To think scouts isn't the place

[Crockof]

Scouts on Thursday, 24 boys and two girls. They spent the whole night talking about periods, showing tampons and towels playing period related games. Aibu to think this is not appropriate, as a girl I would be mortified. There was no advanced warning. Had they spoken about boy puberty as well I would be less concerned

Melissasummerfield

I think it’s great for boys to learn about periods but frankly teenagers can be awkward, easily embarrassed, mean people.

I think the lesson would’ve been better in a boy only space.

To talk about being a woman without prebubesant boys giggling?? @WorraLiberty. Teach boys but not at the expense of the girls

This shows us why we need open discussion on topics - so it isn’t seen as secret or shameful or hidden.

I think it's an excellent idea.

I wish it was taught at school from reception onwards so periods become totally accepted and understood by both sexes.

Wasn't the Samaritans founded because a girl killed herself because she didn't know what the bleeding she had was?

I think it’s great that your scout group did this. Ds’s scout group is more than 50% female, I think giving them this knowledge is very important. As a previous poster said every one of those boys has a woman in their life, or will have, that had periods

Does sound rather strange. My son goes to a brilliant scout group - lots of team activities, outdoor activities etc. They are very good at communicating with parents on FB about what they are doing every week and about upcoming activities. Surely parents should have been told about this in advance - the leaders must have planned it. Then scouts and parents could have decided for themselves if they wanted to attend. I really don't think scouts is the place for this to be discussed - school and home seem best.

Do the people saying that this is great have sons? Totally mad if you ask me.

I expect my dc to learn practical skills like first aid, map reading and cooking, to hike, camp, and do other outdoor activities in Scouts. Things they don't learn in school. I expect them to learn about puberty in school.

oys were going to scouts, they were made to be more inclusive“
““Boys were going to scouts, they were made to be more inclusive“

Not true. Scouts and Guides were both given the choice to go mixed or stay single sex. Guides chose to stay single sex. Scouts, due to falling numbers of both young people and leaders opted for mixed. And numbers rose. So the movement survived.

I m a cub leader.. that's not in our programme

I saw the (male) leader post about this in a Scout Facebook page today.

I felt it was equally inappropriate, a male leader forcing 2 teenage girls into that position.

I'm trying and failing to see what the problem is.

It's good to demystify puberty from a variety of sources. Scouts may be able to open up and find out more in front of a different audience to their classmates.

A different generation and culture, but DH was educated by priests which left him with massive gaps in his knowledge of biology. Males do need to know about it as it will indirectly affect them.

I very much doubt this actually happened

@Crockof where did I say Scouts taught my son about periods?

I have a very open relationship with my boys about puberty and growing up (well, apart from DS3 but he's 7 months old so still time) and DS1 had already been taught about periods at home with resources (once a teacher always a teacher). However, reinforcing learning in a different environment is always good and is a way of making them see from a different POV - and someone other than Mum is always good to hear stuff some.

I would like a very UMNetty apology please for your very judgmental and sanctimonious response because I dared disagree with your point of view.

Oh noes, boys and girls learn about life stuff in more than one place.

This is terrible, we must absolutely limit how much they learn and how often and where they learn in case they..learn something.

It's insensitive to the girls. It's all well and good saying how great it is the boys will be knowledgeable and all that, but just the fact there were so few girls and so many boys should have made someone think twice. It would very likely have emberrassed the girls. It would have been different had it been 50:50 in the group.

Maybe I missed this, but who lead the discussion?

For those who saw the male scout leaders Facebook page, what did he say about it?

@TowandaForever - yes! Poor girl

www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/our-history/#

I don't think this is appropriate for Scouts (or Guides) without parents knowing in advance you're going to be talking about.
I'm a Guide Leader myself and have had the discussion with other leaders that we should not cover topics that are over reaching our role.

It's ridiculous. I teach my son about periods - he's 12 and knows all about them. He can ask me anything and does. He's also had all the usual at school.

Are scouts really doing this?

It was lead by the red box project not the scout leaders themselves.

I wonder why they were talking about it in the first place, kids go to school, they have parents - scouting should be fun stuff. In the guides we tied knots, learned to make fires, learned about first aid etc not pshe.

Are most teenagers embarrassed by periods. There's a lot of talk in the media of snapchat and teens sending inappropriate pics to eachother.

It did happen and we were not told in advance. In fact it the email was deliberately vague, it said something important was going to happen and all should attend. If it had been all boys I think it would have been more appropriate, but with such a difference in numbers it does not seem right. I take on board those that think iabu.