Parents slam school for forcing students to use ‘embarrassing’ toilet pass

Queensland parents have slammed their children’s school for treating basic toilet needs like a surveillance operation, with one father filing a human rights complaint.

Parents have complained about a toilet pass system at a Hervey Bay school which includes an email notification of how long they have been in the toilet.

Parents of students at a Fraser Coast high school claim their kids are being forced to take a ‘toilet pass’ for toilet breaks while having their time documented to the minute.

Hervey Bay State High School parent Kevin Fogarty, posted on Facebook on December 4 looking to chat with others about claims students at the school had to wear a lanyard when they visit the toilet during class time and that parents receive an email detailing how long their child’s toilet trip was.

He included a photo of the alleged toilet pass which appears to be a large black and yellow piece of paper with block letters that read ‘toilet pass’.

The post received hundreds of comments with several parents and students confirming the rumours.

“I got an email from a teacher once a few months ago to tell me my daughter had gone to the toilet during class, I can’t remember the exact details of it but just remember thinking it was a bit ridiculous,” Facebook user Mindy Krug commented.

“Selected amenities blocks have been closed during class times for a number of years in response to behavioural incidents.

“They lock the senior toilets during classes but then threaten to suspend kids if they are using the junior toilets at lunch because the staff haven't unlocked them yet,” commented a potential student.

A Department of Education spokesman confirmed the school’s toilet pass system.

“Hervey Bay State High School students will always have the opportunity to access school toilets as required, particularly those with medical needs,” the spokesman said.

“Selected amenities blocks have been closed during class times for a number of years in response to behavioural incidents.

“To further support duty of care, the school has introduced a pass and notification system for students who need to leave the classroom outside of designated break times.

“The school has received feedback from the school community and is committed to reviewing these concerns to ensure appropriate use of the facilities.”

A copy of the email parents receive when their child uses the toilet during class time.

The community expressed its outrage, many saying things had gone “too far”.

Mr Fogarty said he emailed the Queensland Department of Education back in November about the issue, and received a reply saying all staff at the school had a “personalised” laminated toilet pass.

“(It) is provided to students when they need to access the toilet during class time … the passes are not attached to a lanyard,” the reply read.

It was explained that the school’s duty of care was fulfilled by sending a notification to parents when their child uses the toilet to inform them the student is not under teacher supervision.

Further, students with medical needs are provided with a “credit card sized toilet pass”.

Mr Fogarty told the Fraser Coast Chronicle he had made a complaint to the Queensland Humans Rights Commission regarding this matter.

“Surely we do not embarrass students with their toilet needs,” Mr Fogarty said in his email to the Queensland Department of Education.

“I engage with the school to educate my (child), not invade (their) privacy.

“As parents we do not hear from the teachers about (their) education, assessment or reporting requirements, but they actively police the time students use the toilet.”

Originally published as Parents slam school for forcing students to use ‘embarrassing’ toilet pass