Teacher’s Bathroom Pass Limits Students’ Trips To 2 A Month

MEMPHIS, TN — Some Memphis parents are calling for a time-out for Mrs. White, an eighth-grade teacher who placed what they say is an unreasonable bathroom pass. It said each student is allowed to leave the classroom to use the bathroom, see the nurse, or get water only twice in an entire month.

Students were asked to sign the contract, in which they agree that if they violate it, they will “receive an automatic detention and a zero on whatever assignment [they] walk out on.” And, illustrating tongue-in-cheek what must be frustration at abuse of hall privileges, the teacher included this:

“I understand that Mrs. White is petty, and although we both have options, I can be denied going to the restroom/water/nurse during a lesson.

“If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to speak with Mrs. White before or after-school, although nothing will change.

“If you lose your pass, I AM SORRY, TRY ME AGAIN NEXT MONTH,” the contract continued.

Aspire Hanley Middle School agrees with the parents, calling the policy “inconsistent with our school’s actual policies, our mission, and our values.” The charter school said in a statement on its Facebook page that is “reviewing the circumstances under which the document was prepared and distributed to students.”

The statement continued: “Please know the safety and care of our students is always our first priority. It is important that students know we respect them and are responsive to their needs.

“To reinforce these values, we convened our full team today to review all relevant policies and procedures. We will continue to work with our teachers and staff to ensure all school policies and values are consistently maintained in each classroom.”

The teacher, referred to only as Mrs. White, has been with the district “for a number of years” and remains employed, Aspire Public Schools Superintendent Nickalous Manning told television station WATN.

The policy was circulated on social media, prompting a barrage of criticism aimed at Mrs. White.

The author pointed out the students would have received DETENTION for having to leave the class more than twice a month to use the restroom.”

“Detention is punishment. Punishment is for delinquent behavior. Relieving yourself is not a crime,” the author wrote.

In a three-part tweet, a teacher with 20 years experience said she understands Mrs. White’s frustration with “a few students who take advantage just to get out of class,” but noted “most don’t.”

“It can be a disruption that makes it harder to teach and a distraction for other students,” she tweeted. “However, many times, students simply don’t have time to go between classes. Also, this is unprofessional and petty, and I would bet it’s not very effective, either.”

She also noted: “This is also a good way to turn your students against you. Who wants to be treated this way? It’s much more effective to establish guidelines where students understand why they exist and why they are necessary. Students deserve to be treated with respect.”

Another former middle school teacher said note from Mrs. White is “reflective of someone that doesn’t like their profession.”

“I can’t imagine any faculty where I worked writing such a ridiculous and condescending letter,” the tweet continued. “Teacher is likely lousy w kids.”

A former teacher, who recalled “projectile vomiting in 9th grade after being told I couldn’t go to the nurse,” tweeted she “thought this kind of torment had gone away decades ago.”

“When I taught 8th grade, the kids could go as often as they needed. Nobody abused it,” she wrote, adding parenthetically: “(Maybe her students hate her class?)”

As people continued to pile on the teacher and regale the Twittersphere with tales of what happened when they were denied a visit to the lavatory, someone finally tweeted:

“My god, people. Teacher makes a mistake in handling a situation that is obviously very frustrating for her and you folks are prepared to destroy her. The lawyers on this thread not acting very lawyerly takes the cake.”

That didn’t settle the dust for long.

“Students are functioning human beings, who have biological and mental processes, such as urinating, defecating, and getting sick, none which can be limited to twice a month,” someone else tweeted. “ Forgetting or ignoring that is not a ‘mistake’. It is a failure as a teacher.”

Manning said in the WATN interview that even with the policy, students will be allowed to use the restroom or visit the nurse when necessary.

Photo via Shutterstock / Martin Haas