The male Science teacher who taught sex education to my all-male Junior High class (back then, in Hull, they seperated the sexes at eight), explained menstruation in terms that made even 12 year old lads feel sorry for the girls. His parting admonition was that girls and women needed to be treated with extra consideration at these times. Given that his method of discipline involved an almighty whack across the arse with a length of flexible plastic tubing, we paid attention.

Not that the dour, hard-as-nails Yorkshire lasses we knew ever seemed to want or need any consideration. Absolute and instant obedience, yes, but not consideration!