Banning play at school
Don’t know if you’ve heard, but Willett Elementary School in south Boston has banned tag, touch football, and other games which imply kids chasing each other around a schoolyard. The reason? Fear that a child might injure him or herself and the parents will sue. And they’re not the only school to have done it.
Now, when I was younger and my parents would go on and on about “how the world has changed” since they were little, I swore to myself that I would always be able to stay on top of things and be more connected to such changes so as to never settle into some grumpy-old-man mode, pining for better, simpler days.
But seriously, the world has changed.
When I was younger, we used to play in the large park which was part of the church grounds. One day, playing baseball, one of my friends drove a baseball through one of the church’s windows. Did the church sue? Of course not, my friend’s parents paid for repairs and my buddy was grounded. Another time, another friend was tackling the monkey bars at the school playground. He fell and broke his forearm. Did his parents sue? No, it was a stupid accident. Hell, I even stole a newspaper when I was ten; my parents brought me back to the corner store immediately to hand the paper back and have me apologise. Did the corner store owner sue or call the cops? Not quite.
Moreover, as child obesity rises, the usual suspects of video games, computers, and television will be blamed for it. But with stupid rules being passed like that, and our playgrounds and parks being more and more barren because some parents fear what could happen to their kids outside, one is the direct consquence of the other. If we don’t get our kids out, they won’t play outside. It’s only normal for them to find solace in video games and TV if there’s nothing else to stimulate them. It’s just that simple. Not to mention that if we don’t let our kids play what they want to play outside, we’re not really conditioning them to enjoy their time outdoors, are we?
Some folks have argued that it’s no big shakes that tag be banned at school; kids can get together outside school hours and play amongst themselves away from the eyes of teachers. To me, it’s a hell of a big deal. For one, school is the social nexus of elementary kids and play is their way of creating bonds and learning social skills. But more importantly, if this is the kind of reasoning which is to be accepted, is clearly demonstrates that the school isn’t interested in the development and growth of the children who go there. They’re much more privy to protecting their interests instead of those of their little students.
But, throughout all this frustratingly oddball story, there is one positive element: it’s teaching the kids how to stick it to the man in creative, nondestructive ways.
These people are absolutely insane. It seems there is no limit to their desire to control people. Even in Stalin’s Russia children could still play tag!
I’m continually amazed that the American people live as long as they do. They claim that everything is dangerous and try to outlaw it.
dude you stole a newspaper when you were ten?
My god you’re dorky. Most kids steal candy bars or little plastic toys but you dorkiness is so omniprescent you stole something by which to learn with.
That was my thought exactly.
Since losing my hardrive in the Great Hardrive Crash of 2006 this is the kind of stuff I miss without having continuous access to the internet. On behalf of my country I would like to say, We blow, we blow big time. Now, I must leave and try to lure a bunch of children from a school playground with the use of candy in order to create a rebellion game of tag. And if they try to sue me for kidnapping and illegal game of tag during school hours, I will just walk up to them, get in their face, touch them on the arm, and say, “Tag you’re it!” And run like mad.