'Not it!' More schools ban games at recess

[The Straight Story]

'Not it!' More schools ban games at recess

Some traditional childhood games are disappearing from school playgrounds because educators say they're dangerous.

Elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Spokane, Wash., banned tag at recess this year. Others, including a suburban Charleston, S.C., school, dumped contact sports such as soccer and touch football.

In other cities, including Wichita; San Jose, Calif.; Beaverton, Ore.; and Rancho Santa Fe., Calif., schools took similar actions earlier.

The bans were passed in the name of safety, but some children's health advocates say limiting exercise and free play can inhibit a child's development.

Groups such as the National School Boards Association don't keep statistics on school games.

But several experts, including Donna Thompson of the National Program for Playground Safety, verify the trend. Dodge ball has been out at some schools for years, but banning games such as tag and soccer is a newer development.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-06-26-recess-bans_x.htm

[Connie_Corleone]

1. If they're so damn dangerous, how come we survived them??

And then they have a fit that the kids are overweight.

[allalone]

2. funny how many of us are alive

given that playground games are so dangerous. First they're flapping their traps about childhood obesity, now they want the children to stand around like lumps because one of them might fall down.

[obreaslan]

3. BUBBLE-WRAP THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!

Before it's too late!!!! :cry:

:sarcasm:

I'll quote George Carlin when I say that "we spend way to much time concerned about the safety of our chilren in this country."

[jerry611]

4. Every sport or exercise comes risk of injury

Any form of physical activity can result in an injury.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. But we gotta be safe!

We gotta be sure that nothing bad ever happens to anyone!

We gotta have guarantees!

Besides, if little Johnny skins his knee, Mommy and Daddy might sue.

[MindPilot]

5. Well that's it then...abortions for everybody!!

being born is just too damn dangerous!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. Here's one good schoolyard activity that doesn't involve running around...

And if you didn't pick up on it already.... :sarcasm:

[The Straight Story]

9. Councilors to vote on public playground smoking ban

Councilors to vote on public playground smoking ban
Updated: 6/17/2006 9:32 AM
By: Staff

City councilors in Watertown will vote Monday on a resolution to ban smoking on public playgrounds.

Councils said smoking on playgrounds is hazardous to children.

They said in addition to the smoke, discarded cigarette butts ruin the beauty of the park.

Councilors also said passing the resolution will have a positive effect on the lifestyle choices children will make.


http://news10now.com/content/all_news/?ArID=69851&SecID=83

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. Oh, wtf!? Now SMOKING is harzardous too?

Are you series?!?!

[The Straight Story]

14. Just possessing a toy gun is dangerous, see this:

Dallas May Ban Toy Guns

DALLAS (AP) - A proposal in Dallas to ban the sale of realistic-looking toy guns is spurring debate over the issue.

It may also bar children from playing with fake guns in public and require gun replicas to be brightly colored or clear plastic.

Dallas city councilman Mitchell Rasansky and other city officials say a ban would help protect children and police.

But some critics say the proposal would be difficult to enforce and wouldn't stop accidental police shootings. One former police officer says swimming pools and bicycling without a helmet pose
greater risks for children.

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=39131

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. Why don't we just bubble wrap every kid and place them in solitary?

Actually, forget I just said that. Someone might think it's a good idea. :eyes:

[Ikonoklast]

32. How did that picture from Rush Limbaugh's vacation

get on this thread?

[hfojvt]

8. when we played soccer

it was pretty deadly. It is amazing that nobody was hurt. You can get hurt playing basketball too, but at least there you have rules defining what is legal contact and what is not. At one point, our group decided to limit the contact in our soccer game. Very early in that game a friend of mine, at least a fellow band member, levelled me, from behind, and sent me flying about ten feet. When someone told him that was against the rules, he refused to apologize. I got up and went and sat on the swings. I was done playing soccer.

[pscot]

10. The nuns used to supervise

our dodge ball games, and provide medical attention as needed. We ban healthy contact games, but encourage insanely violent video games. We're raising a generation of candy-ass socio-paths.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. Since when do we encourage violent video games?

Did you miss that media shitstorm or what?

[FSogol]

11. I remember a cartoon recently

that had a kid who had fallen out of a tree and the parents are saying:

Then: "Now, you're learned an important lesson about climbing things you shouldn't have.
Now: "Somebody should make these trees safer"

[The Straight Story]

13. They will ban falling : ) (nt)

[MrSlayer]

16. The further pussification of America.

When I was a kid we played games like "Hide the belt", "Suicide" and "Assball". These people today would have a heart attack if their kids played anything of the sort.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. I LOVED suicide!

Also, "King of the Hill" and "Kill the Man with the Ball".

[blogslut]

24. I'm a red rover fan myself

I loved that game :)

[BlueStorm]

27. what was suicide? never heard of that game n/t

[The2ndWheel]

34. Great game

Take a tennis ball, a bunch of kids, one throws the ball against the wall, you have to catch it, but if you don't, anyone can pick up the ball and wing it at you, until you get to wall, touch it, and say, "sui!!!". Oh, recess.

