"CHILDREN as old as five are being sent to school in nappies because their parents cannot be bothered to toilet-train them.
The problem has become so widespread that Education Queensland is drawing up a toilet-training fact sheet amid calls from teachers' groups that nappy-wearing children be banned from attending school.
With the introduction of the prep year, children as young as 4½ are starting full-time schooling - a situation that has fuelled the explosion in nappies in the classroom.
Teachers believe the increasing use of full-time day care also has promoted a culture where it is normal for three and even four-year-olds to wear nappies.
Most children are usually toilet trained between two and three years.
Education Queensland would not say how many children were arriving at schools in nappies citing "privacy concerns".
But the Parents and Citizens Council said it was an issue affecting "dozens" of prep classes in the state, and it had been inundated with complaints from parents.
State School Principals Association president Norm Hart has written to Education Queensland, citing concerns that the problem could result in litigation - with teachers possibly accused of molestation.
"Toilet training is a parental responsibility and not something that should be taught at school," Mr Hart said.
"There are increasing concerns for staff members about the risk of litigation that may arise from toileting, washing and dressing students."
Parents and Citizens Council president Margaret Black said: "How parents choose to toilet-train their children is up to them, but they need to train them before they get to school.
"Other children do notice if a child is wearing a nappy and they will tease someone for it."
An Education Queensland spokeswoman did not want to comment on whether the department would be taking action to ban nappy-wearers from classrooms."
Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23970216-421,00.html
This popped up on NSG a little while ago. Your thoughts?