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Saturday, February 21, 2004
Today's "What the...?" article comes to my attention via Joanne Jacobs:
LAWRENCE - Some middle school students here are learning to shun soft drinks, water and other liquids during school hours for fear their consumption will lead to an urgent need to answer nature's call.
Under a new policy at the Lawrence Middle School, the seventh- and eighth-graders are allowed to leave class for the bathroom a maximum of 15 times a month.
As a result, some are afraid to use up their bathroom passes too quickly and end up with a full bladder and nowhere to go.
Some girls feel an even greater need to stockpile their passes so they have them at their disposal when they menstruate, parents say.
The pass system, referred to by some parents as "the pee-pee policy," was instituted last month as a way to monitor the school restrooms and stop students from skipping class.
Some days, in my office, in one shift, I can go to the restroom 5 times. This is because I keep myself hydrated during the day. I would be worried if I DIDN'T go to the bathroom at least three times. And these kids are being limited to 15 breaks per month?
There is NO way I would adhere to this policy. I would be likely to just pee in the classroom. Seriously. You think other kids won't do the same? Read on.
In 2002, the family of a seventh-grader at Ponce de Leon Middle School filed a lawsuit against her math teacher and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools when the teacher refused to give her a bathroom pass.
The student said the teacher told her "If you can't hold it, you should be wearing Pampers." The student had a bowel movement in class and was then too embarrassed to go back to school.
Her lawyer sought damages for humiliation, and the district settled with the family out of court.
This is an insane policy, to be sure. If kids are smoking in the stalls, discipline them. Give them labor to do after school... how about cleaning the ashtrays in the teacher's lounge, since they like smoking so much? Remember cleaning erasers after school? I do. I hated it. Why? Because it was work, and I missed playtime with my friends. Discipline works. Closing the bathrooms to "restore order" only alienates those who need the bathrooms for their intended purpose.
Just another reason to homeschool, folks.Labels: Archives_2004
.: posted by
Dave
2:46 PM
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