Scott Allan’s World

In the whacko state of Massachusetts where I lived my first 34 years of existence, the Willet Elementary School in Attleboro, MA has banned the kid’s game of Tag along with other chasing games.

The original article from The Sun Chronicle can be found here.

“It’s a time when accidents can happen,” said Principal Gaylene Heppe, in her second year at the helm of Willett.

Heppe included the new rule as part of a standardized set of playground rules that were not in play upon her arrival.

In doing so, she joined in a growing movement against traditional games played by young children in school gymnasiums and playgrounds. A few years ago, school administrators in the area, as well as around the country, took aim at dodgeball, saying it was an exclusionary and dangerous game. Modified versions now include softer balls and ways for children to re-enter the action.

Dodgeball is “exclusionary and dangerous”. “Modified versions now include softer balls and ways for children to re-enter the action.”

GIVE ME A BREAK!! Sounds to me like a certain Principal may have been picked last when she was younger. Let’s just make sure everyone is completely misled at a very early age that life is indeed fair and safe. Let’s just force all the children to play with dolls, but only if everyone gets the same exact doll and it doesn’t make them feel badly about their body image. When I was in school, kids played Kill The Kid With The Milk Carton. If you had the milk carton, a hundred kids would try to tackle you. Once down, you threw the carton in the air and the kid who caught it ran for his life. It was TONS OF FUN!! If you didn’t want to risk getting hurt you played something else. It’s a great way for kids to exercise and release pent-up energy that might distract them during classtime.

Parents speak out:

Some Willett School parents interviewed for this story said the new recess rules are misguided, especially with the serious issue of childhood obesity. Others said they work against children developing skills to negotiate rules and resolve disputes.

“I think that it’s unfortunate that kids’ lives are micromanaged and there are social skills they’ll never develop on their own,” said Debbie Laferriere, who has two children at Willett.

“Playing tag is just part of being a kid,” she said. “Now, for children not to be able to make those decisions by themselves without interference from adults doesn’t give them the opportunity to make their own choices.”

Games like tag give children “social skills that transfer to later in life,” she said.

Parent Christine McAndrews agreed.

“I think it’s a little bit silly,” she said, adding that she was not aware the rule was in place. “The kids love to play pick-up football games that they organize themselves. It’s great for their social skills and they resolve things on their own. It’s good for them.”

“It’s part of being a kid,” she said.

This is the same state that tried to pass a law forcing kids to wear helmets playing soccer or ban heading the ball. Idiots!

Technorati Tags recess, children, Attleboro, Massachusetts, tag, Willet Elementary School, Gaylene Heppe