Children sent to preschool without potty training

The Education Department was forced to issue a reminder yesterday that it was not the job of teachers to toilet train their pupils.

The Bermuda Sun has been told that parents are consistently sending children to preschool, and in some cases to Primary School, without being potty trained hoping that teachers would do their job for them.

Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith said the situation could not continue.

“I am giving adequate notice, five months, to parents, home care providers and guardians to ensure that children are ready and able to participate and function in a school environment.

“We are aware that some children who have been registered for public preschools are not toilet trained.

“Parents must ensure that this situation is addressed before September 2011.

“Toilet training is not a function of Education. Teacher training does not cover this aspect as children aged four and up are expected to start school ready to learn.

“We are aware that the community expects a lot from our teachers and our schools and we accept that responsibility.

“At the same time, parents must ensure that students enter school ready to learn.”

One Government source told us: “There’s a growing number of people sending their children to schools untrained.

“It’s strange but there are a lot of lazy parents out there.

“These are the average kids, they aren’t disabled.

“This shouldn’t be the teacher’s issue.”

“Last year, they had kids in P1 still not potty trained.

“Some parents don’t potty train, they just think toileting comes automatically.

“There are some parents out there who aren’t even training their kids and they think it’s the teachers’ responsibility.

“The numbers are increasing.”