The idea that students need a teacher's permission to use the bathroom really bothers me. I don't think it's a bad thing that students are trained to ask—teachers should know where their students are, and asking to go is seen as more polite than simply stating "I'm going." The problem is that a lot of teachers actually say no when students ask.

I worked as a substitute teacher in a public school (middle school and high school) for 2 years. I never once told a student that they couldn't go to the bathroom. The fact that using the bathroom is seen as a privilege, as something that can be withheld, is crazy to me. It's along the same lines as telling a student that they can't drink water. These are fundamental actions needed for survival.

And yes, I know that some students don't actually "need" to go, but 1) teachers are not the deciders of who does and does not actually "need" to pee, and 2) I literally could not care less. So what if the student just wants a break from school work? Everyone needs a break every now and then. So what if they just want to scroll on their phone for a few minutes? So what if they want to send a text message? Who cares?

Denying students the right to go to the bathroom is just cruel. There is no justification for it. You don't know when the last time they went was. You don't know if they are dealing with some kind of illness or medical issue that makes they have to go frequently. You don't know if they are on their period, and having to deal with the effects of that. You don't know what's going on in their personal life that may require them to take a break, or to respond to a text message. You simply don't know.

And frankly, you don't need to know. A student shouldn't have to tell you any of that if they don't want to. It's not your business. You should respect your students enough to let them use the bathroom without them having to explain why. The only acceptable answer to "can I use the bathroom?" is "yes."

Just let them go to the bathroom. It won't hurt you. But preventing them from going can hurt them.

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Somewhat related story, when I was in first grade I peed my pants because my teacher yelled at me when I asked to use the bathroom. I approached her while she was working with a "reading group" and the rest of the class was working on something independently. I asked her if I could use the bathroom as she angrily said "I'm in the middle of something right now." I went back to my seat and a few minutes later I peed my pants. I then walked back to her and before I could say anything she said "yes, you can go now," but I replied "it's too late." I hope she learned something from that.

Anyway, what do you all think?

A few bad apples spoil the bunch.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of students that f off to the bathroom to either not be seen again that day, or go cause trouble with a group of friends. The problem is schools are responsible for the students and if you went to public school as I did, you know many students are irresponsible and go to the bathroom either to cut class, vape, or turn it into their own personal trap house.

People that actually have to use the restroom, or want somewhere to go chill for a few minutes are hurt by the bad actions of others. Sure the teachers could have a list of people who can and cannot leave class, but that opens them up to issues with parents and administration, so it is easier to just say f it no one can leave class.

Frankly, there is no easy answer. Students can't wander the halls aimlessly (especially these days lol), but denying students access to the bathrooms is also not fair. Just like schools taking doors off stalls to prevent vaping. They go nuclear to stop a problem that will likely continue happening elsewhere.

Oh and haha Tommy pissed his pants aahahahahahahah

I honestly think that student should just say "I'mma go to the bathroom" and then go and leave, doesn't matter what the teacher says, if the kid has gotta go let them. Now I can see why teachers don't like kids leaving the class to go to bathroom, they could do other things.

Isn't that why schools have staff doing hall duty? To make sure that students aren't wandering the halls aimlessly, or causing trouble? In the school I worked at, every teacher had a "duty period," which included lunch duty, hall duty, "time-out room" duty (don't even get me started on the "time-out room"), etc. In my high school there were employees whose entire job was to be a hall monitor. They were positioned near the bathrooms, so they could visually monitor the hallways, but also listen to what was happening in the restrooms.

There are also punitive systems in place to deal with students that cut class or break other rules. Let those systems handle it. When a student does something wrong, there should be consequences. But it's not fair to punish a student, especially by preventing them from using the bathroom, because a teacher suspects that they might do something wrong.

Telling students that they can't go to the bathroom isn't going to stop them from cutting class anyway; if they really wanted to cut class it would be way easier for them to just not show up to that class in the first place.
Barathemos :

(Also, slightly editing your post to censor certain words because "family friendly.")

Dauntez : Yeah I agree, but I do think that could be interpreted as rude. I wouldn't interpret it that way, but there are a lot of teachers that like being the person in charge, and they would find a statement like that disrespectful to their "authority."

So we have laws that prevent employers from restricting bathroom access for employees (not sure if this go as a far as public schools) but we have no laws preventing teachers from restricting bathroom access from students. Make it make sense.

I just wanted to add that little detail. I don't need to repeat what is already said by you guys.

I swear there was a non April Fools thread where David said the censor was relaxed idk.

I think it's stupid as well. Last thing I want when I teach is a student pissing themselves or worse.

Unfortunately as I'm still in the process of getting my degree and jumping from school to school I don't have much say in the matter. Is it annoying when it happens? Yes. Do I personally care if they go? No. However the person sitting at the back evaluating me and being partly responsible for my future cares a lot for some reason and I have no desire to be berated for it a second time.

I usually now take the approach of "I am not giving you my permission but I'm also not going to stand in front of the door the entire lesson". With a strict tone, trying to imply to my observer that I will write them up if they disobey. When in reality I'm giving a secret wink that I really don't care but you have to decide if it's bad enough that a small note in your file is of little concern at the moment. Oh and I do only allow one student to go at a time. The others have to wait their turn, which I hope might also prevent them from taking their sweet time doing other activities as they'll have pissed off classmates.

I do understand it from the school's perspective. Vandalism, drugs, smoking, ... all happens from time to time when you let students be unattended. I just don't think going full war path on going to the bathroom is a good response.

tgags123 : Such illnesses/medical conditions are documented in detail in the student's file and those students are always allowed to go. Not obeying that sort of thing can get you in deep trouble. Even when non documented students mention anything medical/health related I let them go (but also demand they pass by the nurse or health person right after, at that point it's no longer my responsibility)

I think it's stupid. I think it should only ever be a problem if it's obvious that a student is constantly using that as an excuse to get out of class. Really just telling the teacher and then going should be more than enough.

It's even worse in some schools because in my high school the bathrooms were locked during the time in between classes so you couldn't even go on your way from one class to another when you had extra time.