Posted on 07/10/2006 8:37:28 AM PDT by Millee
Only in America in 2006 would a game of tag be considered dangerous. In the name of safety, a number of schools are prohibiting their students at recess from playing traditional games like tag or soccer, claiming that too many children were getting hurt by aggressive play.
The New Jersey School Boards Association doesn't keep statistics on school recess games. Anecdotally, the trend exists. Dodge ball has been out at some schools for years, but banning games such as tag and soccer is a newer development. And some experts say such bans are bad for children.
"We're really overprotecting our kids," says Dr. Steven Tobias, the director of Center for Child and Family Development in Morristown. "Banning games that help kids learn get along, to negotiate rules, to problem solve together, is really to the detriment of the kids overall. There is a danger in trying to cushion the world to our children, rather than helping them learn how to deal with it effectively."
Some schools that have banned tag said the game easily regressed into slapping, then hitting and pushing, instead of just touching.
"If kids are getting hurt, I would tend to look to the supervision or the lack of supervision on the playground," says Tobias. "We have to let kids play in an open-ended way and learn to put limits on themselves and deal with any kids of problems that arise as a result." If things get out of hand, adults who are supervising the children can step in, says Tobias. But he says it is counter-productive to ban certain games altogether.
Why isn't there a law? Who can I sue?
All chair legs should have foam around them to avoid injuries. Contact your congressman.
Why isn't there a law? Who can I sue?
I know, right?!? The other day I was walking through my house and bumped my shoulder against a wall corner. There should be a law that all corridors have rounded, padded walls.
Have you seen those playgrounds with signs that say "No running allowed on the premises"? IMO tag should be allowed - as long as they wear a helmut. /sarc
Back in 1963, they banned the game *igger Pile from my school playground. It was probably a good move.
I dream of a world where people like you and I can spend all our time in rooms with padded walls.
We used to play "Smear the Queer" too. Haven't heard that one mentioned in awhile either. ;o)
No wonder boys grow up into wussified metrosexual pansies.
&&
That's the goal -- the feminization of the culture.
And many of these people who want to ban tag don't want to ban partial-birth abortion!
No one came up with Smear the Queer before I was out of grade school. It would have been a great replacment for *igger Pile. We were allowed to use sticks as guns to play army with during recess.
Right. Its ok to drive on the L.A. highway at 16, but you can't play tag at 6. Sheesh. Lord help us.
RED ROVER RED ROVER....SEND MILLEE RIGHT OVER.
Jeesh...how ridiculous. Whatever happened to good ole innocent games? Pathetic...
I heard of a school banning tag as it was in violation of their zero tolerance no touching each other policy. Really.
Banning tag is stupid. Teatherball, however, should be banned immediately!!!!!
When I was in elementary school they would periodically not let us play one sport or another because everyone would get too rough. Generally if Football was banned everyone played soccer until we got too rough in that and went back to football which was legal again.
I too am 21, and I too grew up playing dodgeball. such a great game! I'd play it still today if I could round up enough people!
and all this crap about kids feeling like targets...I never got that argument. everyone's a target! sure, people might target some more than others, but that's life, baby! suck it up and try harder next time.
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