Too many bathroom breaks

[Unregistered]

Anybody have good ideas that are feasible in school to track students who go to the bathroom every period to waste time. We have repeat offenders that seem to go every period and we cannot deny them going to the bathroom. We have students use a book as a hall pass but they either borrow someone else's book or rip out the page and use a different page for every period.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thanks!

[dhom]

I used to have a student as a bathroom monitor, but I think that would work better for middle school than high school. :)

Right now, I have a check-off list (students can only go once a week in my class). A few have abused it and lost bathroom privileges for two months.

[Unregistered]

Every school has this problem! Just say no is my first suggestion. Post bathroom rules--examples: 1. cannot leave room the first 10 minutes or last 10 minutes of the class. 2. only 2 people allowed out each class. But what is great is to make a huge embarrassing pass that the kids have to have on them if they need to go to the bathroom. If they really need to go, they'll deal with the embarrassment, if they don't, they won't want to leave to carry that pass!

[dhom]

Yes - I think that works quite well with high schoolers, who generally don't like taking social risks. :) I can tell you that my middle schoolers would be more than happy to wear that pass just for fun, though.

[Unregistered]

You can give them each 5 "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARDS" for the term.
They write their names on them in front of you at the beginning of the term in pen. These are good for 10 minutes (to the bathroom, their lockers, vending machines or even tardiness to your class.)
Once they have used them up -that's it. If they lose them, they can't leave.
If they don't use them, at the end of the term or semester they get an extra A (or credit or something) for each one they return. It becomes very valuable to them and it tends to lessen the number of times they go. If they have used up their 5, they need a Doctor's note to go to the bathroom during your class period. It works great !!!

[Unregistered]

The "Get Out of Jail Free" card is a GREAT idea. How creative! :)

[Unregistered]

Every school has this problem! Just say no is my first suggestion. Post bathroom rules--examples: 1. cannot leave room the first 10 minutes or last 10 minutes of the class. 2. only 2 people allowed out each class. But what is great is to make a huge embarrassing pass that the kids have to have on them if they need to go to the bathroom. If they really need to go, they'll deal with the embarrassment, if they don't, they won't want to leave to carry that pass!

actually, most highschoolers won't care.. they'll wear/carry it anyways just because it's just like, funny and nobody really cares... it's a stupid hall pass to the bathroom, who cares, big deal.
i'd know... i am a highschooler, we really don't care.. unless they're like MAJOR preps or something then they're like 'OMG, NOOOO!!' and like flip out over that stuff, but most of us don't care.

[crystal lozano]

im a girl going into middle and has stuff going on with are body and how many times can we go to the bathroom when we have that problem.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

2 bathroom passes per 9 weeks. Period


I don't have bathroom problems and I'm not wasting time with keeping up (for them) if it's the first 5 minutes, last 5 minutes bull crap.

[HS Freshman]

Oh my goodness, what's with all these bathroom break topics??! Haha!

I'm a high schooler and I really would like to say that although regular potty breaks may need to be limited under some circumstances (though I don't agree with it), disregarding the fact when a student really, genuinely needs to go use the bathroom is horrible in my opinion. What if a student has a sudden onset of intestinal problems? Or a girl gets her time of month and really needs to go take care of herself? What if these classes are really LONG? I'm really hoping nobody would actually discipline someone for stuff like that...especially if they are very well-behaved students. I've seen some teachers on here who I think would. It upsets me, a lot, how I feel teachers can't be understanding like that, and it's kinda why I wanted to bring it up here :(

[Unregistered]

Yes - I think that works quite well with high schoolers, who generally don't like taking social risks. :) I can tell you that my middle schoolers would be more than happy to wear that pass just for fun, though.

I think you are right about those middle schoolers. I taught one semester as a 7th grade science teacher. Many of them would come to class without anything to write with. So I ordered some pencils that said "Stolen from Mrs. McAllister." Boy did this back fire! The kids loved them and made a contest out of who could get one of every color first! It was cute. Thank goodness I didn't spend much money on them.

[Unregistered]

Oh my goodness, what's with all these bathroom break topics??! Haha!

I'm a high schooler and I really would like to say that although regular potty breaks may need to be limited under some circumstances (though I don't agree with it), disregarding the fact when a student really, genuinely needs to go use the bathroom is horrible in my opinion. What if a student has a sudden onset of intestinal problems? Or a girl gets her time of month and really needs to go take care of herself? What if these classes are really LONG? I'm really hoping nobody would actually discipline someone for stuff like that...especially if they are very well-behaved students. I've seen some teachers on here who I think would. It upsets me, a lot, how I feel teachers can't be understanding like that, and it's kinda why I wanted to bring it up here :(

Agree. Horrible topic!

