Posted on 03/14/2016 9:25:08 AM PDT by EinNYC
For the first time ever, city schools are dispensing free tampons and pads to students.
Girls at 25 public schools will get the items from bathroom dispensers in a program that starts Monday, the Daily News has learned.
The push for free feminine hygiene products will reach roughly 11,600 students when it is fully implemented by March 31, Education Department officials said.
The goal is to help female students focus on learning and feel comfortable during class, said Deputy Schools Chancellor Elizabeth Rose, who’s helping to manage the project.
“Having easy access to feminine care products is essential,” Rose said. “This pilot marks a major step in providing additional resources to students in need.”
Education Department officials said the program could be expanded to more middle schools and high schools citywide, depending on how well it’s received.
The idea for the new program came from City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D-Queens), who had a stand-alone bathroom dispenser with free tampons and pads installed at the Queens High School for Arts and Business last year.
After students and staffers raved about the benefits of the free tampons and sanitary napkins, such as fewer classroom emergencies, Ferreras-Copeland sought to expand the effort.
She worked with the Education Department to select two districts for the expansion, choosing to bring the dispensers to all middle schools and high schools in District 24 in Queens and District 9 in the Bronx.
“Girls in these districts face the greatest financial hardships,” Ferreras-Copeland said. “I want to ensure none of them lose class time, face illness or feel humiliated because their family cannot afford pads.”
The city currently has no mandate for public schools to provide feminine hygiene products. But many schools carry them and they are often distributed by school nurses.
Arts and Business High School sophomore Ashley Celik said bathroom dispensers are a far better solution.
“You feel more confident and don’t feel as nervous,” said Ashley, 15. “You can just grab it whenever you need it. It’s there for you.”
Education Department officials said the program will carry a price tag of roughly $160,000 this year.
>>> Where’s my male-hygiene product? <<<
Brilliant!
How come when fully implemented it only helps 11,,, plus students? Have all of the other gals dropped out of school?
These “free” products will be going home by the arm full.
That’s for sure. Probably trade them at their neighborhood bodega for stuff.
This socialism is just amazing. They reached the promised land. And these school officials are all grabbing pay checks from the tax payer, so; what do they care. The work ethic needs a reintroduction by Trump.
Wash my balls!
In high school one year, there was a Moroccan girl who transferred in. She could have used some help with feminine hygiene, because she really stank of urine, etc. Very unpleasant to be around.
What about the trans-genders?
Bingo.
Be fun to see what the cost estimate turns into after it's been in operation for a while.
The goal is to help female students focus on learning and feel comfortable during class, said
This is actually an issue?
How did females learn while in school before this?
Do you suppose aspirin/Tylenol/aleve/motrin or whatever will be free, too, in case they have cramps?
$160,000 does not sound like “free” to me.
So, what member of City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland’s extended family is the wholesale vendor for tampons and pads?
Yes. At some point they will calculate that the items are being used at 3-4 times the anticipated rate, and wonder if the girls are just changing more often.
OK, by this logic, what’s next? Free toothpaste? Free deodorant? Free clothes? Everything can be twisted into a necessity.
Every morning, they will empty the dispensers...taking as much as they can, even to bring some home to momma and the black market.”
As well as just waste it. And they will have no appreciation - from now on it will be a demanded “right”.
For the first time ever, city schools are dispensing free tampons and pads to students.
Free? Some company is donating them to the schools? No? The they are not friggin free so do not call them free!
that’s easy. we just brought something with us from home and kept it in our purse for the occasional bathroom visit. it’s not that hard.
Actually, the voters need to un-elect these school board members. And a good conservative pro bono lawyer needs to file an injunction against executing this plan until the school district can justify providing feminine products to its students, an act which is decidedly NOT within its charter, and which, by its very biological nature, is sexist and discriminatory.
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