Just when I think I've heard it all. http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/...rce=facebook&utm_content=likeyourkids_fanpage
I see both sides. What I don't see is common sense. Yes, they should've stopped to let her pee. (common sense) Yes, they should've insisted that everyone pee before the trip and/or when they stopped for this girl. (common sense) Yes, the school was legally correct for not stopping, because it wasn't a scheduled stop, and the child didn't have permission to go anywhere except where the bus was headed. If something had happened in the unplanned stopping location, the whole bus full of kids' parents would've sued. (common sense says the parents shouldn't sue over something so stupid) Yes, it's difficult for teachers to judge whether or not a child really needs to go or whether the child is just being a punk. (we don't know the whole story, only what's reported in various forms of media) It's a tough call....... but clearly, she shouldn't have peed on the bus no matter what. It's not safe, and it's not sanitary.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't! There was no ill intent on anybodies part, but rules made for the masses; rules that do not take the individual into account. I read the comments and for the most part, both sides have validity to them. As to the bus not being sanitary, they could have stopped at McDs, another restaurant, or a gas station. Still, as far as I'm concerned, the bus is more sanitary. The only thing that would have made these places better is the fact that the girl would have had privacy and a toilet, but sanitary... ...public restrooms are disgusting, even when clean. This is my only gripe. The poor kiddo will probably be teased. I'm positive she is already embarrassed. She shouldn't have had to urinate in a cup, on the bus. Still, the driver wasn't allowed to pull over. Do they sacrifice their job? Honestly, people might not agree, I think it would have been a better choice to have the girl hold it and risk wetting herself. Of course, people would complain about that, too. As long as rules for the masses do not make allowances, everybody loses. :|
This is so true. a year or so ago, there was an incident in the school district I taught in while I was in Texas. A boy in junior high was "forced" to urinate in a water bottle in his classroom when the teacher refused to let him go to the bathroom and he "had to go" so he saw "no other alternative". Unfortunately, the district was unable to speak with the media concerning what really happened because of privacy policies and the family was the only "source" for the story. So, it blew up in the news. And the news didn't have the real story. I had friends that worked in that particular school building and heard the real story. The child was a known troublemaker and choose to urinate in the bottle in an act of defiance. It had nothing to do with not being allowed to go to the bathroom when he so-called asked.
