A mother from Houston, Jessica Lawrence, is raising concerns over her children’s elementary school policy regarding bathroom breaks. According to her, students must “earn” passes to use the restroom, a practice that she finds both unnecessary and troubling. Although she has previously secured medical exemptions for her kids, she recently discovered two bathroom passes tucked away in her sixth grader’s binder. Frustrated, Jessica expressed to a local news outlet, “I’m fed up with making my kids jump through hoops for a basic human need.”
Is It Justifiable?
Is it really justifiable to require young children to “earn” their right to use the bathroom? The school district defends the policy by stating that these restroom passes are designed as incentives to inspire students to maximize their learning time. They argue that it teaches valuable time management skills and helps students organize their day effectively.
While time management is essential, it raises concerns when children are restricted from using the bathroom based on arbitrary guidelines. Transitioning from home to school for an entire day is already a challenging adjustment for young kids, and expecting them to adhere to scheduled breaks for such a personal and urgent need can lead to discomfort. As an adult, I know how difficult it can be to hold off on a bathroom visit just because it isn’t “convenient.” Why should we assume that children will always need to use the restroom at designated times?
A More Sensible Approach
Rather than penalizing all students for the actions of a few who may misuse bathroom privileges, a more sensible approach would be to address the issue with those particular students. Forcing children to hold their bladder can lead to serious health issues, including urinary tract infections. Dr. Emily Richards, a pediatric urologist at a university hospital, notes that she has treated many otherwise healthy children who developed harmful habits due to infrequent bathroom access. These kids often arrive with issues like incontinence and kidney damage, which stem from forcing them to wait too long between bathroom visits.
Conclusion
While maintaining order in schools is crucial, punishing all students for the sake of a few is not the answer. Forcing kids to “earn” bathroom breaks as if they were rewards is simply unreasonable. If you’re interested in learning more about the various aspects of artificial insemination, check out this informative piece on artificial insemination. For those considering home insemination options, Make A Mom is a trusted retailer for at-home insemination syringe kits. Additionally, for more thoughts on this topic, see our post on Cervical Insemination.
In summary, imposing restrictions on basic bathroom access for elementary students is a flawed approach that could have negative implications for their health and well-being.
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