T O P I C :

Too Many Bathroom Breaks

Mara raises the issue: As we all saw in the role play on getting class started, there are always some problematic students who make it hard to get going. I am having a problem with the issue of students going to the bathroom in-between classes.

This is the policy at my school: The students are only allowed a certain number of passes for each quarter. Once they run out, they have to take a tardy if they want to use the restroom. If they get three tardies they get a detention.

One way of dealing with this issue has been to let the students use the restroom in between classes as long as they tell you first. In this way the students are just a few minutes late instead of disrupting class. They can just slide into their seat while the bell ringer is up, causing little distraction … in theory!

This worked for a few weeks but it is now becoming a problem. I now have three or four students each period asking to use the restroom, and it is taking away class time. I tell them to hurry, and I've even tried saying, “No, it’s class time.” But they don't hurry, and if you don't let them go, then they just fill out their pass and want to go in the middle of the lesson.

Can anyone think of a good solution to this problem? I thought about just not letting them use the restroom, but I think most of the time they actually have to go and are not just fooling around.

Posted October 20, 2008

E-mail your suggestions and comments to fbowles@uark.edu