My children's school is mental

[Ahardyfool]

I have a more exciting post to type later this weekend about my children's school but the latest is a request (read instruction) for all year 6 pupils to bring a roll on deodorant to school.

Am I silly to let it cross my mind that they may tell us all when to poo next?

[headlesslambrini]

Quite common actually for yr 6 to use roll-ons. Don't see the issue with that.

[Sirzy]

I can only assume they have had some issues with personal hygine, especially in the warmer weather and this was a polite way of encouraging children to use deodorant in school rather than risking alienating individual students

[OutragedFromLeeds]

I've never heard of that before

That does seem crazy!

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

Unfortunately not all parents catch on that their child is growing up and needs to be more aware of their personal hygiene. This is one way to address the issue without individually embarrassing specific children.

Sounds sensible to me.

[EatDessertFirst]

Seems sensible to me. A year-wide thing rather than targeting the pupils that may be a bit whiffy (from hot weather, starting puberty etc).

I don't think its anything to get uppity about.

[Ahardyfool]

Where are the anti deodorant brigade when I need them? Mumsnet used to be full of mooncuppers and using rock things instead of chemicals to deodorise...

[Bonsoir]

Some of the DC in my DD's class were really whiffy on hot days this year (Y5).

[13Stitches]

Oh, please enforce the roll-ons - I've had hoards of teenagers spraying clouds of fumes in my room the last few weeks. I have Bunsen burners, it's an actual hazard!*


(*wild exaggeration)

[Littleturkish]

Not a fan of roll on for kids over here.

What's wrong with letting them get hot and sweaty? At 11 they're still children.

Perhaps the school uniform needs to be better fabrics to not encourage sweating...

[Ahardyfool]

I really should caveat this with the fact that I intensely dislike the school and have submitted an application elsewhere as an in year admission but I did half expect people would agree this is a little prescriptive of the school.

[LostTeacher]

If you walked into a yr 5 or 6 class after school and had to sit there for an hour having a meeting, you'd soon wish that all parents were politely reminded that children of this age are growing and changing!

The people who moan about it are more than likely the ones who the message is aimed at .

[spanieleyes]

Have you been in a classroom full of thirty year six children? Fragrant hardly describes it
Nor is it pleasant for some to be teased because they are slightly more "malodorous" than others.

[KatieKaye]

I get the personal hygiene bit, but why do they have to take it to school? Don't most people put on deodorant 1st thing in the morning? Do year 6,pupils sweat/smell so much they need to reapply during the day?

And why is wrong with stick deodorant?

Very strange. Surely there are better ways to deal with hygiene? Why should a kid who has started puberty be made to use something they don't need?

[isitsnowingyet]

- I've heard it all now. Yes, everyone bring in a roll on deodorant so we can show you how to use it. FFS can they not credit people with any common sense!

Very sensible indeed and completely ridiculous. AGHHH - the Nanny State literally gone bonkers

[CharlesRyder]

Is it an instruction for them all to bring roll on, or is that if they are going to bring deodorant can it please be roll on?

If the latter they ANBU. Boys Lynxing themselves every 10mins in the cloakroom is annoying and unnecessary.

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

Not everyone does have common sense though unfortunately and believe me year 6 classrooms can smell bloody bogging!

[NoonarAgain]

I don't think that's toooo bad Op.

My dd is 9, in year 5 and has the body of an average 7yo. She has been told she has to have sanitary towels in her school bag 'just in case'. I told her that on the basis that her 12.5 yo sister who is well and truly in the middle of puberty hasn't started periods yet, that she's probably ok for the time being! Dd said that the school said that everyone should bring them even if they don't use them as a friend might need them! Maybe the school could keep a little supply instead- what an 'out there ' thought!

[Parietal]

Why do you use 'mental' as an insult? For those struggling with mental health issues, this is not mental. Just odd.

[LEMmingaround]

Parietal - beat me to it. Op what do you mean by mental?

[squizita]

I work in secondary and in year 7 have parents complain we are 'forcing them to grow up too quickly' because the kids have approached staff (appropriately) to ask about body hair and we've chatted to them but also let parents know they've asked. We've even had a girl who covered up her first period because she thought her mum would be ashamed/sad. :(

Also when (and we HAVE to do this as part of CP rules) we notice a child is smelling of BO the school health/pastoral officer (like a school nurse) will tell them they must shower daily now and wear deodorant.

This must happen to some kids in year 6. Perhaps this is why they have said this? Although I think a more general 'please ensure all children shower daily and wear a deodorant as appropriate' note might be more appropriate!
The reason it cannot be spray, is there is a fad/dare from time to time where kids see if they can bear the cold sensation of the spray right on their skin, burning them (it can actually leave burns) and of course the less dangerous but annoying 'lynx sprayed everywhere' thing.

Emotionally, they may still be children. However if some of them are physically changing, starting to sweat and smell (regardless of fabric) we can't stem the tide of time. It becomes noticeable and could lead to friendship/bullying issues, not to mention become unpleasant for those sat next to the child. We just can't pretend it isn't happening.

We're not forcing children to act adult too young: these changes are happening and we have to address them.

[MagpieMama]

What Parietal and LEM said, probably could've chosen your words better there OP.

[ToAvoidConversation]

You've got to remember this is for every child, not just your child. How many kids in that school won't have an adult that cares for them and who tells them when they need to be washing and using deodorant.

Also you clearly haven't been in a room full of eleven year olds on a sweaty summer day in (probably) a really poorly ventilated school.

[RaisinBoys]

Why do they have to take it to school? I don't take mine to work.

[phlebasconsidered]

Bless. Every parent who comes into my class to speak to me at the end of the day says "Blimey! (poetic licence here) Bit ripe in here!" Yep! Children by year 5 and 6 stink at the end of the day IF they haven't had a good shower every night /morning, or used anti-perspirant every morning. That's why we cover personal hygiene at this point. Plus I have a third of the girls in my class "on" every month (at year 5) and personal hygiene needs to be addressed.

I have about one quarter of the class whose parents don't seem to be clued into this, through either absence, neglect, or sheer downright lack of time, and so a letter that fits all seems sensible. It doesn't mean they are neglectful, it means they see their kids when they get up, and when they go to bed, when they are most likely in jim jams and not in day long clothing. I genuinely think it's easy to miss the stink. It encompasses all those children who might need a parent prompted. I'm thinking of a child I had a few years ago who lived alone with her dad, who was excellent, but had no clue as to hairwashing / deoderant / nit checking and so on. Through no fault of his own, I hasten to add! It just hadn't occured to him to buy enough products.

A whole school letter is better than having to single out parents and then pounce, IMO. As a first resort.

[phlebasconsidered]

Raisin boys: You probably aren't running around like a loony screaming in a hot playground for an hour and half every day, to be fair. Or in one room with 30 others. It really makes a difference. I re-apply through the day and i'm their teacher. Classrooms are HOT! And I'm not charging about all break / lunchtime.