's an emergency. Like you say, different in primary school but secondary school kids should surely be able to manage their time and bladder. I can't remember ever going to the toilet mid-lesson.

Yeah but for a teenage girl there are times when things can happen and you need the bathroom urgently. Some people(a lot of people really) suffer a lot with periods without going to much into detail...

[Quantum Boy]

Most schools have the option of parents/doctor informing that "special consideration" is needed and this is SUPPOSED TO be passed down discreetly to class teachers so they know to let people out -- big part of the issue of course is that sometimes that internal communication breaks down and class teachers don't get the message or are too busy to take it in/remember. And less charitably... yeah there are some a-hole teachers who are on a power trip and simply believe that "they know better" even when there's an instruction in place.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah but for a teenage girl there are times when things can happen and you need the bathroom urgently. Some people(a lot of people really) suffer a lot with periods without going to much into detail...

Some people do, I agree. But I did say "unless it's an emergency". Not everyone is going to have an accident by waiting forty minutes to get to the loo, or by going before the lesson.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah but for a teenage girl there are times when things can happen and you need the bathroom urgently. Some people(a lot of people really) suffer a lot with periods without going to much into detail...

…which is another aspect really…the sanitary products that the school would/should provide for female students would generally be kept in the school office, I would think…they’re not generally kept in the loos themselves…so it’ll also depend on where the nearest loos are in what could be a huge school building and also where as student is in relation to going via the office as well…all of that can contribute to a female student having a devastating/humiliating moment…especially if there are hesitations from staff that have delayed that student leaving the classroom in the first instance…

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Livia

How long is a lesson these days? People can't go before or after a lesson? No one should be wandering around during lessons unless it's an emergency. Like you say, different in primary school but secondary school kids should surely be able to manage their time and bladder. I can't remember ever going to the toilet mid-lesson.

Hour long lessons normally


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[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I would have thought most 'normal' teachers would employ that tactic, of course you always get the sticklers but again kids get to know those teachers pretty well and dont to into class desperate to go, and then you have alot of classes taken by Agency teachers so they dont know the kids at all and have a blanket rule

The rules are generally not flexible ..

If the head or assistant heads see someone going into the toilets during lessons the teacher in question will get reprimanded and / or get a warning … possibly leading to further investigation/reprimands and won’t reflect well when they are going up for internal promotions

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[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Livia

That's despicable in a primary school.

Yes it is