I was recently engaged in a conversation with my family about how in elementary, middle, and high school, you are required to ask to use the restroom, get water, and aren't allowed to eat except when you're given permission. This conversation lead me to wonder, why does our school system deny our children of their basic human rights?
Students are also often told, "no," "can't you wait," "not right now," "didn't you just come from lunch," and the infamous, "not during my class period," upon asking to use the restroom. Why do we deny children from using the restroom? Do teachers want children to lose control of their bladders in their seats? I understand that class time is important, however, having the ability to freely release your bowels should be important as well. If the teacher is denying a child permission to using the restroom, this is more of a distraction for the student than slipping out of the classroom really quick. Sitting in your chair shifting, full of urine, constantly thinking of how you have to pee and thinking of ways to stop is more distracting for a student. Taking two minutes to use the restroom is easier than ten, fifteen, twenty minutes of agony with a full bladder.
Another conundrum that elementary, middle, and high school students have to face is not being able to get water. You often hear, "just swallow your spit," as if spit is as refreshing and hydrating as ice cold water is. I mean, if it was, they wouldn't be asking to get water. But hey, at least they're too dehydrated to use the restroom during your class, right?
Children are limited to time frames to eat breakfast and lunch, and these are shoved into short time frames. Something that I came across in high school way more often than I should have was the issue of students not being able to even eat lunch. Lunch lines were too long and by the time you even got your food, the bell rang and it was time to return to class. You would think that if you walked into a classroom with a full tray of food that the teachers would allow you to eat it, however, sometimes this is not the case. Some students got in trouble for being a little late to class because they were too busy scarfing down whatever amount of their lunch they could. Other students were told to toss their trays upon getting to class and weren't allowed to eat lunch. Students, and even teachers, should not be limited to short time frames to eating. They should be allowed to eat when they can.
I don't know if it is just me or if others feel this way as well. However, I feel as though that no student should be denied their basic human rights of using the restroom, eating or drinking. A student taking two minutes to use the restroom or drink water during your classroom should not be an issue. Students are used to being able to do things, like using the restroom and getting water, freely at home. However, when they enter the classroom, their basic human rights are seen as distractions and inconveniences.
This should be stopped. This denial of students being able to use the restroom, get water, and eat should not be an issue within our schools. Their basic human rights should not seen as a distraction or inconvenience. Learning is important, but being able to freely act on your basic human rights should be as important.
