What do you think?

[HeKnowsMyName]

I want to know if anyone else thinks this is a bit much. The kindergarten teachers are punching cards (which means punishment if they get more than two punches in a week) if a child requests to go to the bathroom any other time than the "sheduled" time. The Para told me today that one little girl obviously had to go a little while after they had already went but they told her she would get her card punched because that was the rule. She went anyway and got her card punched but cried and cried about it. I felt sorry for the child. Sometimes it's hard - even for an adult - to pee/stinky on demand.

I know that some kids might use the bathroom excuse just to get out of the classroom, but you can really tell when a kid has to go.

 

[ThatButton]

That does seem a little silly. I would think that a repetitive problem of the child needing to leave class to use the restroom would cause a card punching; not just asking once. I know when I was in elementary school years and years ago we had bathrooms in each classroom until 3rd grade. I'm not sure we had to ask. If we needed to go we just would get up and go in. The only time it was ever a distraction/problem was when one girl went in there and sang at the top of her lungs. We had to stop class to wait for her to be done in there because we were all giggling so hard.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

If I was that child's parent I would be speaking to the school board about it, these kids are 5 years old for crying out loud.

 

[andiesmama]

sounds a little young to me, I definitely would speak to the teacher about it and/or the principal. Being punished for going to the bathroom? That's crazy....

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

We had bathrooms in the rooms for Kind. when I was in school too.

What I'm afraid is going to happen is that a kid is going to have to go but so as not to get the card punched they are going to hold it and have an accident. Can you imagine how humiliating that will be to a kid????

 

[lucypevensie]

Grrr... I think it is so ridiculous to not let a child go to the bathroom. Who cares if they don't have to go really bad? So what if they just had recess? Do their teachers only feel the urge at certain times? What if they get the runs - should they stay in front of the classroom teaching and smiling and wait til the break?

I remember in 1st grade having to go to the bathroom really badly and I knew the teacher would never let anyone go if it wasn't breaktime. So I sat there marinating in my own pee, trying to hold it in but not being very successful. When my mom heard about it at home she got right on the phone with that teacher and raised a big fuss! (I loved my mom for that) The next day in school Mrs. Johnson announced a change in the rules. (Go Mom!)

 

[Leanna]

That's terrible.

 

[oliveplants]

How awful. I know PS expects conformity, but to that extent, at that age!

DH was at military school for 6 weeks last month, and by the end of the time he'd trained himself to pee every 90 minutes because that's when the class breaks were. If it's that crazy for adults, how can you expect it of someone just 2 years out of diapers?

 

[wanderingone]

I want to know if anyone else thinks this is a bit much. The kindergarten teachers are punching cards (which means punishment if they get more than two punches in a week) if a child requests to go to the bathroom any other time than the "sheduled" time. The Para told me today that one little girl obviously had to go a little while after they had already went but they told her she would get her card punched because that was the rule. She went anyway and got her card punched but cried and cried about it. I felt sorry for the child. Sometimes it's hard - even for an adult - to pee/stinky on demand.

I know that some kids might use the bathroom excuse just to get out of the classroom, but you can really tell when a kid has to go.

That's ridiculous and I'd let the school know it's not acceptable. If they tried to punish my kid for having to use the bathroom they'd be in for quite a fight with me.
If they feel a child appears to need the toilet too often they should talk to the parents, and as for going on demand, as an adult I sometimes just don't have to go "before I leave home" I'd be appalled if someone suggested it was a behavior problem or character flaw as opposed to a physical need, I certainly don't expect my child to always have to go the same time as everyone else and needing to use the toilet certainly isn't behavior that needs to be modified.

 

[Linnis]

That's stupid, I'd let the school know about it if that we're my child. My nephew's in second grade, they are reminded to go after recess and lunch. All schools have weird rules but if you don't like them you can ask they be changed.

 

[GolfingMom]

How did you find out about this?
If it is true indeed, I would ask the teacher why she/he is doing it. I would also let him/her know it's no appropriate for that age (maybe high school but not 5 years old) and if they don't feel they need to change, bring it up to their supervisors/bosses...

