Chicago Schools Contemplate Recess After Nearly 30 Years Without It

[Marie]

That's too bad. Kids definitely need more exercise these days, and most school yard games will result in some basic cuts and bruises. I agree that there should be supervision to guarantee that games aren't getting out of hand, in addition to a waiver from parents stating that they acknowledge the basic risks. Beyond that, kids should be allowed to play freely within the bounds that normal supervision will allow.

Banning the sport because kids feel excluded is extreme. I don't think that its ok to let 1 kid get picked on or constantly remain 'un-chosen' when it comes to participating. However, competition is a part of life. How will kids develop the drive to improve or prepare themselves from the intense competition that occurs later in life if they are so shielded now?

[starang21]

this is stupid.

we're a sue-happy society and we're going to continue to have some fat kids.

[kiml122]

So they are banning tag...WTH

[dekeguy]

We are getting too soft. Let's go back to corporal punishment for minor school infractions and capital punishment for for the serious stuff like talking in
the library. Ah, for the good old days when the headmaster would flog the miscreants daily, and if there were none that day he would pick a few at random just to encourage the others to stay out of trouble. If capital punishment was applied the school would ship the remains back home marked transport charges to be paid by consignee, COD.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

Or worse? Yesterday, two "friends" were "fighting" during lunch. The "fighting" resulted in them breaking the glass door that leads to the library. One of the students said that the guy was his friend and they were not fighting. Okay. How about your hand is all scraped and bruised?

That used to happen almost everyday when I was in middle and high school.

[shinerbock]

Dodgeball is too exclusionary...haha. We don't want people to feel "out." This reminds me of that California school district which abandoned phonics for a while because they didn't want to tell kids they were pronouncing/spelling the word incorrectly.

[ufdale]

Kids are already too fat and lazy as it is! Why ban the only physical activity they might get in the whole day?! Besides, the real world is competitive. Might as well get them used to it early.

[CrimsonTide4]

Definition of freeze tag for the 3 voters in the poll

One person is it and chases everyone else who is playing. If "IT" tags you, you are frozen until another player unfreezes you.

That's how we played it. I am sure there are variations though.

[AKA2D '91]

LOL.

Freeze tag and "it" were 2 different games during our day.

Exclusionary? During recess? If you can't play or you get upset b/c you cannot tag anyone move on over to the jungle gym, the tunnel, the monkey bars, jump rope, see saw, etc etc.

[starang21]

we played kill the man with the ball

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by starang21

we played kill the man with the ball

We called it down the man.

[_Opi_]

I wouldnt necessarily call the ban stupid. I can see where the school is coming from. We live in society were we sue each other over everything, and they just dont want to be held liable for injuries that might occur.

But I think it's going too far with tag. What will they ban next? Sports? Recess? Gym? etc. Accidents will always happen. You can't prevent some of them, but with proper supervision I think most can be avoided.

[AKA2D '91]

Not only that, but the hood could conceal something. I guess many districts are thinking about the random shootings that have taken place.

I just tell the student to remove the hood in the building or room. As long as the sweatshirt is navy, gold, or white, it's not a problem.

[Sophist08edLady]

Being that I am the only one who supports this ban let me explain my point. As a parent who has had to take their child to the emergency room for stitches because of rough play on the school yard I believe that rough play should be banned.

We must remember that we are living in different times…kids don’t play like we used to play. Kids now a day are bigger, stronger and more violent. What was once a simple tag is now a big push that causes little Ray Ray to fall and now he wants to fight lilttle Ta’quan because he’s mad and then Ta’quan’s brother wants to bring a gun to school to get back at little Ray Ray. It’s just easier if kids don’t touch each other. We must also remember that due to school budget cuts, there is less supervision on the playground, this adds to the possibility of someone getting hurt.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by Sophist08edLady

Being that I am the only one who supports this ban let me explain my point. As a parent who has had to take their child to the emergency room for stitches because of rough play on the school yard I believe that rough play should be banned.

We must remember that we are living in different times…kids don’t play like we used to play. Kids now a day are bigger, stronger and more violent. What was once a simple tag is now a big push that causes little Ray Ray to fall and now he wants to fight lilttle Ta’quan because he’s mad and then Ta’quan’s brother wants to bring a gun to school to get back at little Ray Ray. It’s just easier if kids don’t touch each other. We must also remember that due to school budget cuts, there is less supervision on the playground, this adds to the possibility of someone getting hurt.

As a parent who has had to take children to the emergency room when they got hurt at HOME, I think the ban is going too far. Children can be hurt ANYWHERE.