The girl was forced to sit in bloody underwear during school. Photo / Getty
The girl was forced to sit in bloody underwear during school. Photo / Getty
A UK mother has been left fuming after her 11-year-old daughter was forced to sit in class with blood-soaked clothes, all because her teacher refused to let her use the bathroom when she got her first period.
According to the distraught 11-year-old, the teacher said she'd need a toilet pass to allow her to use it during lessons, but she could only get one if she had a doctor's certificate.
Her mum has slammed Hastings Academy, saying the incident has left her daughter feeling anxious and embarrassed.
"I cannot see why I am paying £15 for my daughter to use the toilet for something that is no fault of her own," the mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told media.
"It's her first proper period and it started on the Saturday. It was quite a lot.
According to the girl's mum, two female members of staff then asked what medication her daughter was going to take to lighten the flow.
"I said I did not agree with giving my daughter something to stop something which is natural being a woman," the mother said. She's at school on time every day, fully prepared, in full uniform, smart, presentable and she's doing everything the school asks and they can't give her that bit of leeway."
Teachers at Hastings Academy, UK, demanded a doctor's note before allowing the young girl to have a toilet pass. Photo / Google Maps
A school spokesperson has since apologised to the 11-year-old and her mother saying they are "extremely sorry for the upset caused to the student and her family" and "students' welfare is our paramount concern".
The spokesperson said the school has a practice of issuing toilet passes and the system was introduced to avoid the abuse of toilet breaks during lesson time.
In New Zealand, one Auckland school in September told its students they are not allowed to go to the toilet during class time.
Lynfield College, in Mt Roskill, introduced a new rule that no student is to leave class to use the bathroom facilities or to get a drink.
A notice was posted on the school's Schoology page - an app that allows teachers to post notices about assignments and the likes, to inform and communicate with students.
"There is to be NO LEAVING CLASS FOR TOILET OR DRINK BREAKS,'' the note read.
"There is enough time in between class and at interval and lunch to use the bathroom and have a drink. There is no need for you to leave class to do this.
"Be responsible for managing your time better at breaks to take care of these needs.''
Principal Cath Knell acknowledged that the new rule came about due to several students claiming to want to use the bathroom repeatedly during class time.
"Over the past couple of weeks, we have had some students interrupt this preparation time by distracting others from their learning.
"A number of these students have been using the excuse of 'needing a drink' or 'needing to use the toilet' as their reason for being out of class.
"As we want all our students to be able to do their very best in their assessments, we appealed to staff at briefing this morning to encourage students to use facilities between classes, during intervals or lunch times - unless in the case of urgency - so they minimise the disruption to their own learning and the learning of others.''
In August students from a Northland school were disgusted to find security camera installed in their high school toilets.
The two surveillance cameras were fitted in the Year 9-11 girls' and boys' toilets at Tauraroa Area School.
Principal Grant Burns said, in an email seen by the Herald, the cameras were mistakenly fixed inside the toilets rather than at their entrances where they would have overlooked a nearby area containing student lockers.
"I have already let a number of staff, parents and students know this. Steps have already been put in place to remedy this."
