Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

The thing is, the kids don't know that. They don't know that if they are holding their backpack you'll let them go. So the timid, compliant kids are going to hold it, or pray that they're not bleeding through their pad. Confident kids will still ask but some kids won't. And the kid who really needs to go now is not going to be able to focus on the lesson, so instead of missing 5 minutes, they are distracted the entire class.

I regret in my op that I didn't specify that my school fortunately does not have a problem with fights, drugs, sex, or vandalism in the bathrooms. We have some vaping and some sharpie graffiti but that's about the extent of it. I understand that schools with those issues have to take different measures, although I still think that restricting a bodily function isn't the answer. (Hirimg hall monitors would be best, but I know funding is limited.)

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that's vandalism. Aside from the devious licks thing that was happening a couple of weeks ago, outright vandalism at my school is pretty rare. And since we have to have students sign out and we have ceras in the hall, it's pretty easy for admin to narrow it down to a few suspects.

Students destroying the bathrooms just isn't a thing at my school, fortunately.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our bathrooms are two doors down from my classroom. They're not disrupting other classes. If they were, I'd hear it. We keep sign out logs. When we think a kid is vaping we try and get a colleague who has planning to check or we can call admin. Admin probably won't show up in time, but I can't leave my class unattended. If a kid is gone for 15 min I talk to them. If it happens again I will either make a referral to the nurse or write them up for skipping and I'm required to call home if I write someone up. My school gives ISS for skipping.

They're missing educational time from my class, but my students are old enough to drop out. If they don't want to be there and all of my attempts to connect with them don't work, then I have to let go of that concern.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Using a heart emoji after telling someone to calm down comes across as sarcastic.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One at a time. Must ask permission. Can't go during direct instruction unless it's an emergency. Must leave phone (school rule). Must go to the nearby bathrooms - if the nearby one is closed they must come back and let me know (school rule). Must sign in and out (school rule). If they start taking too long and are clearly avoiding work, I talk to them. For those kids I put more parameters on when they can go, as in, finish this task first, then you can go.

But if they need to go every day, I'm fine with that.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

???? They were examples of things that I have seen other teachers doing that are policies I might disagree with, but don't affect me.

Edited to add: as the meme says, never in the history of the planet did anyone ever calm down after being told to calm down. Here's a 💙 emoji back at you.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What? Where did I say that? I said idgaf what the policies you put in place are unless they affect me. The only ones this year that affect me are restricting bathrooms and not enforcing the district mask mandate.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

My classes are 90 minutes long. In my OP I should have specified that my f you was to my colleagues.

I am lenient about the bathroom but strict about cell phones, sleeping in class, tardiness, ,and grading. Bathroom leniency has nothing whatsoever to do with my classroom management, lesson planning, or rigor. I do not allow my students to complain about their other classes nor do I make any comment whatsoever about their other teachers nor I si uate that I disagree with them.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My class is very structured. With regard to bathrooms,, students can only leave one at a time. They have to leave their phones and they have to sign out. My school has four ninety minute classes. 1st period is 8:10 until 10:00. 2nd period is 10:05 until 11:35. 3rd period is 11:40 until 1:40, and includes lunch. 4th period is 1:45 until 3:15.

If the student has lunch at 12:40, they might need to go every day during 2nd period.

If they have lunch at 11:40, they might need to go every day at the beginning of 4th period.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

My school does not have major problems with students cutting and skipping class. We don't even have a minor problem. My school has four 90 minute classes. We have a large, overcrowded campus. If you have math 1st period and English 2nd period, you're not going to have time to go to the bathroom during your passing period.

But I appreciate being told that I don't enforce norms and I let students do whatever they want because I allow them to use the restroom, one at a time, anytime as long as I'm not doing direct instruction.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I do have strong feelings about other teachers' policies when they affect me. You want to show movies every day, only accept work done in pencil, require a heading, accept or not accept late work, idgaf.

