teacher refused a pupil a toilet visit

mum2one

euronorris wrote: »

There's a lot of black and white vision going on in this thread. For some, there doesn't seem to be any grey area where a pupil can become sick very suddenly in a class (it happens), having been fine earlier on, or simply being caught short by period starting unexpectedly early during a lesson, or suffering from migraines occasionally (not enough to warrant a note to the teachers, or anyone else for that matter), or someone just having a small bladder and needing to use the toilet more often than most people (it's not a medical condition, it's just who I am) and therefore getting caught out every once in a while!


And we are talking infrequently here. From the OP, and her follow up post, it sounds most likely to me that the pupil in question went to school feeling fine. Stomach bug started to hit during the lesson (hence the cramps mentioned in the OP, and her being unwell now), and she was caught short.


Have these situations seriously never happened to some people?! I find that impossible to believe!

The pupil hadn't got a bug - never asked b4 to go the toilet - yr 8 the teacher has taught the class since sept - would have an idea of anyone is pulling a fast one ...

It's a complete blanket ban the teachers are not allowed to go against it, I rang the school to ask the policy as my dd has some health issues - which at the mo don't need the toilet every 5mins - but if one aspect of her illness is kidney related / dehydration - she will need to increase fluid intake - therefore a chance she may need the toilet between breaks xx

pollypenny

No teacher wants to be deliberately awkward and cause either embarrassment or distress to pupils. However, if this particular school has a blanket ban on toilet visits in lesson time they must have a good reason.

Not all teenagers are angels. There are those who will ask to go in order to mess about, avoid work or even vandalise the loos. We had trouble with toilet rolls being put in the toilet, with predictable results.

susancs

mum2one wrote: »

The pupil hadn't got a bug - never asked b4 to go the toilet - yr 8 the teacher has taught the class since sept - would have an idea of anyone is pulling a fast one ...

It's a complete blanket ban the teachers are not allowed to go against it, I rang the school to ask the policy as my dd has some health issues - which at the mo don't need the toilet every 5mins - but if one aspect of her illness is kidney related / dehydration - she will need to increase fluid intake - therefore a chance she may need the toilet between breaks xx

I had kidney problems during secondary school and had a note that I could be excused to use the toilet during lessons, so maybe you couled ask for this for your daughter, just in case she needs to go. I never in fact needed to use the note, but it was good to know I had it just in case.

Peter333

If there is a special case, (like kidney issues or any kind of bowel issues,) then of course pupils should be allowed to go to the loo when they want.

But pupils can't just get up and go willy nilly, as many will take advantage.

mumps

pigpen wrote: »

If you had a stomach bug you shouldnt be at school for 48 hours though regardless of whether the clearance went up or down!

Sometimes these things come on during the day. When I was at work getting up and getting out to work was a very fast paced slick operation that did not involve food or drink. If I had a stomach bug it often struck during the day.

Kaye1

It always really annoys me when people say, 'well I can do x, y, z, so why can't you?'

Well, having had two children, I can't hold pee for any amount of time now. Before, I could happily go all day without a wee but now I can't. Now I realise that doesn't apply to the child in this case.

But there are some teachers who see this as a power trip and some who can make a considered judgement. My first head of department saw it as a power trip and I hated it. There were children who obviously needed to go and she relished saying no.

Girls who were purple with embarrassment as they were obviously starting periods etc and she took great delight in saying no. There were also the kids trying it on because they were bored but she didn't bother to look and see the difference.

And if you can hold your pee for any amount of time- lucky you!

Peter333

Kaye1 wrote: »

It always really annoys me when people say, 'well I can do x, y, z, so why can't you?'

Well, having had two children, I can't hold pee for any amount of time now. Before, I could happily go all day without a wee but now I can't. Now I realise that doesn't apply to the child in this case.

But there are some teachers who see this as a power trip and some who can make a considered judgement. My first head of department saw it as a power trip and I hated it. There were children who obviously needed to go and she relished saying no.

Girls who were purple with embarrassment as they were obviously starting periods etc and she took great delight in saying no. There were also the kids trying it on because they were bored but she didn't bother to look and see the difference.

And if you can hold your pee for any amount of time- lucky you!

I have to admit that is annoying.

Like;

If I got over depression, anyone can!

I lost 5 stone and kept it off, so can you!

I stopped smoking, so anyone can!

I think girls being on their period is a fair reason to go.

And so on and so on and so on...........................................

heuchera

Bear in mind, people, that in some workplaces grown adults have to ask to go to the toilet! Call centres, amazon warehouses, factory work, etc. Employers can be very draconian, but again, it's because some workers hate the job and want to skive off for a few minutes.

pigpen

mumps wrote: »

Sometimes these things come on during the day. When I was at work getting up and getting out to work was a very fast paced slick operation that did not involve food or drink. If I had a stomach bug it often struck during the day.

you said you 'got up with a tummy upset today'.. in the context of my reply, I was correct.. As a parent you wouldnt send a child to school when they got up with an upset tum unless you were a nitwit If my child was taken ill at school and a teacher dismissed their illness there would be hell to pay! I think most have enough experience to differentiate between illness/needing to use the toilet. A simple stomach bug could land some children in hospital.

and you are very naughty going without brekkie!!

Madmel

I have worked in a school where the toilets were kept locked during lesson times. If a pupil needed to go, the teacher had to sign something in their planner which they took to reception to get the key, then they had to hand the key back once they had finished. One vindictive Deputy Head kept a record over a week of what she termed "transgressors", those kids who did this regularly and which teachers were the "softies" who allowed them out. I didn't last long there!

My current school is more relaxed and I am obviously more experienced. If a kid asks to go to the toilet within 5 minutes of the bell, I normally ask if they can wait the 5 minutes and it's generally a yes. If they ask politely e.g. "Please may I go to the toilet?" after the first 15 minutes, then I let them. Those who have spent the whole of break kicking a ball around then realise they need to go once they arrive in my room tend to get a warning that it's a one-off as I don't do mopping up.

Those pupils with a genuine medical need should be noted on lesson plans and it should not be an issue.