Teacher Sparks Outrage After Explaining Why She Refuses to Let Students Use the Bathroom During Class

A teacher is facing criticism from frustrated parents who are upset because she won't allow their kids to use the bathroom during class.

In a perfect world, teachers and parents would work together as a team, offering guidance, wisdom, and understanding. 

However, we all know that reality doesn’t always match up to that ideal. Disagreements between teachers and parents happen, and one UK teacher is currently dealing with just that.

Jade, a primary school teacher (teaching grades 1-6) who goes by @homelearninghaven on TikTok, posted a video to explain her reasoning for not allowing students to go to the bathroom during class.

Now, if you think back to your own school days, you probably remember how frustrating it could be when you really needed to go but weren't allowed to. 

On the other hand, can you honestly say that every time you asked to leave, you actually needed to go?

Jade recorded her video while sitting in her classroom during her lunch break. In the video, she says: 

"I'm just thinking about the problem that parents have with teachers not letting their kids go to the toilet. Today, I had about three examples where I did not let the children go to the toilet."

She then goes on to describe one of those moments, explaining that she said no to a student during a reading exercise they were doing with a partner.

"I said no because it would make the activity futile for both the child and their partner," she said.

She also recalled a time when she refused a student because she was in the middle of explaining an important task. 

If she had let the student leave, she would’ve had to re-explain everything when they returned.

The teacher explained why she might not let a child go to the toilet during class Getty Stock Image

Another situation she mentioned involved a student asking to go right after the break.

She had to deny them for a short time because they had just come back.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, Jade was quick to explain that her refusals only last a few minutes. 

She makes sure to explain the reason to the child and, in cases where a student genuinely can't wait, she would make an exception.

Still, some people on social media weren’t happy with her approach. One user said: "In university you don’t even have to ask to go, you just go. Same with work. What are you even preparing them for?"

Another person shared: "I'll be honest, I told my son if he needs to go to the toilet and gets told no, I as his mother give him permission to walk out of his class."

Some parents warned teachers of kids having accidents as a result Getty Stock Image

A third person added: "My son had an accident at school yesterday because he was too anxious to even ask the teacher to go to the toilet. He was genuinely scared he’d be told no—respectfully, I can't have that."

However, Jade also received support from others who agreed with her stance. 

One commenter said: "She is explaining that it's only 4 mins max [wait], let's be honest, most times 4 mins is fine."

Another person added: "It's good for them to learn to wait. If my child has to wait 2 mins, it's no different from waiting at home if someone else is in the bathroom."

What do you think?