School, Swimming, and Periods

[Sausagis]

DD couldn't swim at school today as she has her period. She won't wear tampons etc (fair enough, I don't either), the modibodi bathers are on order.

Her (male) PE teacher got a bit of a strop on and said she should have brought a note, he would allow it this time but next time she would have to swim if no note.

DD is a keen swimmer and fairly well behaved - no reason he should think she is trying it on.

Is this how it works at schools now? I didn't have to present a note back when I was at school - I was just believed. I feel disgruntled on her behalf!

We always had to have notes at school! DD also has to have a note in her planner to say she's off swimming.
That's normal.

I would have thought a note was pretty standard. I've written one for DD before.

Send her with a note op. I imagine she doesn’t want to have to tell her male pe teacher she’s on her period anyway!

Fair enough. I guess my school must have just been unusually understanding about it. I'll write her a couple of notes so she has a stash for when needed

We have to send a note, too.

Unreasonable to need a note. What if she starts her period after she leaves home that morning? My dd doesn't need a note to be excused from PE for her period. I would make a fuss about this.

What if she starts her period after she leaves home that morning?

Then she says "I've started my period unexpectedly."

Notes are probably required because kids take the piss (not just with periods which is why I say "kids"). I've read stories on MN where posters have admitted to "having a period every 2 weeks to avoid PE.

Soupdragon I agree, but she can't do that if she needs a note can she.

I never had to have a note at school - I think they made a mark in the register so that they could see if you were claiming to have a period every week.

I think I'd have faked a note in your DD's situation - but then I was the teenage daughter of a single dad and mentioning periods to him would have been hideously embarrassing.

'She would have to swim if no note' next time is absurd from the PE teacher, though. And what, bleed into the water?

but she can't do that if she needs a note can she.

Of course she can.

I never provided a note for my children. They just told the teacher if they couldn't swim because of their periods.

A teacher demanding a note informing him (or her) of a person's menstrual status is a horrible way to do things! It's bloody well private. In my house we're all very open and honest about periods BUT if DD doesn't wish to share that information with someone then that should be her choice. I suppose if I really had to, I would be writing a note saying "DD is not to take part in PE today." I could do her a few to keep in her bag for when the need arises.
No explanations of her private business at all. But that would, no doubt, go down like a lead balloon.

What's wrong with tampons? (Genuine question as by some mean twist of fate I always seem start my periods whilst on a beach holiday and tampons are my weapon of choice.)

@XelaM I could never use them. Took me until I was 30 and a realisation that tampax don't work for me but other brands do

DD's swim class has a three-classes-free-pass rule, no note required for skipping up to three classes during the semester. After that your grade suffers. She "couldn't" use tampons either but after a couple of months trying she's managed to work them out so it's not an issue any more - I'd encourage your DD to keep trying this as they make life much easier and she no longer has to worry about swim class, holidays etc.

Teachers really can't be expected to keep track of girls' menstrual cycles and without a note being required it would be very easy to exploit the situation and dodge swimming every week.

In Yr7 I had to write a note each time for my daughter but she was so embarrassed she wouldn't let me say she was on her period! She wanted me to say she had a bad knee (which sometimes she did). I had a discreet word with the teacher and told her that I would be writing to say she had a bad knee every month. Teacher said it was fine, just say DD can't swim this week in the letter no need to say why as she knew the reason. DD now in Yr 11 and Ive just realised I haven't written a letter in years so assume DD says herself now (probably still says she has a bad knew)…