http://www.local6.com/education/8764414/detail.html

School Makes Students Use Buckets Instead Of Bathrooms

Principal Wanted To Prevent Student Walkouts

POSTED: 8:26 am EDT April 17, 2006

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- School officials in Inglewood, Calif., said an elementary school principal made an "honest mistake" while trying to prevent student walkouts during immigration rallies.

Angie Marquez imposed a lockdown as nearly 40,000 students across Southern California left classes to attend immigrants' rights demonstrations. But the lockdown didn't allow children to go to the bathroom, forcing them to use buckets in the classroom.

One activist said what happened was "unsanitary, unnecessary and absolutely unacceptable."

Marquez apparently misread the district handbook and ordered a lockdown designed for nuclear attacks.

The district's director of operations, Tim Brown, said Marquez "followed procedure" but "misread" the handbook.

Appalled parents have complained to the school board. Brown said the school district plans to update its emergency preparedness instructions.