Los Angeles mom Sonia Mongol is outraged after claiming that her 8-year-old's teacher refused to let him go to the bathroom during class in November. Instead, the teacher allegedly gave the boy a different option — one that led to an embarrassing and emotionally scarring incident that has caused the boy to be mercilessly bullied by classmates ever since.
Mongol says her son asked to use the bathroom twice but was denied -- and told to use the trash can at the front of the room if he couldn't hold it.
The little boy waited as long as he could but was eventually forced to walk to the front of the classroom and relieve himself, according to CBS LA.
His mother was — and still is — horrified that her 8-year-old was denied such a basic right, but she is also shocked that he'd be told to expose himself in front of other classmates.
Even more alarming is the claim that he was forced to wear a trash bag over his clothes when he wet himself.
Mongol says that in the process of urinating into the trash can, the 8-year-old accidentally got a little bit on himself. He was then sent to the nurse's office but received "no help." Instead, he was given a black garbage bag to wear over his clothes for the remainder of the day and subsequently shamed by his classmates.
It wasn't until he returned from school that day — still wearing the trash bag — that Mongol learned what had happened.
Mongol took the issue to the school principal first but says she got nowhere. So now, she's taking the matter into her own hands.
Earlier this week, Mongol stood at the steps of Manhattan Place Elementary School, surrounded by supporters, and gave a tearful press conference about the incident. She had gone there in protest to demand the administration take action, but she says she is also taking the matter to the school board for further review.
"Why would you make a child expose himself in front of the classroom and then put a garbage bag over him when he came to you for help?" she declared. "Why would you treat a child that way? He’s a kid.”
In the meantime, the story has been making the rounds on Facebook, where users aren't holding back with their opinions.
Many people on Facebook were outraged, saying that the teacher should be fired immediately and "never be allowed to teach again."
"There needs to be a rule change," added one parent. "If a child needs to go, they can go."
Others gave a virtual fist-bump to the boy's mom, who isn't sitting back idly after she feels an injustice was done.
"I am a very vocal parent when it comes to the welfare of my daughter at school," wrote one woman. "If I’m not happy with something or even how I see another child treated I will speak up. Just let me say if this was my daughters school they would remember me from here on out at that school. Because this mama has a voice and knows how to use it."
According to CNN, the school district is now conducting an investigation.
In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Unified School District said that they are looking into the matter.
"Los Angeles Unified takes all matters concerning the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. Upon learning about this allegation, law enforcement was notified immediately, and we are fully cooperating in the investigation. Los Angeles Unified is also conducting an administrative investigation. Due to confidentiality laws, we cannot offer further details at this time."
