Where do we stand on girls not being allowed to go to the loo?

[JandamiHash]

DD is 11 in year 7 and I reckon she will be staring her periods soon. Lots of signs and some cramping. Shes really nervous because her lessons are an hour long and they aren’t allowed to go to the toilet. She says everyone is always told no.

My periods were so heavy when I started mine aged 14 that I would have leaked everywhere if my lessons had been any longer than the 35 minutes. Even now when I get my period one days 1 and 2 I need to change sanitary towel at least once an hour.

What is the consensus about this? DD is my eldest so secondary is all new to me. Is this standard? I do get that gen school will have piss takers but do they think about girls in these situations at all?

oh yes it is totally that simple.

I don't think any child should be denied permission to go to the toilet when needed. My ds is often desperate by the time he gets home at 3.30 and admits to not drinking much during the day to avoid needing the loo as the queues at lunch and break time are ridiculous.

Denying permission for personal hygiene care during periods is completely unacceptable.

I am almost in my 69s and wear renal ladies as I cannot always nip to the loo if I have break or lunch duty plus a full teaching day. I often leak if I am not quick enough to go to the loo. Hence the pads. Some children go every lesson and we have no power to stop it but make parents aware. The boys are worse than the girls.

I can't put my finger on why it makes me feel so angry. It's not about feeling embarrassed/shame when disclosing that you are on your period to a teacher.

It's more the fact that you have to give such personal information as a justification to use the toilet and you might have to do this several times a week for months and years of your school life.

It's so invasive/debasing. It also feels like your adding an extra inconvenience to someone who is getting used to functioning while bleeding, uncomfortable, in pain and sometimes experiencing 'period poo' as well. I don't know about anyone else but I am very fatigued and forgetful during my period too and don't retain information/learn well.

I suppose I'd call it a burden of unnecessary disclosure and it feels like a feminist issue to me especially in cases when toilets are physically locked so students can't even walk out if they are truly in dire need.