During my internship year my mentor allowed students to go to the bathroom during art. If they asked, one at a time was allowed to use the restroom across the hall. They rarely happened. I felt like this was reasonable. As a child, I remember being angered when teachers did not let me go to the bathroom when I needed to. Thus, I adapted the one at a time routine.
"Bathrooming" (as a seasoned teacher calls it) was quickly abused in the art room. If one kid asked to go, magically enough 21 students had to go! So within the first few weeks I made it clear to teachers and students that they were to use the bathroom BEFORE or AFTER art. I only see them one hour a week. I can NOT spend time keeping track of who was is gone. Were their hands clean when they left the art room? Is their project going to be complete? How will I catch them up with everyone else? How long have they been gone? At a workshop with other "specials" teachers, it was shared that they had the same policy. One teacher even said that if they have an accident, it will help them remember to go before art next time. I felt like that was harsh, but what can you do?!
After two months of having the "BEFORE or AFTER" art policy I found an untouched puddle near a table. I recalled that a first grade boy had asked to go during clean up and I told him we only had five more minutes in art and he could go when they got back to class. I was so preoccupied with clean up procedures that I could not even remember who had asked to go when I found the puddle. None of the students told me about the puddle...I had the custodian come in between classes. Later I found out who had the accident....
