Guess what I learned today? Those lunch supervisors? THEY ARE ridiculously strict.
Here are just a few ridiculous things I heard during the kids ‘free play’ time:
No tag allowed! (wha??? No tag? on the playground?)
Absolutely no chase. Stop chasing each other and SIT DOWN! (they want my kid to stay still at recess?)
No running! (again. Still vehemently against exercise)
That ball can not be over here. This is the play structure! No balls here! (yes we all know what damage a rubber ball can do to a play structure. Wha?)
I don’t care who won! You have to let him play. (No need to follow the rules of LIFE. On this playground-Even if you win. You lose it seems)
You would be proud of me- because I managed to keep my mouth shut thru all of it. But this is just ridiculous. How can we expect the kids to blow off stem and work out their ‘wiggles’ when we don’t give them any freedom to PLAY. These are NOT teachers. These are lunch time helpers. And aside from one woman who happens to also be a mother of a student, the rest seem basically annoyed by the very presence of children and all things children-like. They probably would do very well at a prison yard, but at an elementary school? They are over the top.
I am sure you have guessed already that this will be priority one on my PTA president agenda next year. I probably have no jurisdiction over this…but don’t worry I will find a way. They won’t call me P-TAP (PTA Prez. Yo.) for nothing.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
The new school rule at The Kids school is that when the yard “supervisors” blow the whistle to signal line up time, every single child must come to a halt and bow down, until the whistle blows again. This is to ensure that no children are harmed in the chaotic process of lining up. Also, they are not allowed to run on the asphalt. On rainy day schedule, they are all forced into the MPR and not allowed to talk or move. They watch movies, some rated PG-13. Just what I want my 3rd grader watching.
One of their yard supervisors is so fierce, she scares the crap out of me!
School is definitely different.
My husband actually works at a prison and he assures me that it is not unlike elementary school. The bullying is just a little more hardcore -yo.
Like every other public entity, the schools are so afraid of a law suit, they are willing to compromise every child’s right to be a kid.
They are willing to deny normal freedoms and rights to protect their own butt. If parents weren’t so anxious to sue the school every time their child fell down on the playground, then the schools might be able to let the kids play. It’s sad.
Just asked Smedley about each of these playground rules, and she said that none of those are rules at her school. They don’t allow tag to be played on the playground equipment, but otherwise, tag is fair game.
You go, P-TAP!
Sounds familiar to our school. They allow running, on the grass but not on the blacktop. The thing that kills me is that at the school in the mornings they have “walk and talk.” They line the kids up and walk in an oval until the bell rings. No playing for the 10 min. or so that they have to wait for the bell. Wha?
Let kids be kids!
I think no running on the playground is just absurd.
I don’t know how any of us survived growing up in the ’70s with all the playing and chasing and tagging and making out in the bathrooms…no that was the ’80s! Ha
Still, Eghads! It’s all gone too far.
…making out with BOYS in the bathroom. Just wanted to clarify.
I have to agree with Carolyn, if some parents wouldn’t be so sue happy i’m sure they wouldn’t have those rules
I think it’s sad that we have come to this — kids not being able to be kids. No tag? No running at recess? Ri-dic-u-lous!! Hopefully you can talk some sense into them.
Kids need to play! Just leave them alone and let them do it. If they are not a danger to themselves or others – it should all be fair game. Kaboom.org has all sorts of research on the benefits of UNSTRUCTURED play for your fight next year. Go Marcy!
Dang….that IS ridonkulous.
Heck at my kid’s school I watch boys twice my kid’s size tag other kids with the rubber playground ball to the point of hitting the ground. Nothing is said.
You go girl, get that changed.
Things like this are maddening and the truth be told, it’s because there are always the few who want their kids to experience absolutely no pain in life, so they pitch a fit or sue until the schools are so afraid to breathe that ALL the kids have to suffer. Luckily we are at a great school that is pretty realistic about kids behavior. Other than the fact that they ony have ONE recess during the day, they are good about letting them take FULL avantage of that one recess! Good luck with your effort to change things!
Crazy…I guess this is what I have to look forward to when my oldest starts kindergarten next year. Thanks for the heads up!
YOU GO GIRL! This makes me SO angry!!!! I have one of those kids who NEEDS to work out those wiggles – it’s critical to do that at recess so he can be calm during class. AAAHHHHH!!! I have faith in you P-TAP!
Powerful commentary. The risk-adverse school systems have gotten out of control, leaving little time or place for kids to be kids.
Viva play! Real play. Not bubble-wrapped.
Cheers- Bethe
http://www.grassstainguru.com
The same thing really bothers me, the crowd controll is taken straight from prisions. shouldn’t kids be allowed to be kids. maybe our kids wouldn’t be so over weight if running was encouraged!
I get the pleasure of watching my 3rd grader at recess everyday in the drop off line with my PreK er for afternoon class. They are allowed to play football, soccer, basketball, tetherball, on equipment and tag. The only time I see the Asst principal use his bullhorn is the tell the footballers to stay of the soccer side of the field and then when its time to line up. They are allowed to run on the blacktop. Grayce has even had band-aids, gasp, more than once. It’s okay. I had to send 2 boxes with school supplies like the rest of the class.
Not in any way a judgement for those who send their kids to traditional school. But this is just another item on my list of why I’m glad I homeschool my kids. So sad. Glad you wrote about this. Maybe change will happen.
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