I became very aware in the beginning of this school year that the school 'charges' children to use the restroom if they have to go to the bathroom aside from their designated potty breaks (during recess & lunch). My daughter has mild bladder issues that her doctor said is common for children her age and she will simply out grow it. She recently turned 7 years old. She simply has to go a little more frequently then average. I made the teacher & her assistant aware of this right away, they said it would not be a problem to let my daughter use the bathroom as needed. My daughter is a VERY well behaved child. A little shy...but she does everything she's told & follows the rules even when her friends do not. She was made student of the month last year in kindergarten & was 1 of only 6 kindergartners to receive the "Tiger Challenge Award". An award given for over all outstanding performance for the entire school year.
The other day, my daughter came to me crying after school. The teacher's assistant made her pay 5 'tiger tokens' to use the bathroom. Tiger tokens are pretend cash dollars that the children earn for good behavior, doing their homework, following the rules, etc. It's a reward system the school has set up. The kids love it! Every month, they get to go to the school store & 'buy' items with their tiger tokens. It's a big deal for the kids. To the younger ones, it's like having real money & it's great because they have to earn it.
Side Bar: Last year in part-day kindergarten, my daughter was deathly shy. She was too embarassed to even raise her hand to ask the teacher to use the bathroom & almost every single day would come home with wet pants. She wouldn't have a full-out "accident". But she would 'leak' from holding it the entire time she was in school. She would be embarassed when she was a little 'wet' & it made her even more shy & sometimes not want to participate in activities at school...because she was afraid the other kids would know she wet herself a little. On top of it, she was getting frequent bladder infections & UTI's from 'holding it' all day long. The teacher was wonderful & worked with me to help her over come this shyness. One day in March, her kindertarten teacher told me she raised her hand to use the bathroom. From then on, she never had a problem, or another bladder infection or UTI again!
Back to 1st Grade: So...after coming in from recess, my daughter raised her hand to use the bathroom. The teacher's assistant told my daughter it would cost her 5 tiger tokens. My daughter said "do you remember my mommy talked to you...?" The teacher's assistant told her if she can't wait to go to the bathroom, it will cost you 5 tiger tokens. My daughter got up, got a 5 dollar tiger token...tore it in half, & gave it to the teacher. Then went potty.
Side Bar 2: I am actually very proud of my daughter for tearing up the tiger dollar before giving it to the teacher. My daughter is usually so shy & such a push over, this was the first time she has ever stood up to someone. And I'm glad. She knew she was being wronged. And she let the teacher know. Good for her!
Return to 1st Grade: The teachers did not tell me that suddenly, out of the blue...even though I had spoken to them months ago about her minor bladder issues...and for the past 4 1/2 months everything was fine. Then one day, this teacher is having a bad day...and suddenly goes back on our arrangement without any warning to me or my daughter?
First of all the policy is ridiculous. I understand they are trying to prevent children being in the halls when they should be in class. But you can't punish a child if they have to use the restroom. You shouldn't take away a reward the child has earned through good behavior, simply because they have to go to the bathroom. The assistant teacher herself said to me today "...atleast I didn't tell her she couldn't go. I've had to tell some kids no..." Is it even legal to deny a child the right to use the restroom in a public school? I understand they don't want children playing around, etc...but for heaven sakes! The few children that may not do exactly what they are told & dilly-dally in the halls some times shouldn't be given the power to turn an elementary school in to nazi Germany! These are 6 & 7 year old little children! Let them use the bathroom when they need to go! Why not put a sign up sheet with their names on it by the door, have them put a check mark next to their names when they have to use the bathroom. If it becomes a problem of a child seeming to be going to often...maybe ask the parents if there is a problem. If not...then when the child asks if he/she has to use the bathroom...ask them if they can wait until lunch or recess....but if they say no, don't punish them for having to pee!
So...after having a heck of a day running around, talking with people, having my daughter's doctor fax over a letter, etc...it comes down to the school granting my daughter 'special permission' to use the bathroom when needed. Why the heck does a 7 year old need special permission to use the bathroom....it's 1st grade!!! I feel like the school is making a bigger deal about this then me. I just want my child to be able to pee without being punished??? What is the big deal? It's crazy!
I feel like elementary schools have become ridiculously over regulated institutions.
