No more tag at recess

[PARAGON]

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/artic.../feature37.txt


Tagged out
BY SUSAN LaHOUD
SUN CHRONICLE STAFF


Tag is now out during recess at Willett Elementary School in Attleboro.

So is touch football and any other unsupervised "chasing" games that are deemed to pose the risk of injury as well as liability to the school.
"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.

While no district-wide policies banning contact sports at recess appear to have been put in place locally, many principals are making up new rules in an atmosphere reflecting society's increasingly cautious and litigious nature.

Elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyo. and Spokane, Wash. banned tag at recess this year. So, too, did a suburban Charleston, S.C. school, outlawing all unsupervised contact sports.

Reasons cited by school administrators largely focused on safety; kids would get too rough or run into each other, giving rise to parent complaints and threats of lawsuits. Another reason cited was that in a free-for-all activity at recess, such as tag, some children would become unsuspecting, and unwilling, participants in the game.

A number of those same schools, however, allowed those activities with supervision during gym classes.

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.

Willett parent Celeste D'Elia, on the other hand, backed Heppe's decision. Her son, she said, feels safer and enjoys the alternatives to throwing a football around.

"I've witnessed enough near collisions" in the playground area, D'Elia said. "I support anything that makes the playground safer and helps teacher to keep track of them."

Calls to a handful of elementary schools in this area revealed that principals are dictating the rules of play at recess, but the rules differ.

David Barner, principal of Thacher Elementary School in Attleboro, said there is no outright ban on tag, touch football or other such games during recess at the school.

"We do have discussions at the beginning and throughout the school year about rules so that students play appropriately," he said.

The physical education teacher plays a large role in instructing children on how to play games, he said.

Matthew Joseph, new principal of Hyman Fine Elementary School, also said there's no prohibition of contact sports at recess. Teachers and others, however, are trying to redirect children from physical games to those that involve teamwork. There is also an effort to get children using the new playground the PTO installed and a new field. Team games, like kickball, are encouraged, he said.

Mary Brown, principal of the Solmonese Elementary School in Norton, on the other hand, doesn't consider tag a contact sport.

"We play two-hand tag on the shoulder" which is supervised, she said. "No pushing is allowed."

Tag football is also allowed for third-graders, if supervised, Brown said.

Of course, she noted, "you have to have someone out there young enough to run around with them."

George Gagnon, principal of Falls Elementary School in North Attleboro, said playground rules have swung a different direction since he started there four years ago.

Tag, touch football, soccer, "they can play all that," he said. That wasn't the case before he arrived.

Gagnon's philosophy is, "I'd rather see them running around, getting fresh air and coming back in refreshed."

He feels children are "trapped" in organized sports like football, hockey and baseball. Running around outside at recess, kids make up their own games with their own rules and resolutions, Gagnon said.

Accidents occur "every couple of days," he said. "But kids run and fall --- that's kids."

Staff writer Rick Foster contributed to this report.

SUSAN LaHOUD can be reached at 508-236-0398 or at slahoud@thesunchronicle.com

[DRTYFN]

I've seen this same subject in some other area. WTF are kids going to do at recess??? I think the lieberals are really aliens and are trying to make the kids into veal. And nice going on not preparing kids to be competitive, deal with failure and work as a group in physical situations.

[DennisAJC]

Aubs and dеiтайожни enjoyed tag way too much in school.

But I think their kind calls it Weiner Grab.

[dеiтайожни]

You and your china friends were the ones always hiding and playing egg roll packing and "wasabi" chugging in the bathrooms at lunch, because you kept getting beat up at recess.

[Wisha Haddan H3]

Never been a fan of dodgeball, but no tag or pickup games at recess? That's ridiculous. At least that Principal Gagnon had the right idea ... Accidents occur "every couple of days," he said. "But kids run and fall --- that's kids."

At least he has the right idea.

[Sewie]

Everytime I see stupid sh*t like this it reminds of an email I got a few years ago.

We survived....

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or even the early 80's, probably shouldn't have survived.

Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.

We had no childproof lids or locks on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking ...

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors!

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable!

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had friends! We went outside and found them.

We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out any eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.

The idea of parents bailing us out if we got in trouble in school or broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the school or the law. Imagine that! This gerneration has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility--- and we learned how to deal with it.

And you're one of them!

Congratulations.

Now for f*ck's sake, just let the kids play.

[BKLYNH2]

Nice

Glad to say i'm one of the fortunate ones.

[Dennis Lorenz]

Originally Posted by Wisha Haddan H3

Never been a fan of dodgeball

Why? Because you were always the last one picked to be on a team and the first one to be eliminated?

You're the kind of loser that needs stuff like dodgeball and sports to make you grow a spine.

[HummBob]

No Recess....No Gym Class....Candy/Pop in the schools.

No wonder the Obese rate in kids is so high. That's just SAD!!

[HummBob]

Originally Posted by Sewie

Everytime I see stupid sh*t like this it reminds of an email I got a few years ago.

We survived....

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or even the early 80's, probably shouldn't have survived.

Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.

We had no childproof lids or locks on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking ...

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors!

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable!

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had friends! We went outside and found them.

We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out any eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.

The idea of parents bailing us out if we got in trouble in school or broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the school or the law. Imagine that! This gerneration has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility--- and we learned how to deal with it.

And you're one of them!

Congratulations.

Now for f*ck's sake, just let the kids play.

SO TRUE!!!!

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by DRTYFN

I've seen this same subject in some other area. WTF are kids going to do at recess??? I think the lieberals are really aliens and are trying to make the kids into veal. And nice going on not preparing kids to be competitive, deal with failure and work as a group in physical situations.

Please, don't get me started on those slime bag, POS, low-life, no-good, gun hating, whores, called Liberals; it raises my blood pressure too high.
And just think, Pilosi is just a hair away from being the head of the US Senate

As for the article, it is so stupid, I thought it was fiction when I read it at work.

[DRTYFN]

The idea of parents bailing us out if we got in trouble in school or broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the school or the law. Imagine that!

I'm having flashbacks.

[H2Blondie]

These "playground rules" only make for a future of bleeding-heart liberals that are out there with warm fuzzy feelings for all mankind! When will they learn?

Originally Posted by Sewie

Everytime I see stupid sh*t like this it reminds of an email I got a few years ago.

We survived....

It's amazing there are so many of us still here to talk about it!

Coming in from the playground with cuts and scrapes proved you actually played at recess. Tag was just the beginning. You learned to sweat tryouts and auditions knowing you could be the next one cut, but once you were on the field, court or whatever venue you choose, you played to win...there was a winner and a loser.

[westhillsat]

Damn lucky I survived through the '60's and 70's.

When I was in junior high if a kid didn't behave the gym teacher had a paddle with holes in it - fortunately I never had a meeting with the paddle.

One social studies teacher had one guy hold his arms straight out and then made the kid hold three books in each hand

I got the vulcan death grip on my neck once from a math teacher,
I was innocent I tell ya....

Ahh the good old days