Girls, periods, school swimming lessons.....

uolypool

When my daughter started her monthlys I emailed the school and explained the situation and they informed the the pe staff , the female pe teacher had a quiet word with her and said to just tell her in future and she would inform the teacher necessary. We have not had any problems since with this ,he is actually a really understanding bloke she has said and tells her to go and get a female member of staff to let her into the pe staffroom to curl up on the sofa in there if she is in pain as there is always a member of staff in there to supervise her .Many a cup of tea and a biscuit she has had in there with the pe department.

peachyprice

aliasojo wrote: »

Thanks all. csh, I like that suggestion, I may write that in future notes.

Well we compromised. I explained it probably wasn't a good idea to tell a lie about what was really wrong with her so she agreed we should tell the truth but we've addressed the note to the female class assistant teacher rather than 'Sir'. I explained in the note she was feeling a bit embarrassed about it all which is why we addressed the note to her particularly.

Well done, I think it was for the best.
Hopefully from now on if she says 'I'm not swimming today Sir, I've given a note to Miss TA' he'll know exactly what she means without having to broadcast it to the whole class.

adadme

Tell the truth to your teacher!

aliasojo

I take it you're just trying to up your post count adadme? What flavour will we be getting treated to.....ordinary spam, currried spam, spam fritters? :D

Apricot

I know its embarrasing for your daughter but I often found male teachers to be more sympathetic (or just too scared to talk about periods so they agreed to anything). I clearly remember my female PE teacher loudly telling a girl that "you should be using tampons at your age - no excuses!" and so I would always give my letters to the head of PE (male) and he would inform the teacher so I didnt even bother going to the lesson, I just used to sit in the library for the hour.

aliasojo

princessleah_ wrote: »

....... so I didnt even bother going to the lesson, I just used to sit in the library for the hour.

I wish they allowed the kids to do that here. The swimming pool is a walk away so the whole class walks there and the girls have to sit at the side of the pool whilst the rest swim.

It's pretty obvious why they aren't joining in and the boys tend to take the mick.

Makes more sense to me to allow the girls who can't swim, to say behind at the school and either read or help out in younger classes.

Make-it-3

I know your daughter is worried about her teacher knowing, but her peers will ask too, why one week every month she isn't participating in swimming.

I wonder if it would be easier for her if she gave tampons a try. Get her the smallest size and allow her to try them in her own time, then if she gets on with them she doesn't have to feel left out at all or have to explain herself.

bonty44

I remember my Mum going in to see my teacher when I started my periods at the age of 9; he came over to have a lovely 'little chat' with me ... NOT!!! I have never been so embarassed in my life!!!

Karate

Are swimming lessons during the whole year, or are they a 6week block or similar? If they are over the course of the whole year I would probably put the real reason down, or write 'will not be taking part' and then phone in to discuss, as then as it would be a recurring thing the school won't take issue with it. Otherwise I would simply put 'unable to take part' as another poster suggested. I would also ensure your daughter does not have her swimming costume/towel etc with her either.

I remember being in primary school, we would have been around 10, and the (female) teacher made a comment to a girl, after reading a note from the parents. I can't remember what the comment was, but I remember the girl went bright red and we all knew why!! So I would take your daughters concerns into consideration as she will know her teacher well and how they might react to such a letter.

escortg3

My daughter started her monthlys in junior school and she insisted on using tampons for sport and swimming. I thought she was to young but the info she was given at school said they can be used at any age.

So thats what she used and didnt miss out on anything.:T