Ladies only question...Help!!!!

[snowball22]

To all the ladies on the board. My dd who is almost 11 goes to a new school. She is in fifth grade. Well her "monthly visitor started" last month. We have since come to realize that the school has no trash cans in the bathrooms. She can not throw away anything that she "needs" to and sneaks the items back into the lunch room to throw them away there. I told her to just leave them on the floor and she said that was disgusting. I have mentioned this twice to the principal. The principal said that she would get some trash cans. I told her that dd was not the only one with this "visitor"and that if she did not get the trash cans that I would tell dd to flush the darn things down the toilet. Well it is about a month later and time for the "visitor" to return. There are still no trash cans. Should I just go to the store and buy some trash cans or plastic wastebaskets and put them into the stalls myself? I would love dd to flush them down the toilet and flood the school since the principal does not care. I know that dd will not do this. Should I call the school board? Should I yell at the principal again? Please, I need all your suggestions.

 

[Serena]

Yell at the principal and then the school board. This is ridiculous for the girls not to have trash cans in the bathroom. I wouldn't have her flush them, the problems that would cause would only embarrass her, along with throwing them on the floor.

In the mean time, how about carrying a small lunch sack to put her trash in and throw it away at the first opportunity. I suggest the principals trash can, the one right by her desk.

I would normally assume a female would be a lot more understanding of the situation.

 

[MosMom]

I would just keep calling her and tell her that you want trash cans in there so your daughter doesn't have to risk embarrassment! Frankly, I think it is gross to think that girls are having to throw away pads/tampons in trash cans that others think are just waste paper baskets. They need to get trash cans in the restrooms for hygiene purposes if nothing else! Geesh! If the principal ignores you again, I would speak with someone from PTO/PTA. I wouldn't get nasty right away though, the principal may have put in an order for them but it taking some time for approval/ordering/etc.

 

[smiley]

I don't think yelling helps in many situations, especially not this one. Obviously the principal is not very sensitive to your (and many others) situation. I think if you sent an e-mail to the principal with a cc to the school board you may get some action.

Perhaps start with a line something like "Regarding our previous discussion..." Then include the information discussed as well as what your daughter has been doing with her garbage. State the facts as far as there still being no waste bins. You may also want to discuss the fact about the humility your daughter faces having to covertly dispose of her used feminine products.

Finally, ask when they are planning on installing some type of waste receptical inside the girls bathroom stalls. Request a reply.

I truly believe they will respond in a positive manner. If they don't, take all of your information to a school board meeting and discuss the matter at the meeting.

Most of all. GOOD LUCK.

P.S. keep us posted

 

[jamsmom]

I can't imagine that there are no trash cans. This is not something new that females have every month.

I would discuss it with the principal again.

 

[Michelle]

Do they not have REGULAR trash cans in the bathroom to throw away paper towels after washing their hands??? YUK, if they don't even have paper towels for the girls, that is disgusting.

Elementary schools need to understand that girls are maturing earlier these days and they need to make sure that bathrooms are equipped to handle their needs.

I would definitely take it up the chain to make sure they have trash cans in the bathroom. Good luck!

 

[Serena]

Ok, you all are right, yelling at the principal wouldn't accomplish anything. But, would definitely speak with her again.

 

[Saffron]

This is just too strange!

I would make a visit to the Building Supervisor or Head Custodian/Janitor before go to see the prinicpal. They have all the supplies. They can tell you if they have some available or if they need to be ordered. Maybe they have some available and they'll just put some in the bathroom for you. Then I would visit the principal again. If you don't get satisfactory action from the principal/building supervisor immediately, go straight to the PTA AND the school board until they do something about this.

Until things get straightened out, I think Serena has a very good suggestion about the paper bag.

What do the kids do with the paper towels they use?

 

[amid chaos]

Tell your DD to take her personal trash to the principals office trash can! You know, the one that sits UNDER the desk?

Yes, that IS what we would all LIKE to do but I think that would embarrass your DD.

This is a totally unacceptable situation which the principal has put you and your DD in.

time to make some waves...

 

[Wishydoo]

Sometimes the schools remove anything that isn't nailed down in the restrooms, because of the vandalism by a very few students.
I know schools that have even removed the doors to the stalls for awhile.
It's a shame and so not fair to the kids that are respectful of the school property.
I'm sorry your daughter and others are caught in this predicament.

 

[JohnTBap]

There are little containers especially for this purpose that affix to the side of each stall available. I can't IMAGINE this.

I like the idea about the email to the principal with the CC to the Admin building.

For those of you wondering how they manage without trash cans for paper towels, they probably have hand dryers.

Best of luck to you!

 

[kendall]

I agree, a written request to the principal, cc the superintendent and School Board president. Your concerns are well-founded - daughter's privacy, humility, physical disposal in a safe manner - I would pressure this point in particular - the safety of all students. You recognize the potential to clog the plumbing, and simply depositing on the floor is quite unsanitary as well. Wrapping in toilet paper and throwing away by the sink trashcans is an option - however if the school has electric hand dryers, there may not be any available. This sounds like the case since your DD has to dispose of in the cafeteria.

Ask the principal what the school's "blood born pathogen policy" is - there is legislation and policy that exists for the handling of blood and blood-soaked products. THAT question will get some attention. Every school in Michigan has a policy, and there has to be adequate attention to potential exposure to blood in the school and the subsequent disposal of any blood-soaked item.

Ask the principal how the middle and high schools handle the disposal of sanitary products.

There is no reason why wall-mounted disposable containers can't be placed in the bathroom.

Perhaps the principal doesn't want to deal with the education issues and questions that will arise from the younger students once the trash cans are in place.....

It is so hard to imagine an unresponsive administration..... Unbelievable....

 

[deirdrefitch]

I suggest that you first send a typed letter to the principal advising of the situation. Be specific with dates that you made contact with her, and the outcome she advised you that would take place. With this having been stated, then advise that you are taking your grievance to the next level which is to contact the school superintendant. Call and make an appointment to talk to this official. Be calm, but specific about the problem, outcome you need to resolve issue, and young ladies feelings about this issue.
If this does not help, go to the school board, and involve other mothers whose children are having similar problems. Schools do not like publicity issues. In reserve, thinking about the embarrassment your daughter may feel, consider letter to editor in local newspaper. This works around here! You can also stress that this is a health issue. Any body fluids or contaminated products should be carefully be discarded in a sanitary manner ensuring the health of others in this purblic restroom. Health department should also be considered in backing this issue.

 

[pegasusEH]

You daughter has enough to cope with at the moment without having to worry about dealing with the disposal of sanitary products. Your dauther's school seems to be completely out of touch.

I don't know whether it will help at all but my mother taught me to split a towel length-ways to make it flushable. If no bin were provided, I would flush it - regarless of the consequences. Perhaps it would make your daughter's school open its eyes!

 

[mum4jenn]

You could also get in contact with the Health Dept. I believe it is a LAW that covered recepticals are required for each stall.

 

[snowball22]

Thanks everyone. There are no paper towels as the kids use hand dryers for their hands. I think I will e-mail her and ask her what the local health department would think of this situation. You all are wonderful as usual. Thanks!!!!! I will let you know what happens.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I suggest sending her to the Teacher's lavatory. There's got to be female teachers in the building cycle regularly. Sending her to the the school office with her trash would serve as a wakeup call. Or, if the school won't resolve the problem- keep her home those days.