Some schools ban tag, touch football, and soccer, because they're "dangerous."

grundle · 06-30-06, 04:44 AM

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...ess-bans_x.htm

Health and Behavior

'Not it!' More schools ban games at recess

6/27/2006

By Emily Bazar, USA TODAY

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.

"It's happening more," Thompson says. Educators worry about "kids running into one another" and getting hurt, she says.

In January, Freedom Elementary School in Cheyenne prohibited tag at recess because it "progresses easily into slapping and hitting and pushing instead of just touching," Principal Cindy Farwell says.

Contact sports were banned from recess at Charles Pinckney Elementary early this year, says Charleston County schools spokeswoman Mary Girault, because children suffered broken arms and dislocated fingers playing touch football and soccer.

Some schools that ban games at recess allow children to play them in gym class under supervision.

Critics of the bans say playing freely helps kids learn to negotiate rules and resolve disputes.

"They learn to change and to problem-solve," says Rhonda Clements, an education professor at Manhattanville College.

Joe Frost, emeritus professor of early childhood education at the University of Texas-Austin, sees playground restrictions as harmful.

"You're taking away the physical development of the children," he says. "Having time for play is essential for children to keep their weight under control."

kvrdave · 06-30-06, 05:28 AM

I think kids today exercise far too much as it is.

Canadian Bacon · 06-30-06, 05:30 AM

Nothing like raising a nation of pussified kids

Nick Danger · 06-30-06, 05:40 AM

I am shocked that children are still allowed to have 'recess'. Every injury that kids got when I was that age was caused by it. Children are safest when they have sitting quietly contests.

Bandoman · 06-30-06, 05:54 AM

Let them watch other people play games on TV. There's much less chance of injury that way.

The Bus · 06-30-06, 06:05 AM

The reports for injuries were sponsored by EA (makers of Touch Madden 2007) and Activision (Tony Hawk's Tag, You're It: Extreme).

Red Dog · 06-30-06, 07:31 AM

I think they should play poker at recess.

VinVega · 06-30-06, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Dog

I think they should play poker at recess.

Well, according to ESPN it's a sport.

Dominos is also another viable sport for them.

JasonF · 06-30-06, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinVega

Well, according to ESPN it's a sport.

Dominos is also another viable sport for them.

Slow down there, Evel Knievel -- those dominoes can have pretty sharp corners. Someone might get hurt!

Mrs. Danger · 06-30-06, 08:47 AM

When are they going to figure out that the school system can't be fixed, and just give up?

Tag is dangerous? sheesh!

ZakVTA · 06-30-06, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonF

Slow down there, Evel Knievel -- those dominoes can have pretty sharp corners. Someone might get hurt!

Exactly, and can you imagine the paper cuts coming from playing poker? It's too horrible to even think about.

Mrs. Danger · 06-30-06, 08:56 AM

You can't let them play video games, either, they might get carpal tunnel.

Better just keep them in a padded bubble until they are 18.

AGuyNamedMike · 06-30-06, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Danger

You can't let them play video games, either, they might get carpal tunnel.

Better just keep them in a padded bubble until they are 18.

Too expensive. I'd prefer a program of mandatory sterilization to prevent the little monsters in the first place. We can grow the replacements we need in vats or something, and decant them at maturity.

FantasticVSDoom · 06-30-06, 09:06 AM

There's always competitive eating...Which should be a perfect sport for our youth now.

DRG · 06-30-06, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Educators worry about "kids running into one another" and getting hurt, she says.

It's better to learn collision avoidance on the playground than in the street.

Vibiana · 06-30-06, 10:16 AM

When I think of how I risked death riding a bike without a helmet, climbing trees without a net or something under them, stubbed my toes and scraped my knees without my parents filing suit against some slob for the capital offense of having a concrete driveway with a curb ... gee, it's a wonder I lived past 1973.

M2theAX · 06-30-06, 10:26 AM

Better yet we shouldn't even have kids becuae 99.999% of their injuries occur once they leave the womb. Lets protect them by not having them =D

milo bloom · 06-30-06, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vibiana

When I think of how I risked death riding a bike without a helmet, climbing trees without a net or something under them, stubbed my toes and scraped my knees without my parents filing suit against some slob for the capital offense of having a concrete driveway with a curb ... gee, it's a wonder I lived past 1973.

