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Parents are calling this school bathroom policy 'abuse'

Should schools ever limit the amount of bathroom breaks students can take? <i>(Getty Images)</i>
Should schools ever limit the amount of bathroom breaks students can take? (Getty Images)

Update: Franklin Academy has refuted the claims, saying the reports were based off an “inaccurate” Facebook post. Yahoo is reaching out for further comment.

We’ve all been guilty of taking a mid-class bathroom break to socialize in the hall or escape class for a couple of minutes, but one school is cracking down on bathroom retreats.

For some of us, we can’t imagine going more than an hour without a bathroom break but a K-8 academy in Boynton Beach, Fla., has reportedly enforced a limit on how many times a year you can make a trip to the bathroom.

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According to Scary Mommy, Franklin Academy has put a cap on bathroom breaks, allowing students only 50 a year. Monitored through a hall pass log, each student is allowed 50 spaces for the 180 days they spend at school a year. That equals one bathroom break every three days. Better yet, if they exceed their allotted amount, they are expected to pay $5 for a new hall pass log. Students are required to check in and out to track the entire time on break. The logs are then secured in the office to prevent students from making copies.

This log also acts as a hall pass meaning office visits count toward the 50 spaces, meaning students are actually allowed even less bathroom time.

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Parents of children attending Franklin Academy are not happy with the policy, with some calling it child abuse. And it makes sense why – the policy is shortsighted, inconsiderate of students who may be on their period or suffer from medical conditions requiring more frequent bathroom breaks. The log promotes bad hygiene, encouraging students to hold themselves, possibly leading to UTIs. There is also a concern that self conscious children will hold it in and end up soiling themselves, rather than having to show their hall pass log.

Regardless of whether you’re a frequent bathroom user or not, one thing is certain, all children are entitled to use the bathroom when the moment strikes. The school may be hoping to crack down on students who abuse the system, but is it taking it too far?

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