Or is this PE teacher unreasonable about periods

[BigSandyBalls2015]

DD(15) is doing GCSE PE. Part of this involves 'personal survival' which takes place in local swimming pool.

The school obv need to book this, can't just turn up, but DD queried what would happen if some of the girls had their period at the time. PE teacher (female) replied that they'd obviously have to use a tampon, they can't miss it, can't arrange another day. A few girls told her they didn't use/get on with tampons and she got annoyed saying they'd have to get on with it on the day as no other option.

Teacher is being unreasonable.

Yeah, that's really unreasonable. They need to find a way to accommodate these girls. Lots of people don't use tampons or cups or whatever for lots of reasons. This must be something they've dealt with before, can you contact her and find out what the back up plan is?

The pe teacher is right. Life doesn't and shouldn't stop because of your period.
I don't get on with tampons but will use them to swim with my dc. The girls are likely to have periods for the next 30yrs. They need to learn to deal with them.

Teacher is being unreasonable but I can still name the four girls in my high school who were on their periods for every swimming class and many other PE classes. It must be hellish for teachers to deal with to be honest but I dont know how you get around it.

Yes, I'm with the PE teacher. Periods shouldn't interfere with life, if at all possible.

PE teachers haven't eased up on the sadism since my schooldays, then. I'd drop the subject.

Oh, I'm not sure. I'd like to think no woman would let her period stop her doing anything, so pe teacher's right. I struggled with tampons as a teenager but I managed it when it would gave prevented me doing something that was important to me. OTOH, not sure anyone should be forced. Properly on the fence

Can you imagine trying to arrange something around 30+ girls periods. You would have to get each girl to fill out a questionnaire about when their period was due and how long it lasted to start some kind of flow Chart to monitor it for the best day to go

little I cannot use tampons. I am almost 30. I can deal with my periods fine, but I can't wear a tampon.

Lots of women can't use tampons at all. I'm another who couldn't for years. Does the teacher expect them to physically force tampons up there? Maybe they should just flow free in the pool and see what she reckons.

They don't have to wear tampons. They can just bleed. That's what I do in a pool, I've never worn a tampon. Nothing comes out.

Pe teacher is being massively unreasonable. No one should be told to force something into their vagina to accommodate a lesson or test.

Because that is what she is saying should happen basically.

As harsh as it is, and at the time when i took gcse pe i would have gone on a rant if my teacher said that BUT she took gcse pe..thats what its all about. I did gcse pe years ago and we had to do personal survival in a lake..in south wales, in November. Why should life stop because of a period? I think people now a days including me with my son, are too protective. Unless she is really sick on her period, there isnt an issue. The tampon stops the leaking and then there is no issue. Part and parcel of gcse pe unfortunately

Teacher is bring UR, I can't use tanpons, so would be unable to go in the water, also you cannot force a child to use tampons just because they need to do a lesson.

This is partly why girls stop doing sports as they hit puberty

I agree periods shouldn't stop them from getting on with life. But no woman should be made to use any sort of sanitary product she doesn't want to.

There will likely also be some students off sick for various reasons. Surely they arrange a mop up session for those that can't do the main session?

They shouldn't interfere, but it is unreasonable to insist that teenage girls use tampons. I couldn't use them at that age as I was still a virgin and they just wouldn't go in.

I remember our PE teacher saying the same thing when she wanted us to attend a swimming gala. She was really shouty about it. It was one of the few times our mothers stood up for us.

The PE should be more understanding, imo. Not all women and girls get on with tampons, especially not teenagers.

I think she is being unreasonable.

Of course she is being unreasonable. Aside from anything else, what if there are girls who cannot use tampons for cultural reasons?

If they can't miss it and they can't book another day, what is the teacher supposed to do?

Mooncup?

I could never manage them until after I'd lost my virginity (not for want of trying different brands and spending hours in the bathroom trying to follow the instructions in the leaflet). Not sure what the PE teacher expects the girls to do.

What do you think girls who are serious swimmers do? They don't not train for a week every month.

Vile teacher, stupid subject, I would just drop it. GCSE PE is a useless qualification in any case.