Anne Arundel Schools Require Teachers to Assist with Potty Training

As schools prepare for the upcoming academic year, a new policy in Anne Arundel County is prompting educators to assist young children with basic toileting needs. Starting this fall, teachers and staff in pre-K and kindergarten will be expected to help students who are not yet potty-trained.

The policy outlines responsibilities that include helping children put on underwear or pull-ups, guiding them on and off the toilet, and assisting with cleanup if necessary. This decision comes amid a noticeable increase in the number of children entering school who require assistance with bathroom use, a trend that has raised concerns among educators.

Superintendent Mark Bedell expressed frustration over the policy, emphasizing that it formalizes practices already in place but may lead to teacher attrition. "I don’t want to start losing educators because of things that should have been done before entering our schools," he stated during a school board meeting.

While the policy is seen as divisive, it aims to address the realities of a growing number of children who lack basic skills, not only in toileting but also in using utensils and other classroom tasks. Tammy Cho, a pre-K teaching assistant, noted that she has seen an increase in children needing assistance with foundational skills, prompting her to leave the classroom for a library position.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools does not track the number of students needing bathroom help, but a national survey indicates that over half of educators believe their students face greater challenges with potty training than they did two years ago.

Experts attribute this shift to changes in parenting styles influenced by the pandemic, with many parents adopting a more relaxed approach to readiness for skills like potty training. Dr. Dan Shapiro, a pediatrician, noted that children now tend to be potty-trained closer to age three, a shift from earlier norms.

In contrast to Anne Arundel, other Central Maryland school districts have different approaches. For instance, Howard County has updated its guidance but does not require teachers to change or clean students, instead encouraging parental involvement in the process.

While the Anne Arundel policy passed unanimously, it has sparked debate among educators and parents. Concerns have been raised about the potential health risks and the implications for student privacy, particularly regarding the need for two adults to be present during assistance.

As the new school year approaches, the implementation of this policy will test the balance between supporting children’s needs and the responsibilities placed on educators.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).