The real message to children at the elementary school in Colorado Springs reported in the news item below is: You are fragile infants and the adults are going to treat you thusly.
Now, if there were some kids playing tag too aggressively, then mature, in-control adults at this school would have told the students -- first, that kids wishing not to play cannot be chased; second, no student has to play any recess playground game that they don't want to play; third, no fighting while playing tag or any other game; and fourth, those are the rules.
But in the moronic 'zero tolerance' mentality of too many school administrators these days, the easiest thing to do is just issue a decree that 'punishes' everyone.
Truely, maybe if they didn't have recess or playgrounds at all, then the children would be safe all the time ... and we could bubble wrap the corners of the desks, too ...
Actually, it is very sad. Imagine you're an eight year old girl or boy being told that running around and chasing your best pal and laughing and having fun is now against the rules. It makes you wonder more about the psychological well-being of the adminstrators more than about the state of the children's games.
Link: Colorado School Bans Tag on Its Playground | Associated Press
An elementary school has banned tag on its playground after some children complained they were harassed or chased against their will.
"It causes a lot of conflict on the playground," said Cindy Fesgen, assistant principal of the Discovery Canyon Campus school.
Running games are still allowed as long as students don't chase each other, she said.
Fesgen said two parents complained to her about the ban but most parents and children didn't object.In 2005, two elementary schools in the nearby Falcon School District did away with tag and similar games in favor of alternatives with less physical contact. School officials said the move encouraged more students to play games and helped reduce playground squabbles.
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