 

[CrystalBrooke]

when i was younger my teacher wouldnt let a boy in my class go to the bathroom and he ended up peeing on himself...his mom was MAD! and i dont blame her...he didnt get the option of go and get in trouble or hold it...the teacher would not allow him to go at all...when a kid that small says they have to go..usually they really do.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

You can tell when a child really has to go versus using it as an excuse to get out of something. I would be having words with this teacher. Kindergartners are still so young and needing to use the bathroom can still come as a surprise.

 

[Princessperky]

When I was a teacher we had an interesting time helping the kids understand when was most convenient to use a potty. Looking at it form the perspective of a teacher of 30..you arn'te really able to take each individual kids needs into consideration as well as at home...it is sad, think of an orphanage, so many kids so little time!

Anyway punching a card ins't what I would o, but I often did ask my kids to wait (like a minute, or two, then later in the year more waiting, building up to wait till lunch break)

My kids on the other hand, they pee when they need to, I can ahandle waiting for a kid a few minutes, I only have three .

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

How did you find out about this?
If it is true indeed, I would ask the teacher why she/he is doing it. I would also let him/her know it's no appropriate for that age (maybe high school but not 5 years old) and if they don't feel they need to change, bring it up to their supervisors/bosses...

This happened to DD as well. I was asking the Para what was going on because of DD when she told me about the other child. DD got her card puched and was devastated (this is only the second time this year getting her card puched - the first was for picking up her pencil when not instructed to do so ). The Para did say that the kids are rushing trhough bathroom brrder to be the first in line. However, I do not think this is correct punishment for that. Plus, it doesn't sound like it's the same kids over and over.

And like someone else said, you can tell when a child REALLY has to go to the bathroom. DH is a high school special ed. teacher and he won't let them go either, UNLESS he can really tell they have to go. He's never had any problem with this approach.

I was just wondering if I was being too sensitive because of my pregnancy. LOL Things upset me that used to wouldn't have and I wasn't sure if this was one of them.

 

[Princessperky]

I can recall telling a kid they 'knew better' wen they headed off for a drink in the middle of a lesson.....A drink? what kind of job was I doing where it was that big of a deal if a kid left for a minute for a drink! (one where I had a lot of kids and if they all left........)

In a mass setting the rules are different............ (at home DS goes and pours his own when he wants, doesn't get in my way)

But I don't think you are being overly sensative, but then I don't send my kids to a mass school (we homeschool use help to teach as needed, no Mass setting for daily learning), I wouldn't want to politly deal with any of that err stuff...

 

[homeschooling_Momma]

OH MY WORD!

I can not believe they are doing that for children of this age!

I know that some children use that as an excuse but I have found that for the most part even when that is true, it only takes up a few moments of time, and whats the harm?

You know what I would do?

I would go to the dr. & have him write out something to the school telling them to let my child go pottie when they say....if you have a dr. saying they have the right then they cant turn them down....

I would be upset! If my child tells you they need to go, they need to go. I wonder how many children have messed up their pants to try & obey this rule? How many little ons have suffered because they dont want to get 'a punch'....

I did not know they are doing this now...especially for children this young...I mean come on....its kindergarden, not the first year of college!

so sorry your little one is having to go thru that...

 

[Beccysmommy]

I don't think this whole "punching cards" thing is any good.
Personally I would think that it is both ridiculous and dangerous to stop very young children from going to the bathroom when they want to go. I don't see what point the kindergarten could be making with this.
I feel awful that that little child cried about it after she just had to go to the bathroom but punishing them for that can send mixed messages to them i.e.they might associate going to the bathroom with punishment and being bad and might be unsure whether they can go when they want at home. And for young children, especially those who have just been potty trained, it is obvious what holding it in results in!
I 'll have to think about this more before I say anything else.

 

[lin1235]

I agree - it's ridiculous. When I was in kindergarten we could go when we needed to, but we had to ask the teacher's permission. But they always said yes, even if you just came back from break or whatever.

 

[Zoomer]

I would be talking to someone about that rule. I could understand if the children were older, say middle school, but to force Kindergarten on a bathroom schedule is stupid.