To expect school to respect privacy wishes of 9 year old?

[streetlife70s]

Hi, not a first time poster with a weird first time post but a briefly returning flouncer needing a little perspective please.

Like a lot of families we have discussed bodily autonomy, consent etc at home and both kids schools have done the same in recent months (DD9 and DS11) with targeted lessons on these topics.

From around the age of 7 both kids started to cover up more around us, asked for privacy in bathroom etc etc and we took our cue from them and did the same (so far so normal right?)

DD is not 'ashamed' of her body any more than me or DH are before anyone says that, but that doesn't equate to lack of privacy. So for example, when we go swimming as a family I don't have a problem with how I look in a cossie but I always get changed in a cubicle.

DD 9 has said this morning she no longer wants to use the communal changing rooms at school swimming because she wants to get changed in private. There are no private cubicles and she says she finds it too difficult to get changed single handedly holding a towel.

Her words were, "so how come I have the right to be private at home and when we go swimming as a family but then a teacher can tell me tell me to get my clothes off in front of a bunch of other kids at school?"

Errrm, not sure how to handle this one. I asked her to go and speak to her teacher before swimming about how she feels. I don't want to be 'that' parent expecting special treatment for DD but equally, in one lesson she has been taught about having rights over her body which trumps the rights of teachers, family etc and on the other hand are we saying "no, if you're told to get undressed in front of people and you feel uncomfortable you shouldn't because that's silly / they are all girls / a teacher says so / there is nowhere else?"

How would you handle this? (expecting perhaps call from school later)

[treaclesoda]

I don't know the answer but I agree. I think that it's not ok for children to be forced to undress in front of their classmates if they feel uncomfortable.

[ssd]

I'd totally stick up for her and tell the school this isnt acceptable

[FacelikeaBagofHammers]

Slightly off topic, but get her one of those towels that velco closed around her neck so she can get changed underneath.

[lurkingnotlurking]

It would take a very long time to get a whole class changed if private facilities had to be made available to everyone. But have a word with the teacher to see if they can help?

[Twoevils]

Not sure what the answer is, but we have some hooded towels that have poppers down the sides. My daughter prefers to use them when changing for swimming lessons. Got them from Decathalon.

[CMOTDibbler]

Get her a changing poncho - if there's no cubicles, the school can't change that, but a towelling poncho will let her change underneath

[SloeSloeQuickQuickGin]

There aren't 30 helpers so how could you keep an eye on the whole class if they are all in different cubicles?

FWIW - I think your daughter has a valid point.

[SheSparkles]

I’m with treaclesoda, I don’t know what the answer is for your dd, ut in the long term I believe that children should have the facility to change in private without it being an issue, but that will only come with a huge financial cost

[RhiWrites]

I hated this aspect of school sports. It thoroughly put me off. I think she should have the right to change in private. (Although now as an adult I just whip it all off in changing rooms.)

Agree with the suggestion of a special towel. I know my friend has one which is like a cross between a towel and a kaftan.

[ScarletSienna]

I agree with you entirely. I’m not sure how it could be achieved-our pool only has one cubicle for example.

[MaudAndOtherPoems]

I agree with your daughter, but there probably aren't enough cubicles and enough staff to shepherd the children in and out of them for that to be an option. Speak to the teacher, but the Decathlon tent towel is probably your best option.

[Sirzy]

It’s a hard one from schools POV as they are often limited to the available space for School swimming changing. They also often need to take into account the members of the public will also want to be using the changing facilities

[Thingywhatsit]

Totally get where she is coming from - do a search for a a beach robie - lots of surfers etc use them. Basically a towel with a hood and arm holes, the sides are joined up so gives privacy to change. That will solve the initial problem - just not the conflicting privacy issues......

They are a bugger to dry in the winter if you don't have a tumble dryer but they are good. Think I paid £30ish for my sons last one but it was branded so you can probably get a cheaper one.

[RhiWrites]

Link to changing towel: amzn.to/2A2nsnF

[RhiWrites]

It's not really safeguarding, is it? It's space. Schools don't usually have individual cubicles.

[Twitchingdog]

If you daughter wants private area at school . I think you need to go with class to supervise her .

[TheViceOfReason]

Bollocks communal changing is for safeguarding - it's because it is cheaper to install.

My school many many years ago had individual cubicles - and individual showers (albeit with curtains rather than doors). One of the (female) PE teachers would stand in the middle of the changing room - so no risk of anyone being cornered in a cubicle, someone opening the shower curtain etc.

Result was it also being QUICKER as everyone wasn't trying to change under towels etc.

It is ridiculous in this day and age and actually i would be THAT parent and make the point that we cannot teach children about privacy and bodily autonomy, then insist they change in front of their peers. Bollocks to that.

[RavenWings]

I'd totally stick up for her and tell the school this isnt acceptable

And your solution for this is?

I'm not sure what you expect the school to do about it. It's a logistical and child protection issue - you can't send children off to all change in private cubicles, and adequately supervise that.

Not sure what speaking to the teacher is supposed to achieve. Buy one of those special towels as suggested above, or go supervise her changing yourself in a private cubicle if it really impacts you.

[ownedbySWD]

My ds hated getting changed for pe for this very reason. He was in year four when he stared refusing to change in front of his classmates. Fortunately for him, there was a toilet block attached to the classroom so his teachers allowed him to change in there. He is much happier with the cubicles in secondary school.

I agree with your DD but there aren't any easy solutions. The towel idea is good.

[Lethaldrizzle]

I would tell her all the practical reasons listed above! Home and school are two different environments.

[RavenWings]

Ah ok @vice, so apparently the school needs to independently remodel the swimming pool (I'm presuming it's a public pool and they don't own it?) to cater for a minority of parents. Got it. That's not an unreasonable request at all...

Have you ever actually gone as staff to school swimming? It takes a long time to get them all changed and ready. Meanwhile, you've to watch the ones who are ready and keep them safe. Having the one communal area does make it much easier to supervise and remind kids to pick up belongings.

[RB68]

When we went swimming as kids with school we all had our own cubicle - well we shared and one stood outside wile other got decent then swapped and you took it in turns week in/out as to who first etc.

It is not right to make them all change in a group and her logic is infallible!!

[RB68]

I might try a poncho first though