Despite past differences, this is one post of yours I wholeheartedly agree with (though I wasn't born till 1974

) I would spend summers with family in West Virginia and always came home with scrapes, bumps, bruises and once a black eye.

sherm42 · 06-30-06, 10:32 AM

I remember the days of riding in the back of pickup trucks. You'd be arrested today if you let your kids ride in the back of a pickup.

kgrogers1979 · 06-30-06, 10:45 AM

Touch football is dangerous. Seriously, I broke my nose playing touch football in my high school PE class. I ran into some guy's elbow and shattered my nose like a busted watermelon. At least, I got out of school for the rest of the day.

Kittydreamer · 06-30-06, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Danger

When are they going to figure out that the school system can't be fixed, and just give up?

Tag is dangerous? sheesh!

I'm so with you here, Mrs. D. Shoot, my sister broke her ankle at school jumping off the swings and she turned out just fine. Next they're going to tell us that playground equipment is dangerous???

Gunshy · 06-30-06, 11:24 AM

Kids still get recess? C'mon, just read a book about kids having recess. Oh yeah, kid could get a paper cut. Just play a books-on-tape about kids reading about kids having recess. Be safe, be quiet.

-Gunshy

cdollaz · 06-30-06, 11:44 AM

I guess dodgeball is out also. Do kids still play "smear the queer"? We used to play that everyday at recess. Basically there is one ball and whoever has it is the "queer." Everyone else tries to tackle him until he either throws the ball away (pussy) or gets tackled and someone else grabs the ball.

Ranger · 06-30-06, 11:57 AM

Yeah, recess usually was when people got hurt from sports and got in fights.

I've always thought that the school day should be cut shorter to maybe like 4 hours. When I was in private school, there wasn't an all-out recess, we only had PE for one class at a time which I think is a bit better and safer.

Red Dog · 06-30-06, 12:01 PM

4 hours?! The public school days (and school year) are ridiculously short as it is (what is it - 6.5 hours?). My private school (for high school) was 8-5 and 8-4 for the lower grades.

View Poll Results: What's more harmful to kids?
Playing tag, touch football, and soccer.	4	6.35%
Not allowing them to play tag, touch football, and soccer.	59	93.65%
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll

06-30-06, 04:44 AM	#1
grundle DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8,943	Some schools ban tag, touch football, and soccer, because they're "dangerous." http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...ess-bans_x.htm Health and Behavior 'Not it!' More schools ban games at recess 6/27/2006 By Emily Bazar, USA TODAY 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. "It's happening more," Thompson says. Educators worry about "kids running into one another" and getting hurt, she says. In January, Freedom Elementary School in Cheyenne prohibited tag at recess because it "progresses easily into slapping and hitting and pushing instead of just touching," Principal Cindy Farwell says. Contact sports were banned from recess at Charles Pinckney Elementary early this year, says Charleston County schools spokeswoman Mary Girault, because children suffered broken arms and dislocated fingers playing touch football and soccer. Some schools that ban games at recess allow children to play them in gym class under supervision. Critics of the bans say playing freely helps kids learn to negotiate rules and resolve disputes. "They learn to change and to problem-solve," says Rhonda Clements, an education professor at Manhattanville College. Joe Frost, emeritus professor of early childhood education at the University of Texas-Austin, sees playground restrictions as harmful. "You're taking away the physical development of the children," he says. "Having time for play is essential for children to keep their weight under control."

06-30-06, 05:28 AM	#2
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 79,101	I think kids today exercise far too much as it is. __________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

06-30-06, 05:40 AM	#4
Nick Danger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 14,442	I am shocked that children are still allowed to have 'recess'. Every injury that kids got when I was that age was caused by it. Children are safest when they have sitting quietly contests. __________________ Originally Posted by TallGuyMe: hoorah for Nick!

