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7 is a bit much but im sure they all used the john...
I'm sure they didn't. Unfortunately, I do have to worry about it because what my students do when they are supposed to be in my class is my responsibility. That's the part that people just don't get. I can't follow them to the bathroom but it's on me if they are out of my room and up to something. I have one student I know roams the halls. I see him roaming the halls when I'm on my prep but his mother claims he has a bowel issue and must be given bathroom passes and unlimited time any time he wants it. He spends more time out of my class than in and I'm sure he does this in other classes. How can I educate them if they aren't in the room?
Kids should be allowed I go to the bathroom during class. Many times they don't have enough time between classes depending on how far they have to travel from one part of the school to the other. Also, there are many times teachers go over by a few minutes during thier classes which makes it much more difficult.
When my daughter was in elementary school she asked to use the restroom and the teacher told her to wait, then promptly forgot her request. Needless to say she didn't make it the whole period and had to be sent home. The teacher had the gall to say "she should have just gone if it was an emergency". She was like 6 years old and you told her to wait!
I also had an incident in high school. The teacher had a no restroom policy and of course, my period started in the middle of class. Guess who wouldn't let me use the restroom?
I feel like half the time it's a power trip and the other half teachers are trying to be efficient, but it ends up being inconsiderate of a basic human function.
Kids should be allowed I go to the bathroom during class. Many times they don't have enough time between classes depending on how far they have to travel from one part of the school to the other. Also, there are many times teachers go over by a few minutes during thier classes which makes it much more difficult.
When my daughter was in elementary school she asked to use the restroom and the teacher told her to wait, then promptly forgot her request. Needless to say she didn't make it the whole period and had to be sent home. The teacher had the gall to say "she should have just gone if it was an emergency". She was like 6 years old and you told her to wait!
I also had an incident in high school. The teacher had a no restroom policy and of course, my period started in the middle of class. Guess who wouldn't let me use the restroom?
I feel like half the time it's a power trip and the other half teachers are trying to be efficient, but it ends up being inconsiderate of a basic human function.
Sigh......
Unless the school is obnoxiously huge, they do have time. They also have time to go to their locker, go to the bathroom, sharpen their pencil, and be in their seat by the time the bell rings in most schools. I did it between every period about the second month of school every year from my classroom just to prove the point. I left my room when the bell rang, used the bathroom, went to the farest classroom, opened some volunteer kid's locker, and got back to my classroom on time afterwards. The problem is they don't have time to go to their locker, go to the bathroom, sharpen their pencil, and be in their seat by the time the bell rings if they also visit with friends or lollygag around.
When a kid asks to use the bathroom it is common to ask them to wait because they often forget, and as the teacher that is indeed what you are aiming for. Usually it is phrased as "ask me again in a little while."
It isn't a power trip. It is a classroom management issue. If a student misses 5 minutes of class every day in a 45 minute class, and some will go everyday if given half a chance, that equates to missing an entire class every 9 days. If they do it every class, and it is generally the same group of kids, depending on the number of class periods they miss the equivalent of a class period every 2-3 days. Think about it.
Plus, kids going in and out of class disrupts the classroom. Very, very few kids don't at least briefly break their concentration on what they were focused on to look when the classroom door opens and closes. The teacher definitely does.
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Unless the school is obnoxiously huge, they do have time. They also have time to go to their locker, go to the bathroom, sharpen their pencil, and be in their seat by the time the bell rings in most schools. I did it between every period about the second month of school every year from my classroom just to prove the point. I left my room when the bell rang, used the bathroom, went to the farest classroom, opened some volunteer kid's locker, and got back to my classroom on time afterwards. The problem is they don't have time to go to their locker, go to the bathroom, sharpen their pencil, and be in their seat by the time the bell rings if they also visit with friends or lollygag around.
When a kid asks to use the bathroom it is common to ask them to wait because they often forget, and as the teacher that is indeed what you are aiming for. Usually it is phrased as "ask me again in a little while."
It isn't a power trip. It is a classroom management issue. If a student misses 5 minutes of class every day in a 45 minute class, and some will go everyday if given half a chance, that equates to missing an entire class every 9 days. If they do it every class, and it is generally the same group of kids, depending on the number of class periods they miss the equivalent of a class period every 2-3 days. Think about it.
Plus, kids going in and out of class disrupts the classroom. Very, very few kids don't at least briefly break their concentration on what they were focused on to look when the classroom door opens and closes. The teacher definitely does.
At the beginning of 4th hour, I used to have several kids ask to go to the bathroom as soon as the bell rings. I would point out that they just came from lunch where they had 40 minutes (counting both passing times) to have used the bathroom and they'd tell me they couldn't go because they were busy talking to their friends. THIS is the problem. They use passing time for socializing then when they get to class they're asking to go to their locker or to use the bathroom.
Unless the school is obnoxiously huge, they do have time. They also have time to go to their locker, go to the bathroom, sharpen their pencil, and be in their seat by the time the bell rings in most schools. I did it between every period about the second month of school every year from my classroom just to prove the point.
Speak for yourself, really. Kids have 3-5 minutes (depending on the school) to get from one class to another, gather any stuff they need, and go to the restroom. Of course it's more difficult in bigger schools (which exist), but it also can be difficult in smaller schools. Some kids will not have the time.
3-5 minutes is not enough between classes. Period. It is unhealthy in every way - physically, emotionally, socially, pschologically, mentally, and so on. Until students actually have time to take a breath and relax in between classes (until policy changes), and until classes are consistently useful and enjoyable (until our teaching changes), expect to have many students who want to go to the bathroom... whether to actually use it, or just take a break from the daily grind.
Students are not going to learn in those 5 extra minutes in your classroom if they (1) have to go to the bathroom, (2) are so stressed out they can't focus, (3) dislike the class so much they are desperate to leave.
If so many students are trying to avoid your class by going to the restroom, maybe it's not they who need to change.
Cut out the expectation that they have to ask you and instead give them the ability to quietly get up and use the restroom when they have to go. No distractions, problem solved.
The problem with telling a kid you can't go is that the thought of not being able to go makes some kids have to go. Kids that have a nervous stomach have to go when they ask.
Students are not going to learn in those 5 extra minutes in your classroom if they (1) have to go to the bathroom, (2) are so stressed out they can't focus, (3) dislike the class so much they are desperate to leave.
If so many students are trying to avoid your class by going to the restroom, maybe it's not they who need to change.
Thats an excellent point also...
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THIS is the problem. They use passing time for socializing then when they get to class they're asking to go to their locker or to use the bathroom.
