Sorry, Jeanne. I know how you hate it when I have to deny restroom passes...
You know you're going to have issues when this is in the lesson plan:
Keep an eye on these guys--a lot of class clowns (mostly boys). THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RESTROOM PRIVILEGES. If anyone asks, keep their cell phone, and if they are gone more than 4 minutes, PLEASE let me know because they will lose bathroom privileges until May if they take advantage of you. I'm not kidding...And this was for a class of seniors. Uh oh.
So, when I've barely started my opening remarks, and I get in hand in the air from one of the students listed as a restroom pass abuser, and he's asking for a pass...
Yeah, I just called a moratorium on all restroom passes. Because really. With a warning like that, it was going to get ugly. And this class was right after lunch, so it wasn't like they didn't have a chance to go before they got there.
I braced for the deluge anyway. I was sure someone was going to "have to go" or have "an emergency". (I can't know for sure, and I would have totally let them go in that instance.) But not a one of them asked after I made my blanket statement.
I think I dodged a bullet. Or I was very, very lucky.
Probably very lucky :) Or maybe they know the policy if they mess up and no one wants to have to wait to May to get a privilege back like that. You know looking back on my school days, I don't think I ever asked for a bathroom pass in class.
ReplyDeleteI do like the policy that the student has to give the teacher the cell phone while they go to the bathroom and the 4 minute rule is a good one too.
betty
Those are good deterrents to students prone to wandering. I'm also good with the "time after class" policy.
DeleteSmart move. Just nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI sure remember when students in my class would take advantage of bathroom privileges.
ReplyDeleteThey love to wander...
DeleteLiz, something never change like the abuse of bathroom privileges. I ALWAYS made sure to go to the bathroom at every opportunity when I was in school because I have a bladder about the size of a pea (no pun intended). In my school days kids didn't have cell phones, but they did abuse the restroom privileges to sneak off for a smoke. At least you got lucky with no acting out after your announcement. Next time, you might not be so lucky. :D
ReplyDeleteI remember I had some kids who would always ask to be let five minutes earlier from the class to go and buy breakfast. And I'd always say - sure, if you buy it for everyone :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I don't like the denial of restroom passes. Obviously they can't be allowed to go off and do whatever, but I take exception at something as essential as going to the bathroom being called a privilege. Thankfully, this time it seems no one really needed to go.
ReplyDeleteI don't like calling it a "privilege" either! I'm a pee-er for sure and I'd have major anxiety if I felt I couldn't go. Luckily we had no such thing as bathroom passes in school. That's a crock. I think only when you start calling it a privilege do people start taking advantage.
ReplyDeleteIt's the abuse of being allowed out of class that's the problem. Life would be much easier if every classroom had its own "facilities".
DeleteI think you definitely had both things going for you! Revisit the Tender Years with me at
ReplyDeleteLife & Faith in Caneyhead
Wow, and phew. I'm glad you took care of it, and sounds like you handled it well considering the warning.
ReplyDeleteFor a couple days, anyway.
DeleteI'm glad they didn't test you. Not allowing kids the "privilege" to go to the bathroom sounds like a necessity in this day and age. When I was a kid in school we were never given the "privilege" of going to the bathroom. That is what we did between classes and at lunch. It is their "right" to not abuse the "privilege"
ReplyDeleteYeah, many teachers still have that policy.
DeleteYou nipped them in The butt by telling them ahead of time. Good move!
ReplyDeleteMy last school was particularly tough (bog standard public high school, with students who I think could possibly challenge the ones from the Continuation High School, it was normal to be dealing with AVO's and other police issues in class), but we didn't take away being allowed to go to the toilet, they all carried absurd items as their "permission note", since the main toilet was in the main office, if the kids rocked up to pee without an item they were busted for wagging/truancy! :D
ReplyDeleteIronically, it's not an issue at the continuation high school. The restroom policy there is very lenient.
DeleteI had a class of five year olds the other day who came to me straight after sport. They ALL needed to go to the toilet and I was warned not to be taken advantage of but no way was I going to risk an accident.
ReplyDeleteWell, five-year-olds are a different kettle of fish.
DeleteGoodness that at such an age they still have such an issue.
ReplyDelete