06-30-06, 05:54 AM	#5
Bandoman DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: a small cottage on a cul de sac in the lower pits of hell. Posts: 27,795	Let them watch other people play games on TV. There's much less chance of injury that way. __________________ "...Bando...you are perfect and awesome." - 4KRG

06-30-06, 05:30 AM	#3
Canadian Bacon DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North of the South Pole, South of the North Pole Posts: 18,291	Nothing like raising a nation of pussified kids

06-30-06, 06:05 AM	#6
The Bus DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 51,620	The reports for injuries were sponsored by EA (makers of Touch Madden 2007) and Activision (Tony Hawk's Tag, You're It: Extreme). __________________ Movies: 2002 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 2013 "Too much disclaiming in this post." – Dr. Mabuse

06-30-06, 07:31 AM	#7
Red Dog DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV) Posts: 104,458	I think they should play poker at recess. __________________ "A question for you. Would you rather Bucknell make the NCAA's once every 20 years or so and get ass raped by teams like Kansas in the first round or have them drop down a rung to a confernce where they can compete for a title?" - Josh Hinkle 1st Round Final Scores: Bucknell 64 Kansas 63 \| Bucknell 59 Arkansas 55

06-30-06, 08:47 AM	#10
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	When are they going to figure out that the school system can't be fixed, and just give up? Tag is dangerous? sheesh!

06-30-06, 08:56 AM	#12
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	You can't let them play video games, either, they might get carpal tunnel. Better just keep them in a padded bubble until they are 18.

06-30-06, 09:06 AM	#14
FantasticVSDoom DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep behind enemy lines...NYC! Posts: 11,145	There's always competitive eating...Which should be a perfect sport for our youth now. __________________ GO REDSOX!!! "Fighting is the best thing a man can have in his soul."-Renzo Gracie

06-30-06, 10:16 AM	#16
Vibiana DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 10,933	When I think of how I risked death riding a bike without a helmet, climbing trees without a net or something under them, stubbed my toes and scraped my knees without my parents filing suit against some slob for the capital offense of having a concrete driveway with a curb ... gee, it's a wonder I lived past 1973. __________________ Vibiana hooks up with chicks, she's more of a winner than most of the internet. -- mndtrp "If everyone you know is doing it, the only thing to do is rush into a marriage. It'll turn out great so don't worry about it." -- Jules Winfield

06-30-06, 10:26 AM	#17
M2theAX DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,269	Better yet we shouldn't even have kids becuae 99.999% of their injuries occur once they leave the womb. Lets protect them by not having them =D

06-30-06, 10:32 AM	#19
sherm42 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Sacramento Posts: 2,930	I remember the days of riding in the back of pickup trucks. You'd be arrested today if you let your kids ride in the back of a pickup.

06-30-06, 10:45 AM	#20
kgrogers1979 DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,650	Touch football is dangerous. Seriously, I broke my nose playing touch football in my high school PE class. I ran into some guy's elbow and shattered my nose like a busted watermelon. At least, I got out of school for the rest of the day.

06-30-06, 11:24 AM	#22
Gunshy DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 1,439	Kids still get recess? C'mon, just read a book about kids having recess. Oh yeah, kid could get a paper cut. Just play a books-on-tape about kids reading about kids having recess. Be safe, be quiet. -Gunshy __________________ "I gotta hand it to ya treasure, the last of the V8 Interceptors... a piece of history! Woulda been a shame to... blow it up" Some good deals here: SaveCity

06-30-06, 11:44 AM	#23
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,904	I guess dodgeball is out also. Do kids still play "smear the queer"? We used to play that everyday at recess. Basically there is one ball and whoever has it is the "queer." Everyone else tries to tackle him until he either throws the ball away (pussy) or gets tackled and someone else grabs the ball.

06-30-06, 11:57 AM	#24
Ranger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 18,140	Yeah, recess usually was when people got hurt from sports and got in fights. I've always thought that the school day should be cut shorter to maybe like 4 hours. When I was in private school, there wasn't an all-out recess, we only had PE for one class at a time which I think is a bit better and safer.

06-30-06, 12:01 PM	#25
Red Dog DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV) Posts: 104,458	4 hours?! The public school days (and school year) are ridiculously short as it is (what is it - 6.5 hours?). My private school (for high school) was 8-5 and 8-4 for the lower grades. __________________ "A question for you. Would you rather Bucknell make the NCAA's once every 20 years or so and get ass raped by teams like Kansas in the first round or have them drop down a rung to a confernce where they can compete for a title?" - Josh Hinkle 1st Round Final Scores: Bucknell 64 Kansas 63 \| Bucknell 59 Arkansas 55