Has your elem. school banned 'tag'?

[Anonymous]

My Kindergartner had to write a note home yesterday to apologize for playing tag at recess. WTF??!?!?!?!?!!?!!!!!!! Apparently, the school has banned tag because some kid got scratched this year. I am guessing it is one of the 99.9% of the 2 household lawyer families at our school.

I did some research and found that this trend started in this country around 2006. Tag is the most innocuous childhood game out there. It is the best for combatting obesity because it involves the most running. What pisses me off even more is this school keeps the playing fields covered in a tarp from November-end of March so the kids are left with the blacktop and playground? WHY, WHY, WHY? This is not the frickin' Meadowlands--it is an elem school and the field is used for little kids to play soccer. We don't need pro-conditions. We had the mildest winter ever and they couldn't even run on the g-damn grass.

"Kids like to play, and sometimes, they get hurt. There is a lesson in getting up, brushing yourself off, and getting back in the game. If we ban tag, we are sending the wrong message: "Kids, we live in fear. We are afraid that your game may cause injuries. We are afraid that some children are being chased more than others, and that this game is a form of bullying. But we are mostly afraid of the price tag of lawsuits."

"If we keep taking away children's games, what's left but acting grownup?"

It's vital to let kids be kids – in an environment free from fear. Letting them chase one another in a game of tag may prevent problems down the road. Children who aren't afraid of a skinned knee or a bruised ego or of being tagged "it" are more likely to chase rainbows as adolescents, and dreams as young adults. They're the ones who won't be afraid of going for "it" in life."

I feel sorry for the teachers. These kids that aren't being allowed to run around are going to need to release that energy somewhere...and now it will be in the classroom instead of outside.

So--tell me==is this happening at your school too? Are you afraid of tag?

[Anonymous]

This is insane. Tag was about 75% of what we did during recess when I was that age.

[Anonymous]

My kids aren't in ES yet but this is a very scary trend. And I'm pretty risk averse.

[Anonymous]

Scary. I spent 75% of my childhood chasing my brother or being chased! What school is that?

[Anonymous]

This is the only game my kids play. When I go to the park with my 3.5 y old and 6 year old...it's 'mom come try to catch us'. We run like maniacs and sometimes the tagging becomes contact, but it's fun. There are skinned knees and tears at times- but we learn about getting up and brushing ourselves off.

I am on a crusade. This is the final straw. My child and his friend have come up with many creative ways to try and get around 'tag', e.,g they call it 'cowboys and indians', 'sharks and minnows', 'girls vs boys'...banned, banned, banned.

Reading a note from my 5-year old that said:

"Dear Mom and Dad, I am sorry I did not follow directions and played tag at recess." (in his phonetic spelling ) brought me to tears. When should any child feel bad for playing tag at recess. This isn't even about classroom behavior. He's never been in trouble and is a very conscientious, sensitive kid.

I told him that he was not in trouble. We are using this as a teaching lesson and I told him what a 'petition' is and how when you truly believe in something how you can make do something about it. He said he will write down the reasons why it is safe and fun and will get his friends to sign so they can turn it in.

[Anonymous]

President Romney will restore this aspect of American tradition and greatness. He likes Tagg!

[Anonymous]

What area is this school in? Private or public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:President Romney will restore this aspect of American tradition and greatness. He likes Tagg!

I actually thought Mrs.Obama would be a good one to contact since she is about combatting childhood obesity. Not letting our kids play tag is not a good start.

[Anonymous]

This, and a host of other things make me fell sick to my stomach as I prepare to send my DD to public school next year. Oh how I wish we could afford private for the long haul!

[Anonymous]

This was at an Arlington Public Elem. I am curious if it is a county-wide policy or just our school.

[Anonymous]

I would love to know at which school this happened. My kindergartner in Arlington just told me that dodgeball has been outlawed at extended day. I was surprised that it took them this long to get rid of dodgeball. Haven't heard anything about tag during the school day.

[Anonymous]

For the love of all that is holy, the wussification of American kids continues. The same people who ban tag are the same type of people who don't want to keep score in kids' sports games.

I would take this up with the administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was at an Arlington Public Elem. I am curious if it is a county-wide policy or just our school.

I wonder what Arne Duncan would say about this.

Very unfortunate, OP. At the very least, this requires a meeting with the teachers, but probably requires something more far-reaching.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you have a group of parents who find this as ridiculous as you, could you get them together and address at the school?
If you don't like it do something about it.

I know I would. Dreading the day my kids go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is insane. Tag was about 75% of what we did during recess when I was that age.

Red Rover should also be banned, jump rope, hop scotch, and hide & seek because they can alef...ingl be played on an IPad during recess. Unbfu--inglievable!!!