- Republican Senator Douglas R. Welton proposed a bill in Utah, HB331, requiring toddlers to be potty-trained before being admitted to kindergarten.
- The bill responds to increasing instances of untrained children and related health risks and challenges for teachers.
- The proposed legislation includes provisions for verifying toilet training, handling non-trained students, and exemptions for certain conditions.
Republican Senator Douglas R. Welton from Utah has introduced a bill, HB331, stipulating that children must be toilet trained before being admitted to kindergarten.
This proposal comes amid reports of a significant rise in the number of untrained children attending kindergarten, a trend that has been escalating since the pandemic. Teachers across several districts have observed not just an increase in children who are not potty-trained but also a rise in aggression and other uncharacteristic behaviors among young students.
Jennifer Millett, a kindergarten specialist, highlighted the need for diaper changing stations and parental assistance in schools, underscoring the challenges teachers face. Senator Welton expressed concerns over the health risks posed to toddlers and the additional burdens placed on educators. He emphasized that teachers are confronted with liability issues when assisting children with their personal needs, a task that traditionally falls to parents.