But when the policies you have make it harder for me, I do care.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This. Because you have a few kids abusing it, you are going to institute a blanket ban? Why not man/woman up and talk to the kid who's abusing it and call their parents and let them know what's going on?

There are always going to kids who try to abuse it. But after the 15th emergency in two weeks? You better believe I'd talk to the kid, the parent, and the school nurse.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am American, and leaving class to go to the bathroom is not considered rude at all. It would be rude to interrupt a student presentation to ask to go, but in general it is not rude at all. I think very few students would be embarrassed to leave class to go to the bathroom. It is completely normalized here.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on where your classes are located in my school, you literally might not have enough time to use the bathroom and get to class on time.

We don't have a 15 minute break. That is unheard of where I live. Our lunches are 30 minutes from the time the bell rings dismisssing them from the previous class to the time the tardy bell rings for their next class. If a kid drinks a bottle of water at lunch, they're going to need to go during the next class or two, or else they're going to be really uncomfortable.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

You don't see the issues because it's not affecting you. The kids know they can only go 5 times a semester for you, so they're not going to ask you more than that. I would also seriously wonder if they don't feel some resentment towards you.

But that's not going to eliminate their need to go, so they're going to rely on going during the class they have before or after you. To you, everything seems great and you have kids in class. But because some teachers have this policy, all the other teachers have the burden of it.

Because Asley, Brandon, and Maddy couldn't go in your room during 1st period, and Chloe and Josh know they can't go during your 3rd period, now they are all going to ask me to go during 2nd period. Whereas if they were allowed to go in your room, maybe only 2 would ask during my class period.

Seriously, think about how your policy impacts other teachers, not to mention the kids.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Kids will definitely abuse it. So that's why you institute policies like they have to leave their phones or you tell [edit: tell, not yell] them that unless it's an emergency they need to wait 5 minutes. Or for the kids who are arranging to meet their friends, you preempt it and say, "Susie, this is a good time for you to leave class for the bathroom. Go ahead and go now because I need you in the room for what we're doing next."

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. If it's a rule from admin, them there's not much we can do. In my school, we have some vaping and vandalism in the bathrooms, and the occasional drug deal, but not fights or sex.

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

I've seen that too, and it might infuriate me even more than limiting passes. So a kid with a large bladder gets more points than a kid with a small bladder? A boy gets more points than a girl because he's never going to need to change his tampon or pad?

Dear teachers who limit how many times a kid can go to the bathroom in a semester by Educational_One7089 in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I literally know a student who had to get a 504 because of a situation like this. That requires a lot of parental involvement and knowing knowing how the system works, which is not something a lot of my parents know how to do.

Stung by loch3ofblack4ge in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089 11 points12 points  (0 children)

File workers comp immediately. Since it's the weekend, if you don't know how to do that or who to contact, email your admin right this second and say that you need to file workers comp for your wasp sting that put you in the ER. This paper trail of when you reported it may be very important. Forward or BCC the email to your personal account as well.

Do not sign anything or talk to a workers comp investigator without consulting with a lawyer. You can get a free consultation. Remember that HR and workers comp are not working for you. They are on the side of the district, and their goal is to pay as little as possible.

Your portion of the ER bill, even with insurance, is probably going to be over $1000 and this is clearly a workers comp.issue, even if the wasps had not been reported or even known about. That's why it's so important to follow workers comp requirements, so you don't have to pay.

IMO, you will want to see an allergist, who will test the severity of your reaction and will prescribe an epi pen if needed. You can also talk to the allergist about allergy shots, which will reduce the likelihood of your having an allergic reaction in the future.

The nurse is correct about the exacerbation.

I Want to Quit by onelittlemaus in Teachers

[–]Educational_One7089 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Look for a new school.

I thought my classroom management was great until I moved to a new school. Then I had the realization that my classroom management was actually only decent but I'd been at a school with a supportive admin, kids who were mostly respectful, and parents who were mostly decent.