[/floatl]Asahi: Old-fashioned toilets a new challenge for children
Teachers and staff at kindergartens, daycare centers and elementary schools nationwide are taking on the task of toilet training youngsters, many of whom are unable to use traditional Japanese-style squat toilets. While Western-style seat toilets have become prevalent in most homes and public washrooms, when it comes to schools, the squat toilet continues to be the dominant fixture, thus, the need for special courses in relieving one's self. "You only need to roll your pants down to your knees," said a 30-year-old nurse at Tsukide daycare center in Kumamoto, as she gently gave instructions to a child from outside a toilet cubicle... Staff first noticed something was wrong about 10 years ago, as lines started to form in front of the Western-style toilets, while the Japanese toilets had few takers. Then, when the children did use the squat toilet, the sight was often not a pretty one, as children would squat facing the wrong end of the toilet, or would sit inside the basin. Some could not get themselves to squat properly over the basin and ended up missing the target, while others, out of desperation, would attempt to relieve themselves of solid waste at the urinal...more...
