A HEAD of sixth form sparked anger at a school after telling girls they were not allowed to call in sick because of their periods. Jackie Watson emailed all Year 12 students at Oxford Spires Academy in Cowley, Oxford, telling them periods are “part of being a woman”. The email was designed to cut back […]
A HEAD of sixth form sparked anger at a school after telling girls they were not allowed to call in sick because of their periods.
Jackie Watson emailed all Year 12 students at Oxford Spires Academy in Cowley, Oxford, telling them periods are “part of being a woman”.
The email was designed to cut back on non-attendance after girls were calling sick with their periods.
It told students that “learning to deal with monthly inconvenience is all part of being a woman”.
Students at the school, however, felt the email was unfair.
One student, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Obviously I have to understand that people cannot take their whole period off each month but that is not what anyone is trying to do.
“Personally, when I am on my period, I experience really painful cramps, meaning I cannot walk without having to be bent double.
“Sometimes, I get so dizzy I pass out or vomit – obviously on these days, I would not consider myself fit to go into school.
“The fact Dr Watson sent the email out to the whole of sixth form as well, including the boys, is just making boys think it isn’t bad and that they shouldn’t be sympathetic.
“I am now quite uncomfortable to think of my next periods and how I will manage them at school, as I’m sure the majority of girls are.”
Any female student asking to be sent home ‘ill’ or phoning in ‘ill’ who has a period will not find this is a suitable excuse.Learning to deal with monthly inconvenience is all part of being a woman, I’m afraid.
Jackie Watson
The email sent out by Dr Watson urged students not to miss out on their education and reminded pupils that painkillers and even heat packs are available from the school matron.
It also read: “Any female student asking to be sent home ‘ill’ or phoning in ‘ill’ who has a period will not find this is a suitable excuse.
“Learning to deal with monthly inconvenience is all part of being a woman, I’m afraid.”
Another student said: “Obviously as women, we must find ways of dealing with this, but occasionally, the pain is too much to handle.
“We understand the motive behind the email, and we don’t want to use our periods as a way to prevent our learning but we feel there is a lack of compassion for what girls experience each month.”
Dr Watson stressed her email was not intended to address the worst case scenarios.
She said: “Anywhere where you work you can’t take two days off for being on your period.
“If it’s just an ordinary period, you should come into school – unfortunately taking that time off is not how society works.
“The email is about attendance, that was simply the point – my slightly tongue-in-cheek way of saying it maybe got to some of the girls, but the email was to get across the message to be in school.”
With regards to sending the email to boys as well as girls, Dr Watson admitted that was a mistake.
“I do think they’re right to be upset about that [the email being sent to boys] and I probably shouldn’t have done that and perhaps it was a bit foolish of me,” she said.
Dr Watson reiterated that painkillers and heat packs are available at the school for girls suffering from period pain, and that the school spends “a huge amount of time supporting students with issues and health-related matters”.
It comes after Scotland yesterday became the first country in the world to pass a bill allowing free period products for all.
The landmark move means girls and women will be able to access tampons and sanitary pads for free in Scotland, bringing an end to period poverty in the country.
The groundbreaking legislation was proposed by Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon, who said: “Period products are essential, and now no-one in Scotland will have to go without them.”
