Hello mamas
Just wanted to get your opinions. We live in Northern California where it is still actually pretty warm right now. Last week my seven-year-old daughter said their PE teacher made them run the track when it was 90° In the mid afternoon sun with zero shade on the track. There is another place in the school where it is shady and she could've had them do some other kind of activity. Many of the kids told her it was too hot. she told them basically that she was the teacher and she says what to do. The irony of all this is that my daughter said the PE teacher stood in the shade the whole time she was ordering them to run the track in the hot sun. I completely disagree with this and I told the principal. I complained because on another PE day the teacher did not allow my daughter to go to the bathroom and she Peed her pants. What do you think about the temperature and running the track? Not letting a kid go pee is unacceptable.
So the consensus is that 90° is not too hot for running the track although it's definitely not pleasant . It is clear to me that we are definitely weather wimps here in Nor Cal! LOL! Yes I would not last a moment inmany other places. Practice in 120 degrees ! Wow! I do believe though that your body acclimates to your climate and 90 is hot for us wimps 😅. Some people mentioned that the PE teacher should be educating the kids to stay well hydrated. My daughter says she doesn't say anything about it. she allows them certain times in the class to go get water if they want it. but that's all .
In regards to not letting her go to the bathroom when she asked two times, I emailed the principal and said that was unacceptable . She was very sorry and said that they did not deny kids bathroom breaks but they dio try to keep it to a minimum of one bathroom visit during the 30-40 minute PE class unless there's a medical reason. Fair enough, but I explained that she was not allowed to go at all even when she told the teacher the second time that she had to go very badly. She says she is going to speak with the PE teacher. To answer some of the other questions, she didn't have an accident. She started getting the urge to go she asked permission it was denied . She waited for a period of time and trying to hold it then asked again and this time said she had to go very badly and the teacher said 'sorry honey you can't go to the bathroom during PE class'. She wore the urine soiled clothes until I picked her up from school and brought her home because she did not tell anybody she wet herself because she was too embarrassed. Somebody made a good suggestion and that is to have the teacher tell everybody to go before the class starts and I'm going to strongly suggest that to the principal. They are still young and need reminding and support!
I did already suggest to my daughter to go just before the class begins and she said the PE teacher doesn't like them to go right before class because then they will miss part of it . That needs to change . In general Her school is really great. teachers are all very caring people . This PE teacher just started this year and I think she may be a new teacher in general because she looks quite young .
Thanks for all your feedback
I work out in 90 degree weather, and I'm in my 50's. As long as she lets them drink plenty of water, I think it's fine.
You would never last here in Florida. The kids here are outside all the time and it not only gets hot, but we do get humidity (not all the time). I don't see this as a problem as long as the kids were allowed to have water right after.
I would think that the teachers would allow the children to use the restroom before going outside for PE, if they are near the restroom then there is no reason for the child to have to hold it in.
My kids were in marching band all 4 years of high school in Texas. They started practicing in July, again in Texas! 100+ degrees with humidity on asphalt. Yeah, not fun. Running in 90 degrees won't hurt her.
Now, the bathroom thing is a problem. Honestly, I can't imagine a teacher not letting a kid go to the bathroom. Are you sure she asked or did she wait too long and had an accident? It happens.
Heh. I didn't run in school and I don't run now unless I'm being chased. When I was a kid we'd run (walk! lol) laps in hotter than 90 degrees, so that part seems irritatingly par for the course in some PE classes. I don't like it, but I can't say it is abnormal.
A kid peeing her pants because she couldn't get a bathroom pass is not okay.
I find nothing wrong with running the track, 90 is not that hot at all. Yes, she may have felt sweaty, but she was in zero danger. If it was over 100 I could see taking issue with it, but 90 is a beautiful CA day. Now, the not allowing a bathroom break is wrong, and I hope that when you had to bring her fresh cloths you took the issue with with the principal.
We played outside all day every day during the summer in heat well over 90 degrees. A few laps around the track isn't going to do them any harm.
Yes, they can exercise when it's 90. There's no reason not to. They should be told to hydrate beforehand (not a super ton of water though - makes it tough to run without getting a stomach ache) and then tons of hydration afterwards. And they should be getting lessons in sufficient water drinking (not juice or soda) as part of general health info that's included in PE.
Not being able to pee? Unacceptable especially on the 2nd request and especially under the age of 9. And from 10 on, girls especially should be able to go to the restroom as needed due to early onset of menstruation in so many kids. Plus there are kids with digestive issues now. I think any good teacher can tell which kids are abusing the bathroom privilege to get out of their responsibilities. And I think a "go before we start" policy is a good one - no different than "go before you leave for the bus" or "before we leave on a car trip." Be sure you put the complaint in writing - don't embellish, but "just the facts." Date, time (or class period), child's name, teacher's name, and specifics on how she wet her pants (don't use slang like "peed her pants" even though of course it's fine for conversation or Mamapedia), and what was required for her to change into clean clothes. You can mention that she was embarrassed or humiliated or whatever is appropriate and accurate, and indicate whether she had a change of clothes (if so, where was it stored?) or whether she had to wear some spare hand-me-downs kept by the nurse or classroom teacher or whatever the resolution was.
