A ninth-grade gym class syllabus at Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, Mich., requires female students to disclose the length of their menstrual cycles in order to make up swim days they miss because of their periods.
As reported by CBS News, the syllabus reads, "A written note from a parent stating the length of their daughter's menstrual cycle is required — if the student misses swim days because of their period — in order for those missed days to be made up."
Andy Amsdill's daughter brought the syllabus home from her ninth-grade gym class a few weeks ago. He says he was stunned after reading it.
"That is nobody's business but hers, her doctors, and whoever she feels like sharing that with," Amsdill told CBS Detroit, saying the school and its administration have no claim to the information.
Per the reporting of Heath Kalb, Amsdill contacted the principal and the superintendent to ask why students are being asked for something that personal. He says the school told him his daughter wouldn't have to comply, but he found that response unsatisfactory.
"It's not just about my daughter, it's about every other girl in that school who is going to have to go through that," Amsdill said.
According to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ, the syllabus also says that if a student doesn’t participate in alternative gym activities to make up the days, each missed day will be considered a non-participation day, lowering their grade in the class.
Bryan Shishakly says his daughter — now a sophomore at Lakeview — ran into the same requirement in freshman gym last year, and that it hurt her grade, CBS Detroit reported.
"My response was like, 'If they ask, you have no obligation to tell them,' and it did affect her grade," Shishakly said. "She's a straight-A student, and she ended up with a C in gym, and I don't know how fair that is since it's only going to apply to the girls at the school."
Amsdill said he is now considering hiring a lawyer over potential Title IX concerns.
Shishakly said he regrets not raising his concern a year ago. "She had the same freshman gym class last year, same policy, and was frustrated with it then," he said, as reported by CBS Detroit. "I was frustrated, but yeah, Andy [Amsdill] had the guts to stand up to the board and try and really make a change."
Other Lakeview parents are also speaking out against the policy, per WXYZ.
“To have to disclose that information is really invasive, and I think it’s really unnecessary,” Elizabeth Gibson said.
“It’s for sure against privacy of the young ladies that are going to class, and they shouldn’t have a grade reduction,” Amy Droelle said.
Lakeview School District superintendent Karl Paulson said leaders will meet with Amsdill to talk about his concern. He added the district “remains fully committed to educational excellence and best practices in all it does,” per WXYZ.
"Given our commitment to partnering with parents to address any issue that might arise, we immediately sought to schedule a meeting with the parent to engage in a conversation about the concern," the statement read, in part, per CBS Detroit.
Amsdill said a meeting with the superintendent was scheduled for today.
