[Welsh Rabbit]

Of course you can't play dodge-ball in gym anymore and running around the playground is considered dangerous.

I had to do some work at an elementary school playground a couple of weeks ago. I was disgusted by the extreme safety measures; the swings and slide were only about five feet high, the swing chains were covered with protective plastic to prevent pinching, and most the yard was covered with soft, cushiony rubber.

[annyokie]

No kidding! I remember very tall (probably 20 feet) poles we could climb and then slide down. All the swings, teatherball poles, four-square surfaces were asphalt. Bandages were a badge of honor, after all.

We always had at least one kid per class with a black eye, or a sliver cap on a front tooth or a broken arm, the cast on which everyone rallied to sign.

We rode our bikes barefoot and without helmets too! the horror!

[VermiciousKnid]

I can beat that:

At my kids' (Catholic) school, the school nurse (who is a Public School District employee) has the final say over whether or not the little tykes can go outside for recess after lunch.

According to her, if it is over 80 degrees outside, the children are in Mortal Danger and are not permitted to go outside. Ditto if the tempurature dips below the Nearly Arctic 40 degrees.

Forget going outside even in the mildest misty drizzle, and Hell would freeze over before they'd let them go outside with the Awful and Deadly SNOW on the ground.

I can't STAND this woman, and I really wish the diocese had listened when I warned them not to allow public school employees into their school.

Regards,