While I think you have a legitimate beef with not going to the bathroom (totally unacceptable), running in 90 degrees is fine. My kids play lacrosse well into June and some years, it gets into the 90s and they're out there practicing or playing for 1-2 hours in pads and helmets. Likewise, when football starts up in August they have conditioning for 2.5 hours a day, 4 days a week. If it's really hot, they just drink more water.
Exercising in the heat will not hurt anyone, as long as they properly hydrated. The kids would need to replace fluids sweated out during the class. The teacher would need to allow the kids to have a water bottle drink the water at the end of class.
My daughter and family live in Galveston TX, all 3 boys are in football and baseball, they played or practiced in 120* weather with high humidity.
As far as a teacher not allowing a student to use the restroom, I would file a formal complaint with the school board.
I live in Fort Lauderdale. Our elementary school does not have a gym so PE is held on blacktop (basketball court area). If we didn't have PE when it was 90, than our first day of PE this year would be today:) Not a problem, just keep them hydrated and watch for signs of heat exhaustion.
The teacher probably doesn't stand out in the sun, because she is teaching classes outside all day and her doctor told her that is too much sun exposure.
Maybe it would be too hot if they are at an all day track meet in the sun, but for a PE class l wouldn't be concerned. As for the teacher standing in the shade, she probably had classes outside all day, plus, heat is a lot harder on adults than it is on kids.
As for her peeing her pants, teachers should let kids use the washroom. There may be more to the story. Have you talked to the teacher?
Running in 90 degree weather is normal.
The pee thing is not normal or ok.
I live in South Texas my kids love a cool 90 degree day.
All our kids are required to "try" and use the restroom on the way to PE because there is no restroom close to the outdoor equipment. And the doors lock...so the coach would have to stop class and walk the kid back to the building a physically let them inside with a key. ALL the kids know they cannot use the restroom at PE.
I agree with you. If there is another way for the kids to get exercise with shade, I am all for that.
I get that it's all relative to where you live. In DC, 90 isn't too hot to run the track for a bit, but they must get bathroom and water breaks. I would NOT be okay with that. Does it not normally get to 90 where you are? If not, then it might be too hot for what you guys are accustomed to.
I would make sure that my kiddo understood about water and that they need to go to the bathroom while on the way to PE or when putting on their shoes for PE or some moment in there. Or ask her home room teacher before PE if she can go to the bathroom.
I'd also be on the teacher for this. How could she NOT notice your child had pee clothes on? How could she not smell it? Our kids teachers would have noticed right off.
If the humidity, heat index, was high I'd say that the kids didn't need to be outside doing hard work in the sun and heat. If it's below 40 degrees and the wind chill is low I think the same thing. I can often go out in 40 degree weather and do stuff without a coat but you put wind with that? And I'm shaking in my boots and coat and rice bags warming me up.
Talk to the home room teacher and let her know there's a problem and see if they'll change their time moving into PE time. Have a mass exodus to the bathroom on the way to the PE class. Stop at the drinking fountain and everyone fill up on water. Make sure they all have water bottles and fill them before they go to PE>
The home room teacher can fix a lot of this if they work on it.
I tend to think yes and no... I say this because every person is different and schools keep doing what they have been doing for years, which is herd them in, teach them all the same way, herd them out.. there is no room for anyone to learn and do things differently... same goes with PE.. kids are expected to get out there and be like everyone else. sorry to say, not everyone is built the same way and those goes for how much sun/heat people can tolerate.. it's just who the person is... I think the coach should have assessed the teacher should have done a better job assessing the situation... I go to the community college and during hot days, the classrooms get super hot, therefore the teacher takes students outside... the same should apply here, too hot to constantly run, then why not do a couple laps in the sun, then do some strength training, push ups or stretches in the shade... there is more to running than running itself, any good runner will tell you that..
I believe in disciplining oneself, but these children are 7 years old.. PUHLEEZE... I think the teacher should be more flexible... and when people say, their children play in hotter weather,ok I get that.. people also train in below zero weather too.. but any good athlete would tell you, they didn't just start out that way, they approached it slowly and methodically.... same goes for training in extreme temperatures, by that I mean, a temperature that your body is not accustomed to... 90 is hot for northern cal..... in other places, that is a cake walk... again, kids need a chance to get acclimate..
i would not be ok with making them run a hot track in 90 degrees. activities in the shade should of been planned.
not letting the child pee. unacceptable. and makes me wonder, if they are not allowed to pee are they allowed to go get a drink?
I also thought 90 degrees is too hot for 7 year olds, but I guess we really are weather wimps in California.
As long as they have access to bathrooms and water? I don't have a problem with it. 90 degrees in your area is dry heat. Here in Georgia? It's humidity and heat together? no fun.
Not allowing access to the bathrooms? That would NOT work for me. I would have a meeting with the teacher and the principal. If it happened again? PTA and School board.
