A California math teacher has found themselves in hot water after a classroom policy offering extra credit for not taking bathroom breaks ignited a firestorm of controversy online. The debate, however, goes beyond bathroom passes and into the heart of modern classroom discipline—a value many conservative parents and educators feel is under siege.
The uproar began when a frustrated mother, Sita, took to social media to vent her outrage about her daughter’s math teacher. The teacher allegedly limits students to just one bathroom pass per week and awards extra credit to those who don’t use it. “I am livid,” Sita wrote in a post that has garnered over 16 million views on X. “My daughter is mad that I want to email the teacher and CC the principal. Am I wrong here?”
Predictably, the outrage machine kicked into high gear. Critics flooded the comments, labeling the policy as “barbaric” and “inhumane.” One commenter declared, “Needing to ask permission to use the bathroom is barbaric.” Another added, “This teacher is not fit for service.”
But here’s the real question: Is this policy truly cruel, or is it an attempt at maintaining order and discipline in an increasingly chaotic school environment?
Let’s face it—classrooms today are often plagued by distractions, disruptions, and a lack of focus. Teachers are regularly forced to compete with smartphones, social cliques, and, yes, students who use bathroom breaks as an excuse to wander the halls or catch up with friends. Some of the teacher’s defenders, many with their own classroom experience, pointed this out. One commenter, a former teacher, noted, “We had kids who loved the bathroom. In Jr. high, it’s a way to meet your friends during class time.”
Another added, “This was the norm in my school. It aims to prevent students from using bathroom breaks to socialize. Teachers who didn’t enforce this had more class disruptions. This is a classroom management tool.”
The real issue at play here isn’t just bathroom breaks—it’s discipline. Over the years, classroom discipline has been steadily eroded by overly permissive policies and an obsession with “student rights” that often ignore the needs of the class as a whole. Teachers today are increasingly limited in their ability to enforce rules that promote learning and accountability. Offering extra credit for something as simple as staying seated during class may be an imperfect solution, but it’s an attempt to regain control over a challenging learning environment.
Furthermore, the extra credit in question is just that—extra. It’s not a mandatory part of students’ grades, and it doesn’t penalize those who need to use the restroom for legitimate reasons. As one teacher explained in a message shared by Sita, “Extra credit is exactly that: extra. Nobody should be reliant on a few points just to make up a grade.”
Rather than condemning this teacher’s efforts to manage their classroom, perhaps we should be asking why so many students feel entitled to roam the halls during instructional time in the first place. The role of education is to teach not only academics but also self-discipline and responsibility. Offering students an incentive to remain focused in class aligns with that goal.
In a world where education is increasingly watered down, where participation trophies and “safe spaces” have replaced hard work and accountability, it’s refreshing to see a teacher take a stand—even if it’s over bathroom breaks. We need more educators who are willing to push back against the tide of permissiveness and instill the values of discipline, focus, and responsibility in their students.
So, is this bathroom policy really “cruel,” or is it a reflection of a much-needed effort to restore order and respect in the classroom? For many, the answer is clear. It’s time to stop coddling students and start teaching them the importance of self-control. After all, if they can’t handle a simple classroom rule, how will they navigate the real world?
