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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU how many of your kids schools have outdoor toilets.

48 replies

Catinthebed · 18/10/2013 15:21

David Blunkett described it as a scandal in 2000, surely its time to end it once and for all.

I am in Northern Ireland and 113 schools here still do.

OP posts:
Frostedloop · 18/10/2013 15:47

Outdoor toilet blocks or a trench in thee ground?

I don't see the problem if its a properly constructed building

RedHelenB · 18/10/2013 15:54

I loved our outdoor loos as a child. Always needed to go in Maths lessons for some reason!!!!

morethanpotatoprints · 18/10/2013 15:58

Some of the older school buildings in Norfolk and Suffolk still have outdoor toilets, my ds's loved them when they were there.
I think its better in these cases as it can allow an extra classroom if the toilets are in an outside block.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 18/10/2013 15:59

Our Junior building had an outdoor block when I was a kid. It was cold but properly plumbed - and haunted, according to the older kids!

Tbh, some of the indoor toilets I've seen are pretty poor so I think the location is unimportant, it's the state of them that counts.

HerRoyalNotness · 18/10/2013 16:00

My dS new school has classes in portacabins! As do most of the schools round here (texas), Outside loos would be okay

Original poster
Catinthebed · 18/10/2013 16:02

But hes 5 and he has to put his coat on and go out in the rain!

OP posts:
ICameOnTheJitney · 18/10/2013 16:02

What's a scandal is that there are people in the UK with no school place at all!

whois · 18/10/2013 16:03

Why does it matter having to go out of the building and into the toilet block? As long as they are oropperly plumbed in and clean. Some inside toilets are very grim!

AgentProvocateur · 18/10/2013 16:08

I'm not sure that I see the issue with it. My DCs school was a Victorian building with an outside toilet block. I think one thing it does is cut down on unnecessary toilet trips - especially if it's raining!

morethanpotatoprints · 18/10/2013 16:12

catinabed

I think we are conditioned to over protect our dc from the elements tbh.
When I was at school you went to outside toilet without a coat on and the boys wore shorts all the way through primary school, winter too. There was no heating and we were all fine.
Now our dc are kept in hot classrooms that cultivate germs and make our kids sick.
Your son will be fine.

Jan49 · 18/10/2013 16:15

I can't see anything wrong with outdoor school toilets, as long as they are in a good, hygienic condition. If you don't want your dc to have to go outside, you could say that about getting to school too - it's raining, he can't possibly go outside to get to school, he'll get wet!

NomDeOrdinateur · 18/10/2013 16:17

I'd be worried about bullying if the loos weren't self-contained cubicles like portacabins, purely due to the low footfall.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 18/10/2013 16:17

As my dc's old headmistress used to say: 'children don't melt in the rain!' Grin

livinginwonderland · 18/10/2013 16:17

I don't see the issue. As long as they're clean and have proper plumbing, what's the problem?

digerd · 18/10/2013 16:27

We all had outside toilets in our schools , but that was many decades ago for me. Surprised to hear many schools still have them.
My junior school was in converted army barracks.

ICameOnTheJitney · 18/10/2013 16:28

Heartbroken I say that! DC moans about the rain and I say "Well you won't melt."

Grin
Doubtfuldaphne · 18/10/2013 16:46

My sons primary school had them but they were fine. I've never given it a thought before. I love the idea of an outdoor loo- i would actually have a bit of privacy for once

RevelsRoulette · 18/10/2013 18:11

I didn't think any did! I remember outdoor loos in my infant school. Is it weird that it's brought back fond memories? Hmm

RevelsRoulette · 18/10/2013 18:12

And that shiny loo roll that was more like tracing paper and wasn't actually absorbent. What was that about?

CackleCackle · 18/10/2013 18:18

We had outdoor toilet blocks at my primary school. No problem at all with it. Except the rubbish paper thin and crunchy toilet roll.

Binkyridesagain · 18/10/2013 18:19

Many years ago when I was a nipper my primary school had out door loos for the boys, they had no roof. No playtime was complete for them if they hadn't held the who can pee over the wall competition. Girls very quickly learnt which walls were safe to practise handstands on.

CackleCackle · 18/10/2013 18:20

OH MY GOD! He has to go PUT HIS COAT ON? He has to GO OUT IN THE RAIN????

Get over this really. He won't come to any harm!

Fabsmum · 18/10/2013 18:20

School has nice bogs.

I had an outside loo (and one upstairs) until 3 years ago.

I miss it now. I used to sit on the loo on a sunny morning with the door open and listen to the birds. T'was lovely if you were able to ignore the giant spiders and the occasional uncomfortable encounter with a neighbour hanging their washing out

Nettymania · 18/10/2013 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Salmotrutta · 18/10/2013 19:28

Ahem.

Sorry but I can't let this slide.

Things dissolve in water.

They don't melt.

As you were Grin