School Restricts Kids' Bathroom Breaks to 3 Times a Week

on January 23, 2012 at 10:46 AM

school bathroom In a ridiculously overzealous and inappropriate move, a teacher in New York has started seriously limiting her students' bathroom access. And by seriously limit, I mean they only are allowed three bathroom passes a WEEK. Three!

According to the New York Post, students in Ms. Stephanie Warner's fifth grade class at P.S. 90 in Brooklyn say they are given three strips of paper that say, “This coupon entitles [student name] to bathroom.” If they are lost or otherwise destroyed, then they are, well ... sh*t out of luck. And when they do get to go, they only get three minutes to do so.

Not only that, they're encouraged to use as few of those strips as possible, and are awarded prizes the less they go. Can you hear urologists across the country shrieking about the damage holding it can do? If not, that's only because the cries of parental outrage may be louder.

I understand that students may sometimes use the restroom unnecessarily to get out of class, and that when one student has to go, there's often a cascade effect. As Ms. Warner stated in an email to the school's principal, she was "exasperated with the constant bathroom needs." But this isn't the way to deal with the issue.

Yes, it would be great if all of the kids only went during lunch or other designated breaks, but nature doesn't always work that way -- especially not with kids. If my kid was going an unusual amount of times, I'd want to know as a parent, so we could figure out why it was happening. It could be anything from a medical problem to just a bored student looking for an excuse to get out of class. Or maybe the kid really just needs to go more than this teacher thinks necessary. Whatever the reason, that needs to be addressed rather than seeing who can hold it the longest and rewarding those with the biggest bladders with pencils and other trinkets in this warped anti-pissing contest.

While the intent is obvious, the policy is simply outrageous and potentially dangerous and humiliating for students. The teacher and school principal haven't commented yet, but hopefully they will do so soon ... with news that kids are free to pee.

Do you think limiting students' bathroom breaks in this manner is outrageous?

Image via Kyle Taylor, Do it. Dream It. World Tour/Flickr

About the author Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

Filed Under: elementary school, in the news

Comments (91)

Kwiat2

on Jan 23, 2012 at 10:52 AM

Yes. The kids should pee in their pants as retaliation. See how she likes sending them all home for a change of clothes. It's absurd. And sometimes yeah I asked to go to the bathroom as a break, or for some water, but I came back more alert. It was a good thing.

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navywife0204

as a parent of a child born with kidney issues, and prone to UTIs, I'd be furious!! not only would I be reporting this teacher, I'd be moving my child to another class!

kjbugsmom1517

on Jan 23, 2012 at 10:53 AM

This is absolutely assinying! Seriously 3 a week? How bout one or 2 a day? I can see if its an excessive problem but geez that's crazy. There isn't hardly enough "free" time as it is.... what if a kid ate lunch and something didn't agree with there tummy? They suppose to hold it in and hope they don't crap there pants before they get home?outrageous...

Ohmyskittles

on Jan 23, 2012 at 11:07 AM

This is awful. Schools are becoming tiny prisons these days between uniforms and limited bathroom breaks. Why is this teacher not thinking of the GIRLS in her classroom? In high school, many girls start their periods. Can you imagine starting yours one day and being out of bathroom passes? What are you supposed to do then? Also, the time students have between classes is now usually anywhere between 5 to 8 minutes depending on the school. You try to find a bathroom that isnt full and pee/take care of period business in that time while stopping by your locker and going to class.

And prepare for the comments from teachers supporting this crazy woman. Ugh. I feel bad for these kids.

melissabilliot

on Jan 23, 2012 at 11:17 AM

I agree that this teacher needs a refresher course on classroom management ....I am a teache also....there is no reason for this ...ugh

the4mutts

on Jan 23, 2012 at 11:18 AM

Yes, it is a complete outrage! I have had the need to pee CONSTANTLY since I can remember. Even now, if I turn on the sink to wash dishes, and don't remember to pee first, its a race to the bathroom, and sometimes I lose.
My 2nd grade teacher became "exasperated" with my "constant bathroom needs" even after visits from my mom explaining that I couldn't help it. Well, one day she said that, no, I couldn't use the bathroom AGAIN, I begged, she said no. So I said sorry, I'm going. And got up to go. She pushed me back into my seat, held me there, and yelled at me for being disobedient. Before she was done yelling, I pissed myself. In front of the entire class.
Well, guess what? That cranky old bitch was fired at the start of the new semster.
No, not all kids have this problem. But why risk embarassing them needlessly?

Nonmember comment from Jay

I don't think I ever used the school bathrooms. The urge just never hit at school. Yet as soon as I walked in my front door, it was a race to the finish line, so to speak. Biological conditioning, I suppose.

MrsSimonsen

on Jan 23, 2012 at 11:23 AM

I've always had bladder problems... This makes me sick. You can't just have control over when a child has to go.. She shouldnt be fired.

I've always had bladder problems... This makes me sick. You can't just have control over when a child has to go.. She should be fired.

BriLee

on Jan 23, 2012 at 11:41 AM

We are talking 5th grade where in most schools you have just the one teacher. So you expect preteens to hold it for an hour or more until the next recess or lunch? Yeah, right! Not to mention girls are beginning their periods around this time. I have tummy issues all the time. For those times, yes it take way longer then three minutes to use the bathroom. This happens several times thoughout the week and day. I can't determine an hour before either. Once out I would have been asking to go to the nurse because I was sick. Yes, let's start taking up admin time because I needed to go to the bathroom. Yeah right! I think the parents need to get involved. They need to talk to the principal and s/he agrees with policy I think the kids need to start their own little demonstration. Wouldn't be fun but I can see preteens wanting to prove their point. I don't think she should get fired because she's just trying to maintain control over the classroom but I believe her process wasn't thougt through completely. It should just be nixed by admin and move on.