It seems we, as well as our kids, are slowly loosing freedoms. Schools across the country and around the world are placing bans on all sorts of normal kid activities. Here's a look at things that have been banned over the past several years.
In 2007, the principal of Oakdale School in Connecticut banned lots of things. No kickball, soccer, dodgeball, or other "body banging" activities. Instead kids are encouraged to jump rope or play with hula hoops. Eventually the principal gave in, a little, and started allowing fourth and fifth graders to play a modified game of kickball - twice a week - if a parent or grandparent is present. Oh, and nobody can keep score.
In 2010, a school in Ottawa banned playing with balls at recess for the duration of winter. Their reasoning that the balls get snow and sometimes small pebbles stuck to them. Students can (and sometimes do) get hurt. Hmmm haven't kids in Canada been playing with balls during winter months for..like EVER?
2012 In Sydney, Australia, Drummoyne public school has banned cartwheels and Somersaults during lunch or recess unless a "trained gymnastics teacher and proper equipment" are present.
Portland Maine Public Schools has banned all unhealthy foods, such as soda and potato chips, on school grounds. Clearly parents attending games with their families cannot make decisions on their own so the district has widened their school policy to include high school football games. Instead of the concession stand selling pop, buttered popcorn, etc. it will now well things like baked tortilla chips and hummus. OH YIPEE!
Taucoma WA public schools banned sunscreen, even on field day , even for a kid who has albinism, resulting in severe burns and a hospital visit for two.
The Minnetonka High school here in MN has made a plea to parents and students about leggings and yoga pants. I have to say though, I'm fully in support of this one! I don't think there is any reason to see every crease or crack a girl's body has! Last weekend we were in shopping mall and we counted MANY teens dressed this way. To be honest, I found it pretty disgusting. They may as well have been naked since there was NOTHING you couldn't see. If I want to educate my 12 year old son about girl's bodies, I don't plan on doing so at the local mall.
Have you heard of any crazy school bans recently? Which ones do you agree or disagree with?
In 2007, the principal of Oakdale School in Connecticut banned lots of things. No kickball, soccer, dodgeball, or other "body banging" activities. Instead kids are encouraged to jump rope or play with hula hoops. Eventually the principal gave in, a little, and started allowing fourth and fifth graders to play a modified game of kickball - twice a week - if a parent or grandparent is present. Oh, and nobody can keep score.
In 2010, a school in Ottawa banned playing with balls at recess for the duration of winter. Their reasoning that the balls get snow and sometimes small pebbles stuck to them. Students can (and sometimes do) get hurt. Hmmm haven't kids in Canada been playing with balls during winter months for..like EVER?
2012 In Sydney, Australia, Drummoyne public school has banned cartwheels and Somersaults during lunch or recess unless a "trained gymnastics teacher and proper equipment" are present.
Portland Maine Public Schools has banned all unhealthy foods, such as soda and potato chips, on school grounds. Clearly parents attending games with their families cannot make decisions on their own so the district has widened their school policy to include high school football games. Instead of the concession stand selling pop, buttered popcorn, etc. it will now well things like baked tortilla chips and hummus. OH YIPEE!
Taucoma WA public schools banned sunscreen, even on field day , even for a kid who has albinism, resulting in severe burns and a hospital visit for two.
The Minnetonka High school here in MN has made a plea to parents and students about leggings and yoga pants. I have to say though, I'm fully in support of this one! I don't think there is any reason to see every crease or crack a girl's body has! Last weekend we were in shopping mall and we counted MANY teens dressed this way. To be honest, I found it pretty disgusting. They may as well have been naked since there was NOTHING you couldn't see. If I want to educate my 12 year old son about girl's bodies, I don't plan on doing so at the local mall.
Have you heard of any crazy school bans recently? Which ones do you agree or disagree with?
If we'd ban parents suing schools when their kids get injured in any of the above mentioned and other regular childhood activities during breaqks and recess, it would help the schools not have to ban these things.
ReplyDeleteThe sunscreen one is plain and dangerous. WTF is the resoning behind that?
Our school bans any outside food for school activities, unless it's from a certified kosher caterer. I don't think it's stupid at all, BTW.
It would be interesting to know what led to those bans. sometimes things seem ridiculous until you hear the history, then you can understand it. I remember a boy broke a leg on a merry-go-round at school when I was in second grade, and our playground was on asphalt. Happy to know we've improved our playgrounds. I like the idea of providing healthier food choices at schools and I love baked tortilla chips and hummus! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am 100% in support of the healthy foods at schools for lunches, etc. I don't agree with what they're doing at concession stands and when parents are there to make the choices for their own kids (or teens making their own choices.)
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the school in Sydney, Australia banning sommersaults and cartwheels - I have a friend whose children go there and apparently the school is over-subscribed, so it is quite crowded in the playground and there just wasn't room for the kids to do those kinds of activities without kicking someone in the head.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, there is usually a story behind bans such as these, but I still think a lot of these bans are just plain silly.
The high school where I teach bans the selling of sugared soda, but happily sells diet soda. Guess they think that artificial sweeteners (which give me headaches) are so much better than sugar. This ban is only for students. Teachers can drink whatever soda they want, as long as it's made by the company that pays for our scoreboard.
ReplyDeleteKim