[Bassic]

42. Oh, we called that one Fly.

I got, and caused, many bruises playing that game :D

That and dodge ball :D

[MrSlayer]

37. A street game in the city.

All you need is a wall, a ball and some people. You line the players up about 15 feet or so away from the wall and the first guy throws the ball at the wall. The next guy has to catch the rebound, if he does he throws the ball and the next person has to catch the rebound. If you miss the ball or drop it you have to immediately run to the wall, touch it and say "Suicide" before another player picks up the ball and blasts you with it. When the ball is dropped anyone can pick it up and hit you with it provided you haven't reached the wall and said "suicide". If they miss you, they have to run to the wall and anyone else can hit them. After someone is hit, the game resumes as it was before. You play until you're tired and the "winner" is the person who has been hit the least. A racquetball usually is best because it stings like hell when you get hit. Great fun.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

38. Racquetballs are bouncier against the brick walls too.

:D

[MrSlayer]

33. Yes "Kill the man" was quite popular here too.

King of the Hill was a seasonal game for us. Only played after a big snowfall.

[MadHound]

18. And people wonder why we're having an epidemic of obese kids

Sugary snacks inside the school, and no physical activity on the playground. All in the name of keeping the kids safe:eyes:

Hell, back in the day we'd play basketball, dodge ball, soccer, football, baseball, tag, foursquare and more at recess. And yes, there would be the occaissional injury, generally nothing more than scrapes or bruises, once in a while requiring stiches, and once in a blue moon a broken bone. But everybody survived, nobody held the school responsible, and classes went a lot smoother because you didn't have a bunch of kids with a ton of pent up energy.

This is just plain crazy.

[Systematic Chaos]

20. So should I sue my old playground supervisor for damages?

One day in the 3rd grade I was on recess and I said hello to this other kid. He said his name was Donald so I said "I can be Captain Kirk and you can be Donald Duck!" A simple, innocent joke with no malicious intent whatsoever. He went nuclear on me, knocked me down in the sandbox area and proceeded to pour hot sand into my pants. I was not a violent kid by any stretch and this upset me so much I just broke down and bawled. I found the playground monitor and all she told me to do was go to the bathroom and clean myself up. I had sand in my pants the rest of the day and Mr. Duck received no discipline at all even though I had been forcibly struck and had my clothes ruined for the balance of the school day.

No, I'm not permanently scarred by the incident but I will always remember it for the sheer injustice. That "monitor" should have been relieved of a job IMO.

[otherlander]

35. And to think, I got suspended for pretending to punch a kid in the face.

[allalone]

21. I don't think I spent many days WITHOUT skinned knees

[Bretttido]

22. So stupid! Kids have to play, it's their main form of learning!!

I hate all this crap about 100% protecting kids from any possible thing that could go wrong. If you protect them all their life, they'll have little understanding of negative-reinforcement. I say, keep all frying pans in kids-reach, don't clean up water on the floor right away, and never hesitate to let kids play outside! The more they get burned, slip, and fall, the more likely they'll have the mindset needed to avoid potentially fatal situations that come at them later in life.

[dusmcj]

23. last alternatives to hazing each other in the halls are gone.

Nanny state goo goo gaa gaa.

[SmokingJacket]

25. Less about safety than fear of lawsuits, I bet.

When I was a teacher the administration was in constant terror of getting sued. And it was not an unrealistic fear: I remember there was one family that used to abuse their child, then bring her to the school and claim her injuries happened on the playground. People are scary!!

[alarimer]

26. My elementary school had an ice skating rink

They iced over the baseball diamond and we all went skating at lunchtime. There was supervision and I don't remember anyone getting badly hurt. But, think of it, putting sharp blades on your feet! I am sure they don't allow it now.

I also remember games of kickball and dodgeball (that was mostly indoors though as I recall). And a lot of running around. It is a shame. Kids have become so coddled these days (at least it seems to me- I have no kids and my niece and nephew still play outside a lot so I could be wrong) and we have become so lawsuit-happy that it's a wonder anyone is allowed to do anything at recess.

[Patiod]

28. It's why Japanese kids excel

I did a lot of educational research in the 90's. At least back then, Japanese kids did not spend any more time in the classroom than American kids. But they WERE in school for a longer day, because they have frequent recesses, and activity is ENFORCED. They aren't standing around trading cards or playing videos or dolls - they're running, doing exercises, etc. Makes it easier to sit and focus when they get back in the classroom.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. My guess:

Some kids started playing tag very roughly (shoving, punching, kicking, etc. as kids tend to do when things get out of hand), the playground supervisor told them to stop playing so roughly, the kids might have listened for a little while before starting to roughhouse again, at which point the supervisor told them they couldn't play that game any more. Some parents or somebody heard about it, misinterpreted, and overreacted.

[LostinVA]

30. I agree with dodge ball... but SOCCER? Tag? Flag Football???

[MissB]

31. Our school is going the opposite direction

We just put up a piece of playground equipment that screams "injury". It is actually quite safe, but it freaked the parents out at first.

I've supervised on the playground a few times last year - and although I noticed a lot of interventions for poor behavior, I didn't notice "tag" or any other game being out.

[alcibiades_mystery]

36. We played touch football with a little blue handball

In the concrete schoolyard ringed by rusty old chainlink: PS 29 Queens.

Agree with poster below: the pussification of America. Ditto on anti-bullying nonsense. Take your lumps and learn to throw, kiddo.

[JCMach1]

39. Playtime is being rapidly eliminated to make time for standardized

test taking preparation...

Recess had been virtually eliminated from my daughter's school before I left Florida...

[Javaman]

40. I'M RUNNING WITH SCISSORS!!!!

It's all fun and games till someone gets an eye poked out.

Please pass me that glue, I'm hungry.

[Igel]

41. That's what happens when the

kids that sucked at recess get all the PhDs in education policy.

Betcha they all have glasses or contact lenses. Quick--reading can cause bad eyesight! Complicated word problems can cause headaches!