Page 5 | Should I complain about this?

hollywally54 · 2023-10-06T11:25:02+00:00

I know this has already been done recently but my year 7 ds came home from school with a letter yesterday regarding toilet use. From this week, only children with a pre approved toilet pass will be able to leave lessons to go to the toilet. And in order to get one of these parents will need to provide medical evidence of a long term health issue. They have generously said that children suffering from temporary issues such as infections or periods (?!?!) can get a pass but these will also need to be approved. I feel outraged to be honest. Of course there will be kids who take the piss (no pun intended) but there are a hell of a lot of shy, genuine children who are probably going to feel really uncomfortable about this blanket ban on toilet use. What if someone has an accident in class? Can you imagine the shame? Surely teachers are able to quite quickly determine the kids who are trying to skive and those who are genuine? Is it worth complaining about this?

Nellle · 06/10/2023 20:18

All this policy states is that being allowed to go to the toilet in lessons will be the exception, not the rule.

If there was more trust in teachers' professional judgement, we wouldn't be having stupid hyperbolic conversations about kids pissing themselves in lessons.

donquixotedelamancha · 06/10/2023 20:19

Standard policy in every school I've ever worked at. A (healthy) 11 YO should be able to go to the toilet at break and lunch. Of course teachers aren't going to say no to a child who is desperate.

YABVVU, OP.

Serendipitoushedgehog · 06/10/2023 20:20

I remember one school I worked at, where a year 7 was asking to go to the toilet EVERY SINGLE lesson. Bless her, it turned out she was really academically behind and struggling to access the curriculum so just absented herself. It took the school an embarrassingly long time to work this out, by which time she'd basically missed a half term of content.

A simple solution is... if someone needs to go to the toilet during lesson times, teacher stamps their planner. That way, if they're going every day of every week, or for the same lesson every week, parents or tutor can pick it up.

donquixotedelamancha · 06/10/2023 20:20

Imagine if they tried enforcing something like this in a workplace.

There are lots of jobs where you can't just go to the toilet whenever you want.

RubyRubyRubyRubay · 06/10/2023 20:20

I've told my boy to piss in the bin in the classroom if he's desperate. In the corner facing away from the rest of the room of course.

Serendipitoushedgehog · 06/10/2023 20:21

donquixotedelamancha · 06/10/2023 20:20

Imagine if they tried enforcing something like this in a workplace.

There are lots of jobs where you can't just go to the toilet whenever you want.

Ha yes, like teacher for example!

waterlego · 06/10/2023 20:23

A simple solution is... if someone needs to go to the toilet during lesson times, teacher stamps their planner. That way, if they're going every day of every week, or for the same lesson every week, parents or tutor can pick it up.

This seems like a very good idea.

BooksAndHooks · 06/10/2023 20:24

Toilets are locked outside of break and lunch, but they are so disgusting and without basic supplies most refuse to use them and restrict their fluid and food during school.

Even those with a pass have to show their pass, go to student office to get a key then go to another part of the building to access the toilet. So no way of accessing it quickly which is the point of needing a pass.

Aria999 · 06/10/2023 20:27

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 20:15

I suppose the point is that if any policy is unreasonable or unethical then 'we can't afford pencil's' isn't an excuse for having the policy. How far along that slippery slope do you go?

What's unethical about stopping people who don't need the toilet from going to the toilet?

Nothing at all.

It seemed like the policy was potentially stopping people with unexpected periods or medical needs from going to the toilet.

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 20:28

@waterlego We do that, but have the policy too. Because I'd phone parents who'd say they didn't see a problem with their kids being out of 5 lessons per day.

It also doesn't solve the meeting and vaping issue.

Iamnotastick · 06/10/2023 20:32

The level of control is SO bizarre. I still have the traumatising memory of shitting my knickers in primary school when the teacher said I wasn't allowed to use the toilet as it was almost home time.

Nellle · 06/10/2023 20:34

waterlego · 06/10/2023 20:23

A simple solution is... if someone needs to go to the toilet during lesson times, teacher stamps their planner. That way, if they're going every day of every week, or for the same lesson every week, parents or tutor can pick it up.

This seems like a very good idea.

We've done this for years. Still have a massive internal truancy/toilet meet-up problem.

Swiftsmith · 06/10/2023 20:36

Absolutely complain. It’s a human right to go to the toilet. I even think it’s weird to have to ask to go, never mind not being allowed without pre-approved permission. Appalling treatment of young people. IMAGINE that was the case in a workplace. Why is it different because they’re younger?

