Comments on: Caution: Children acting like children ahead.

By: Streamers

Streamers — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:13:12 +0000

I’ve recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.

By: Karin Katherine

Karin Katherine — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:13:51 +0000

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.

By: Southern Mama

Southern Mama — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:40:13 +0000

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.

By: Kristie

Kristie — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:55:36 +0000

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!

By: Bethe

Bethe — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:38:03 +0000

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

By: Nicole & Doug McKann

Nicole & Doug McKann — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:41:23 +0000

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!

By: Don't Start None...There Won't be none

Don't Start None...There Won't be none — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:10:09 +0000

Crazy…I guess this is what I have to look forward to when my oldest starts kindergarten next year. Thanks for the heads up!

By: Geri C

Geri C — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:32:55 +0000

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!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:38:43 +0000

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.

By: Michele

Michele — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:00:08 +0000

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!

By: Elaina Avalos

Elaina Avalos — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:45:25 +0000

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.

By: britta

britta — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:44:15 +0000

I have to agree with Carolyn, if some parents wouldn’t be so sue happy i’m sure they wouldn’t have those rules

By: Suz Broughton

Suz Broughton — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:56:03 +0000

…making out with BOYS in the bathroom. Just wanted to clarify.

By: Suz Broughton

Suz Broughton — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:55:24 +0000

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.

By: Headless Mom

Headless Mom — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:26:18 +0000

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!

By: foolery

foolery — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:20:42 +0000

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!

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:13:15 +0000

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.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:06:12 +0000

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.

By: Alisa

Alisa — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:31:09 +0000

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.