Playing tag is no longer a benign sport

I totally agree LS. Unfortunately I think this is just an example of a problem on an even larger scale. I hope I'm not being overly cynical by thinking that.

I'm going to guess (and REALLY hope that I'm wrong) that many people have no problems just popping that pill into their kid and buying into the latest and greatest based on advertising alone with little thought given to either side effects or long term effects.

And before a flame war erupts I will make the assumption that people that are already reading sites like Parentdish are probably also taking the time to read about the pros and cons of various meds frequently given to kids.

Jen
http://furoreandfrenzy.com

It has to be all or nothing b/c all of the parents willing to sue the second something doesn't go perfectly. Can't have it both ways.........

This is ridiculous. A few kids do one thing they aren't supposed to, and the entire school gets in trouble for those few student's wrongdoing. Threaten to keep them in at lunch if they do it again, give them a "time-out" if they keep doing it, but completely banning all forms of tag because of this game, which is hardly like tag at all, is completely irrational. In my old grammar school, waterbottles were banned in all grades because one boy fell down the stairs while having a waterbottle fight with two other boys. Now everyone has to suffer in the hot months of May and June because of these three kids. Why not start hitting each other with pencils and pens, so they can ban those too. Better yet, the bigger kids can use the smaller ones to hit each other. Then small kids won't be allowed in school. The point of what I'm saying; is it really going to solve anything by taking away something that is essentially harmless because of one instance of misuse?

I totally agree with you LS!! I am a teacher and let me tell you that it is so difficult to teach children who don't even get recess. Children need time to run and have a good time and part of the rite of passage as a child is to play a good game of tag. Since when has tag become a violent sport? I think that schools now are understaffed and that the administration as well as educators just don't want to deal with a child getting hurt. Its a cop out! I know that the school I previously worked in the school aides did not want to do anything remotely taxing and would not discipline children that needed it. Its lazy and irresponsible. I would take my students out and I was reprimanded! You see my students didn't get PE or recess. Can you imagine having 28 little bodies in a classroom with no outlet? Now thats an issue. I say let them play TAG!!!!!

Are your also the parents that are going to sue when the teachers are accused of "not" watching your children close enough? You should offer to go out on the playground and see how they play tag. Too often the game includes episodes of "Ninja Turtles" and other dog pile, types of tag. I would love to see the parents accept responsibility. Are you going to accept being sued when your child breaks some else's leg? or worse, snaps their neck? Don't put them in a wheel chair, but please be realistic about how many children you have on a playground at one time. Be realistic about how many teacher to child ratios really exist at your child's school. And be willing to give your child's teacher a break at some point since they are the ones taking on all the different personalities at one time for 3-7 hours at a time.

You get to choose who comes to your child's playdates, parties and neighboorhood gatherings. Your child's teacher does not get to decide which ADD, ADHD, Autistic, or other special needs children are in their class.

Save the tag for situations where you can watch and control their behavior. After all, you are their parents, you should teach them life skills...like how the game of tag is played!

Just that much closer to be taken over by another country that was less than the US ever was.

where does it stop? first 'they' say hot fat our kids are getting, then 'they' take away running & even cntenplating doing away with play time all together? wheres the logic there? and I to would like to know where are the teachers and or monitors?as a matter of fact where are the parents of the kids that do these types of things to other children? have we just got to the point where we want to depend on others to raise our children? even my 1yr old grand daughter and 2 yr old grandson understand what no means, come on now people.....

I taught in a few inner city schools, and I found that kids on the playground often used tag as a way to inflict big pain on other children.

I conclude that kids nowadays don't know how to play as kids in the past did. If we had hurt someone, then we couldn't play any more. Now, they role model after what they watch on TV, in violent video games (e.g. Grand Theft Auto - San Andreas was a favorite of my nine year olds), and the gang violence they witness in their neighborhoods.

We had to ban tag at our school. At least we reduced the number of injured kids coming to the nurse's office by over 200%.

And with as litigation crazy as parents are now, we did what was needed to protect everyone's safety.

Could not have said it better myself. Good job!

Kind of sounds like the kids were actually using their imagination and turning "tag" into NFL football.....
gadzooks! unique individual thinking....that FER SURE has to be BANNED!!!

pulling a child out individually for punishment while they're in public at school would be harmful to their self-esteem. we must be careful not to hurt their esteem or their ego, lest they become social outcasts and require years of therapy as an adult.

getting a child out of a dogpile may also require a small amount of force to the child's arm to pull them out of the pile. this could be construed as an improper use of force and lead to discipline or a lawsuit.

note: SARCASM

I completely agree with your post. Monitor it. Isn't anyone watching over these playground activities anymore? I loved that game growing up. Great way to run around and exercise!

Because the easier thing is to completely ban everything. If they only ban one aspect of the game, then they (the monitors/teachers/authorities) actually have to be vigilant and enforce a rule while allowing the greater game to continue. Basically, it's more work.