HauntedPencil · 06/10/2023 20:37

RubyRubyRubyRubay · 06/10/2023 20:20

I've told my boy to piss in the bin in the classroom if he's desperate. In the corner facing away from the rest of the room of course.

Gosh.

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 20:39

@Swiftsmith What like teachers have to?

@Iamnotastick Have you been into a secondary school recently? The level of control is required due to the appalling behaviour which is often supported by parents.

Boomboom22 · 06/10/2023 20:45

Yes obviously a 500 ml bottle is enough for 9 to 3! Presumably they have juice or milk or tea at breakfast, a proper drink with lunch and then can refill at the end of school / drink normally of a evening. 2l a day including liquid in food. Max 3l. And there is a fair amount in a lot of foods!

Dramatic · 06/10/2023 20:47

Serendipitoushedgehog · 06/10/2023 20:20

I remember one school I worked at, where a year 7 was asking to go to the toilet EVERY SINGLE lesson. Bless her, it turned out she was really academically behind and struggling to access the curriculum so just absented herself. It took the school an embarrassingly long time to work this out, by which time she'd basically missed a half term of content.

A simple solution is... if someone needs to go to the toilet during lesson times, teacher stamps their planner. That way, if they're going every day of every week, or for the same lesson every week, parents or tutor can pick it up.

This is what my daughter's school does and I think it's a really good system

Dramatic · 06/10/2023 20:48

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 20:39

@Swiftsmith What like teachers have to?

@Iamnotastick Have you been into a secondary school recently? The level of control is required due to the appalling behaviour which is often supported by parents.

Teachers choose to be in that profession. I certainly would not go in to a profession where I couldn't use the toilet. Kids have no choice but to be there.

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 20:50

Ahh we're back to teachers choose it.

If we're playing that game, students can be homeschoooled. The responsibility is on parents to get children an education.

belgiumchocolates · 06/10/2023 20:50

So if you are a teacher and during a lesson you feel a poo coming on. Do you stand there and shit yourself because of the policy No of course not and neither should the children. I agree with OP

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 21:00

I regularly shit myself when teaching. It's the only way to make it through the day.

Moonwatcher1234 · 06/10/2023 21:00

Testina · 06/10/2023 12:43

I cannot imagine what the teachers are dealing with.

This week we had a letter home to say there had been four interrupted lessons from smoke alarm evacuations so far this term, all from a build up of vape fumes in the toilets. They are currently converting all toilets to ones where individual cubicles open directly into the corridor.
Money that is needed for education.

Last term they put CCTV into the hand washing area of the enclosed old toilets (photos home to show no view into cubicles) because of vandalism. Not just a mess, but cisterns ripped from walls.

It is not even considered a bad or rough school!

I have a child in Y11 who frequently mentions her human rights, around these toilet passes. But in 4 years she also has to admit she’s never seen a teacher persistently refuse a child or anyone soiling/wetting/blooding themselves.

So whilst my gut feel is this is madness, just let them quietly get up and go as needed… I actually think that I (and most parents) have no idea how bad it is in schools.

Gosh - what is happening in our schools and why? It’s worrying.

MathsTeacherandLoveit · 06/10/2023 21:03

belgiumchocolates · 06/10/2023 20:50

So if you are a teacher and during a lesson you feel a poo coming on. Do you stand there and shit yourself because of the policy No of course not and neither should the children. I agree with OP

Oh ffs.
The utter bollocks that's being spouted on here.
I despair.
God only knows how I've not shit myself in front of a class over the last 30 years?!

I have though farted in a store cupboard/empty corridor many a time.
Right back to the wine.......

waterlego · 06/10/2023 21:08

Hercisback · 06/10/2023 20:28

@waterlego We do that, but have the policy too. Because I'd phone parents who'd say they didn't see a problem with their kids being out of 5 lessons per day.

It also doesn't solve the meeting and vaping issue.

Yes, that’s what I was thinking- this system alongside the ‘no loo breaks’ policy (which can of course be implemented at the teacher’s discretion)

FudgeSundae · 06/10/2023 21:16

Boomboom22 · 06/10/2023 20:45

Yes obviously a 500 ml bottle is enough for 9 to 3! Presumably they have juice or milk or tea at breakfast, a proper drink with lunch and then can refill at the end of school / drink normally of a evening. 2l a day including liquid in food. Max 3l. And there is a fair amount in a lot of foods!

Some children will have long journeys to school. I was out of the house 7-6 when I was in senior school, and we had the same water bottles at lunch. It’s completely unreasonable to expect another 1.5l to be drunk before 7/after 6 because you don’t want the bother of a normal bodily function.