Candy Sydney-Browning, a second-grade teacher at Dobbs Elementary School in Atlanta, has created a designated "fart corner" in her classroom, a move that has garnered significant attention on social media. Sydney-Browning established what she calls the "gas station" to allow students to pass gas without disrupting lessons or causing embarrassment.
The setup includes air freshener sprays and a sign indicating the "gusty winds area." Sydney-Browning explained that the corner serves a dual purpose: it prevents interruptions to instruction and normalizes natural bodily functions for young students. Instead of a student needing to ask to leave the room or facing finger-pointing from peers, they can discreetly use the designated space. This approach, she said, allows the rest of the class to remain focused on learning.
Sydney-Browning, who has a sensitive stomach, stated that the corner allows her to manage the classroom environment without interrupting her teaching. "I don’t have to stop teaching in order to say yes. You can go," she told TODAY.com. "The students inside the classroom, they don’t lose any instruction. They can continue to learn. It’s a win-win situation."
The teacher posted a video about the "fart corner" on TikTok, which has since received over 460,000 likes. The concept has drawn a mix of reactions online. Many have praised the idea as "genius" and a way to normalize bodily functions. Some fellow educators have shared similar strategies, with one commenter mentioning having a "fart closet" in their middle school classroom.
However, the idea has also faced skepticism. Some commenters questioned whether the rest of the class could truly remain focused with a student using the corner, while others expressed that they would feel embarrassed by such a setup. The initial video and subsequent footage of the classroom layout have sparked a broader conversation about classroom management and addressing sensitive topics with young students.