Is there anything more annoying than being in full flow, delivering the lesson of your career, when a pupil sticks their hand up, and announces that they, too, will be in full flow unless they run to the toilet? Well, probably, but for the purpose of this column, let’s say “no”.
Can you imagine the outrage if managers suddenly demanded that their employees asked for permission before heading off to spend a penny? And then, imagine if they said: “No, you can’t go to the toilet during working hours.” So, asks primary teacher Shannen Doherty, why do we think it’s OK to tell children they can’t go to the toilet during lessons?
It’s not like you’ve queued for ages to get on to Air at Alton Towers and if you run to the toilet you forfeit your ride and face another two-hour wait. No, it’s simply that a child needs to spend five minutes away from the class.
Some secondary schools lock the toilets during lesson times, says Doherty. But what about the children with bladder and bowel problems? Or the girls who are on their period? Or the little ones who haven’t quite mastered the art of “holding it in”? When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. It’s a simple as that.
There are, and always will be, kids who take the mick when it comes to going to the toilet - but there are things you can do to lessen the risk.
Often, those who don’t really need to go can be distracted by being asked simple questions, or you could call them in from break five minutes earlier and tell them that this is the time to go to the loo.
Ultimately, says Doherty, if you tell a child that they can’t go to the toilet during your class, you had better be prepared to clear up the mess afterwards.
