School Recess Gets Gentler, and the Adults Are Dismayed

New York Times ^ | December 14, 2007 | ALISON LEIGH COWAN

[SunkenCiv]

iPod ping.

[aruanan]

No longer could they let off youthful energy — pent up from hours of long division — by cavorting outside for 22 minutes of unstructured play, or perhaps a vigorous game of tag or dodgeball. Such games had been virtually banned by the principal, Mark S. Johnson, along with kickball, soccer and other “body-banging” activities, as he put it, where knees — and feelings — might get bruised.

What if, like American colonists oppressed by King George, the kids banded together and engaged in some body-banging activities, including principal Mark S. Johnson in their play? Obviously he was one of those kids always left until last to be chosen for a team.

[neverdem]

bump & a ping to another dumb idea in school

[irv]

it was “terrible, ill-advised and damaging” to inject so much structure and oversight.

But this is what Liberals do. They suppress or control "harmful" activities - always for the "good" of the people whose freedom is being destroyed.

They punish (or try to punish) smoking, driving big cars, eating fast foods, saying bad words, hugging a child or spanking or yelling at one, "staring" (defined as looking in the wrong direction for 9 seconds) and legions of other things that used to be perfectly normal and a matter of individual choice.

There's an Isaac Asimov story. I think it's called "With Folded Hands" about what happens in a world where people are "protected" from everything bad. It should be required reading.

[Huntress]

“It’s just difficult to imagine how a person in education could come up with such a bad idea.”

No, it's not.

[garylmoore]

game of tag or dodgeball. Such games had been virtually banned by the principal, Mark S. Johnson, along with kickball, soccer and other “body-banging” activities, as he put it, where knees — and feelings — might get bruised.

What the heck? This is going way overboard, this stuff is just as educational as the classroom.

[alexander_busek]

>>There’s an Isaac Asimov story. I think it’s called “With Folded Hands” about what happens in a world where people are “protected” from everything bad. It should be required reading.<<

Not by Asimov. By Jack Williamson, published in 1947. A mssterpiece.

[Daffynition]

NOOOOOOO!!!111 Not DODGEBALLLLLLLLL!!!!11 Dodgeball was my favorite game in school. 8-(

[Berosus]

Maybe if they spent less time teaching about self-esteem and how to put on a condom, there’d be more time for recess. :)

[exnavy]

My Goodness, this country is sick.

[Tax-chick]

No longer could they let off youthful energy — pent up from hours of long division — by cavorting outside

If this writer believes students are spending hours in school doing long division, she hasn't been in a school in the last 20 years.

[mowowie]

“...as he put it, where knees — and feelings — might get bruised.”

What a Pussy. I wonder what size skirt this clown wears.

[irv]

No, really, it’s Asimov. It was one of the robot stories and was referred to in later robot stories as the reason why the robots went underground.

[BenLurkin]

Mrs. Lurkin advises she and her friends would do something called a “Death Drop” on the bars during recess.

I guess even suggesting that today would garner some poor kid a suspension.

[metmom]

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the “other” articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. If you want on/off this list, please freepmail me. The main Homeschool Ping List by DaveLoneRanger handles the homeschool-specific articles. This is becoming a fairly high volume list.

Just when you think you've heard it all....

This sounds like the book *The Giver*

[metmom]

Public Education Ping

This list is for articles relating to public education. mcvey and republican professor have asked me to take over the list. If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

[unspun]

22 minutes?

22 minutes!

We got only 15. I want a do-over!!

[alexander_busek]

>>No, really, it’s Asimov. It was one of the robot stories and was referred to in later robot stories as the reason why the robots went underground.<<

No, really, it was written by Jack Williamson. First published in 1947. I googled it right after I saw your first posting. Try googling it yourself (before correcting others).

“You will be happy, sir,” the mechanical promised him cheerfully. “We have learned how to make all men happy, under the Prime Directive. Our service is perfect, at last. Even Mr. Sledge is very happy now.”
—”With Folded Hands,” by Jack Williamson, 1947

[festus]

I’ll take “What Happens When Pansies and Twinks Run Our Schools for $100 Alex”.