[Unregistered]

One of my coworkers uses a toliet seat as his bathroom pass he makes the students walk around with. I think it's hilarious and the students generally dread carrying it around.

[Unregistered]

I am a seasoned teacher of 15 years. I have found that if I keep the students engaged and busy, they don't want to waste time in the restroom. When kids ask to use the restroom, I usually re-assess what I'm doing in the lesson and decide it's time to step it up.

[smithy]

One of my coworkers uses a toliet seat as his bathroom pass he makes the students walk around with. I think it's hilarious and the students generally dread carrying it around.

Hahahaha, that is pretty clever. But really though, I never have too much of a problem with students needing to take too frequent of bathroom breaks. Some students need to go more than others because they drink a lot of water, nothing wrong with that.

[shubh]

I think many of such would be those who are not interested in the teaching activities, while the reasons may be many. Try to involve all the students in teaching practices, it will make them interested to show their skill and will keep them engaged. Some students commit mistakes just for the sake of their fun, this habit can be changed easily.

[victorychick]

I personally allow one emergency restroom pass per nine week period. I stand at my door between classes and direct students to the restroom so they don't have to go. This past year was the first time I had used this approach and it worked great. No arguments from the kids. I kept track of it on my Gradequick memo page. It is a running note of their restroom visits and their behavior. It prints off on all their progress reports as well, so parents get to see just what little "Johnny" has been up to. Anytime they ask to go I simply click Memo and say.....Yes, or NO, you went on 1/13/09, sorry. Also, this coming year we are going to each get a hunter orange vest to hang by our doors. They will have the teacher's last name on them. When a student goes out of the room for any reason they should have the vest. If they are seen in the hall without one they will be given lunch detention.

[Unregistered]

I have students who ask every single time they come to class. I send a note home informing the parents and asking for their help. I tell them that I would never refuse the request but that it is becoming excessive and I can't educate an empty seat.The note must be signed and returned in 48 hours or the student serves detention. I place a detention date on the note. They all get signed and returned. The daily requests to use the lav stop. No one ever serves detention. The parents know what's going on. It works.

[Unregistered]

I think you are right about those middle schoolers. I taught one semester as a 7th grade science teacher. Many of them would come to class without anything to write with. So I ordered some pencils that said "Stolen from Mrs. McAllister." Boy did this back fire! The kids loved them and made a contest out of who could get one of every color first! It was cute. Thank goodness I didn't spend much money on them.

My high-schools love my teacher's pencils!! I'll find them using them weeks after they borrowed them, (unlike all their other pencils that go up missing), when I jokingly ask about MY PENCIL, they'll usually respond, I'm still using it, I'll return it when I'm done... At least they are not LOSING it like everything else :-)

[Unregistered]

Something to keep in mind is that there is not always time for students to use the bathrooms between classes, especially when they have to travel the length of the building to get where they are going. There are, in fact, students who hold it in all day because teachers create rules because of 1 or 2 problem kids. (My kid was one of them.) For that reason, I don't create general rules for my classroom... if a student starts making a habit of leaving class, I talk with him or her about it and it usually stops being a problem. Otherwise, if a student has to use the toilet, I let him/her.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Something to keep in mind is that there is not always time for students to use the bathrooms between classes, especially when they have to travel the length of the building to get where they are going. There are, in fact, students who hold it in all day because teachers create rules because of 1 or 2 problem kids. (My kid was one of them.) For that reason, I don't create general rules for my classroom... if a student starts making a habit of leaving class, I talk with him or her about it and it usually stops being a problem. Otherwise, if a student has to use the toilet, I let him/her.

or a kid could walk in, tell the teacher, "I'm here, I just have to drop off my stuff and need to use the bathroom" and guess what, they won't get marked tardy (of course, if I see them goofing around int he hallway, they get marked tardy


kids have time, they choose to horse around for 4.5 minutes and then decide they need to interupt class time because they have to use the bathroom.


Tell your kid to quit using class change as social time and he'll have plenty of time to use the bathroom.

I have no issues going during my breaks, kids can too.

[Unregistered]

Most schools only have 5 minutes to get to classes and if you go to a fairly large school or have hallways in your school that can be somewhat narrow so it slows down getting to class due to the crowds it can be difficult to get to class on time if you use the washroom in between classes. What most people do however is go straight to class and tell the teacher that they are there(so the they don't mark them absent or late) but they are just using the washroom getting something from their locker. Most teachers don't let you use the washroom unless you really have to go when they're talking, but if you're just working on work or homework they don't usually care as the longer you take the more stuff you will have to do at home. To refuse a student to use the washroom in my opinion is kind of rude regardless if they happen to use the washroom every class or not. You don't know the health reasons. Maye they have a bladder problem, or if it's a female maybe they have their monthly, or maybe they just drink a lot of water.

When i was in 10th grade my teacher hated me and stuck me beside a kid who happened to smell so bad and whenever i move the desk out a couple inches she ********************ed to move it back so i always asked to go to the washroom even though most of the time i didn't have to go i just had to get some fresh air! Also yes i did talk to the teacher about the smelly kid and she said she was thinking the same and she was going to talk to the guidance counselor but he still showed smelly so obviously she didn't or the kid didn't listen.

I feel sorry for kids in the USA who have to have hall passes and all that crap. I'm glad I'm in Canada where we don't have passes or detention(well sometimes detention but that's more of a elementary school thing and it's more 'X stay after class for a chat') We do have 'late slips' though if you get more than 5 in a week you get suspended. If you get more than 3 in a month you do garbage duty at lunch for a day(i had this once except i never showed up HA)


~

[Unregistered]

I give each student three bathroom passes per semester. If they lose the passes or use them and still have to go, they have to stay after the bell 3 minutes. They don't want to lose that precious passing time, so they learn to go before they get to class!!!

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;7505]Anybody have good ideas that are feasible in school to track students who go to the bathroom every period to waste time. We have repeat offenders that seem to go every period and we cannot deny them going to the bathroom. We have students use a book as a hall pass but they either borrow someone else's book or rip out the page and use a different page for every period.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thanks![/Just kill the black students, the blacks are the troubled ones....]

[Unregistered]

Oh my goodness, what's with all these bathroom break topics??! Haha!

I'm a high schooler and I really would like to say that although regular potty breaks may need to be limited under some circumstances (though I don't agree with it), disregarding the fact when a student really, genuinely needs to go use the bathroom is horrible in my opinion. What if a student has a sudden onset of intestinal problems? Or a girl gets her time of month and really needs to go take care of herself? What if these classes are really LONG? I'm really hoping nobody would actually discipline someone for stuff like that...especially if they are very well-behaved students. I've seen some teachers on here who I think would. It upsets me, a lot, how I feel teachers can't be understanding like that, and it's kinda why I wanted to bring it up here :(

I agree with you - each person is different and I hope that teachers will take that into account - but there are also those students that do take advantage of the situation and it is sad that this is how rules are made. If is for those who have taken advantage of rules and regulations and everyone else has to pay the price. I hope that the teachers will be observant and do get the abusers and allow those that are innocent to have the privilege to use the bathroom. Especially, after lunch. . I am a teacher.

[Unregistered]

At our school students are to use restrooms before and after school, between classes and at lunch. But you always have the student who says it's an emergency or something. This year each student was given a card with three bathroom passes for the semester. If they need to use the restroom during class, they have to have the teacher sign the card to be able to leave. If however, they don't use the passes during the semester they may turn the unused passes in to any teacher for a grade on an assignment - at the teacher's discretion (for homework, classwork, etc. not an exam) So far I've only had one student use the pass once and he really didn't want to use his pass and give up one of his free 'A's but ultimately made that choice.

[Unregistered]

Anybody have good ideas that are feasible in school to track students who go to the bathroom every period to waste time. We have repeat offenders that seem to go every period and we cannot deny them going to the bathroom. We have students use a book as a hall pass but they either borrow someone else's book or rip out the page and use a different page for every period.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thanks!

I allow 1 potty break per student per marking period. After that, they may go ( I never deny them) however it costs them 15 minutes Friday afternoon detention. I think I had to stay a total of two times last school year.

[DOP Teacher in Florida]

I agree that potty breaks can be a problem. I work at a drop out prevention school, and if the student has too many breaks, they get a pass restriction (mandated by the AP office or by an individual teacher). We have hall monitors who will walk them to the bathroom and back. It will deter most students from going on unnecessary trips, but the teacher who thinks 2 per 9 weeks is okay sounds like someone who has become too jaded and should retire. There are legitimate reasons for kids having to go more than that and it's emabarrassing for girls to tell a male teacher about her period, or for any student who may have incontinence or intestinal issues or flu symptoms starting. As an adult with Crohn's disease, I don't wish to share my colon problems with many people, and teens are far more embarrassed by these things. Crohn's is usually diagnosed during the teen years. Tell ole' Chocolate face he needs to retire! For him(her?) to say that every teacher who cares is a hippie just shows his ignorant and misogynistic character.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

At our school students are to use restrooms before and after school, between classes and at lunch. But you always have the student who says it's an emergency or something. This year each student was given a card with three bathroom passes for the semester. If they need to use the restroom during class, they have to have the teacher sign the card to be able to leave. If however, they don't use the passes during the semester they may turn the unused passes in to any teacher for a grade on an assignment - at the teacher's discretion (for homework, classwork, etc. not an exam) So far I've only had one student use the pass once and he really didn't want to use his pass and give up one of his free 'A's but ultimately made that choice.

you can't offer bonuses for stuff like that here. Not to mention that what do you do when a kid loses his card or just doesn't have it?

The plan is doomed to failure. Check back in at the end of the year and verify my correctedness :rolleyes:

[Unregistered]

Dear Teachers,
I am in this field since 1994 and have faced many problems like this.The solution are as follows.
1. Two recess during 6 hours of education is must.
2. When a student request to go for bathroom than he must be allowed without any ban or any restriction but he will not be allowed to attend the lecture till the period ends and next day teacher should ask some question from the last day teaching points and if a student can not reply than give him homework for 5 to 10 times so that the tendency to go to bathroom will reduce and only needy student will go for the same.

[shubh]

If we are allowing two intervals in a school session of 6-7 hrs, there shouldn’t be any to go again bathroom, unless a student has some problems. Even if he/she needs to go, there should be no ban. Students must be allowed to attend the remaining part of the session.

[Unregistered]

One point I always make with my students, is that teachers use the bathroom too. Furthermore, we usually can't leave our classrooms and so must use the bathroom when we can, in between classes. It is possible for a human being to plan his/her bathroom breaks around the school schedule. Serious medical issues are an individual and rare situation. I find the 3 passes per nine weeks rule works, and most students don't even use all three in a nine-week interval. If my students have already used three passes, and it's an emergency they are allowed to go, but they must come to my room at lunch and help me with chores. If they don't show, it's a referral.

[Unregistered]

I am a high school English teacher who has a principal that is very strict on restroom breaks. She does not like students being "off task" which includes being out of the classroom. As a result, my students are allowed to leave the classroom as a "reward" or for emergency (teacher's discretion). In order to to receive this reward/ticket they must earn it by being in class BEFORE the tardy bell rings, seated in their assigned seat, and working on the pre-class activity/bellringer quietly. Two days a week (random), I pass out tickets to the students who earn them. To leave the classroom, students must "cash-in" a ticket. Tickets can be used to go to the restroom, office, nurse, etc. They cannot be used during direct instructional time, ten minutes into class, or ten minutes before the end of class. This works well. Students have incentive to begin working in class and also limits the amount of time they are out of the classroom. They can also save the tickets until the end of the semester for extra points. One ticket=one extra credit point.

[Unregistered]

Seems like there needs to be teachers with common sense. If a child is sick or really has to go, let him go. If he abuses the privilege, so NO! Duh...

[Unregistered]

I have a bathroom box with every students name(first & last) in alphabetical order. They are only allowed 6 bathroom breaks per semester. They take their pass by name and I sign, date, and place a time on it, this will be used as their pass. If they use more than 6 they will have a detention (on a friday preferably).

When they come back from the bathroom they just place their card in the bathroom box for next time.

I have used this method for 3 years and it has worked GREAT!!!

[Unregistered]

Each teacher can set the amount of bathroom breaks given during a semester or class. I use 3 per 9 weeks. I also use the required student handbook that students are required to have and carry with them anytime they are in the hall. Any student found without a pass or signed in ink by teacher agenda, can be disciplined. This was such an issue last year with students roaming the halls throughout the day , and this seems to be working this year with our students.
Sometimes we do allow student pass w/o agenda but they still must have a signed sheet from classroom teacher.
Some teachers also have student not only sign agenda with them but require student to sign out/sign in when they leave class. This, too, keeps us abreast of where student is in case of an emergency.

[Unregistered]

I must say I am already getting tired of those who abuse this privilege. I do have the obnoxious bathroom pass (a Little Tykes mailbox I bought at a garage sale for $1.00) but that doesn't seem to stop some of them. I am considering having students sign in and out and then mention that if I see a pattern I will feel obliged to speak with their parents about possible health concerns. Yes, we all may have true "emergencies" but as I remind my students, I do not have the luxury of leaving the classroom at will. And, while the students on this forum may be the ones who do not take advantage of the issue, I would bet they could name off at least four fellow students who do...