Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Colorado School Bans Game of Tag on Playground
The Colorado Gazetter ^ | BRIAN NEWSOME

Posted on 08/31/2007 3:51:34 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache

Springs elementary gives tag a timeout By BRIAN NEWSOME THE GAZETTE

On the playground of a northern Colorado Springs elementary school, tag is not “it.”

The touch-and-run game and any other form of chasing was banned this year at Discovery Canyon Campus’ elementary school by administrators who say it fuels schoolyard disputes.

“It causes a lot of conflict on the playground,” said Assistant Principal Cindy Fesgen. In the first days of school, before tag was banned, she said students would complain to her about being chased or harassed.

Fesgen said she would hear: “Well, I don’t want to be chased, but he won’t stop chasing me, or she won’t stop chasing me.”

Fesgen said two parents complained to her about the demise of tag, but she said that generally, parents and children didn’t fuss about the new rules. Running games are still OK, she said, as long as students don’t run after one another.

The Academy School District 20 elementary school isn’t the first in the Pikes Peak region to take issue with traditional recess games.

In 2005, two elementaries in Falcon School District 49 adopted a structured recess program, Trouble-Free Playground, that did away with games like tag in favor of alternative activities that cut down on physical contact. Evans and Meridian Ranch elementaries said the program encouraged more students to play games and helped reduce playground squabbles.

Nationally, several schools have done away with tag and other games because of the accidents and arguments they can lead to. It’s a trend that has rankled some parents and childhood experts who say games such as tag contribute to children’s social and physical development.

Fesgen, who has supervised playgrounds for more than 20 years, said this is not the first school where she’s restricted chase games. She still believes in free play. Students can run races and run around with friends, she said.

“There is plenty for them to do,” she said.

DETAILS

In 2005, two elementaries in Falcon School District 49 adopted a structured recess program, Trouble-Free Playground, that did away with chasing games in favor of other activities that cut down on physical contact. Evans and Meridian Ranch elementaries said the program helped reduce playground squabbles.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: childhood; playground; tag; zerotolerance
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last
The end of the world has to be coming......soon.
1 posted on 08/31/2007 3:51:37 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

What about “frozen” tag? That’s a little safer < /S >


2 posted on 08/31/2007 3:52:46 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
The end of the world has to be coming......soon.

My sentiments exactly.

3 posted on 08/31/2007 3:54:54 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Hate me, I'm white.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

PC irrationality gone even further amuck.


4 posted on 08/31/2007 3:55:42 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Liberty is not Free. Never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

We used rocks when I was a kid.


5 posted on 08/31/2007 3:55:46 PM PDT by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
Running games are still OK, she said, as long as students don’t run after one another.

Oh brother! "Have your people fax my people!"

6 posted on 08/31/2007 3:57:37 PM PDT by MarineBrat (My wife and I took an AIDS vaccination that the Church offers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Westlander
Pretty soon the MAY POLE WILL BE BACK.

Do any of you remember that. We used to have to make ourselves a hat and dance around a pole holding a piece of ribbon to unite with our communist brethren.

I had no idea about the communist tilt until adulthood and wondered why it vanished.

7 posted on 08/31/2007 3:58:57 PM PDT by alisasny (RIP Lt. Kevin “Kojak” Davis BLUE ANGELS #6 THANKYOU!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
What a bunch of wimps. Sure, it is okay to punish them by not allowing them to play the game for a couple of days. But, banning it is ridiculous.

Besides, it is an opportunity to teach the kids self control — be good and we will allow you to play the game, be bad and we will take it away for a couple of days.

These are elementary kids.

8 posted on 08/31/2007 4:01:44 PM PDT by dhs12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

And the the food police complain because children are over weight. How the hell can they maintain an average weight if they can not excercise you idiots??


9 posted on 08/31/2007 4:10:03 PM PDT by Shots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
Running games are still OK, she said, as long as students don’t run after one another.

So, I guess football and basketball are out...?

10 posted on 08/31/2007 4:17:16 PM PDT by randog (What the...?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alisasny
May Day, and dancing around the Maypole go back a lot further than communism. They were stolen by the commies. It's a shame.
11 posted on 08/31/2007 4:18:27 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
The latest in the “feminization of America.”

It won’t be long before we have school uniforms — unisex - skirts for both boys and girls.

12 posted on 08/31/2007 4:18:50 PM PDT by vetsvette (Bring Him Back)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

Oh, golly gee...let’s not subject them to something they don’t like. After all, in the real world, you always get your way.


13 posted on 08/31/2007 4:19:34 PM PDT by econjack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

It would be a rather piss poor teacher when I was in school who could not handle an elementary school playground squabble.


14 posted on 08/31/2007 4:20:22 PM PDT by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

Educators used to understand that the playground was where students learned conflict resolution.


15 posted on 08/31/2007 4:21:19 PM PDT by the_Watchman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
Fesgen said she would hear: “Well, I don’t want to be chased, but he won’t stop chasing me, or she won’t stop chasing me.”

Let me see, if you don't want to be chased you don't run. Too simple for educated minds, I guess.

16 posted on 08/31/2007 4:22:44 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache


I sure am glad playing tag's been banned. I don't like being chased. What all that running around good for anyhow?
17 posted on 08/31/2007 4:24:42 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

Hey, kids!

Since they won’t let you play tag with your classmates, I suggest you play murder-ball with the administrators - use rocks if no balls are handy.


18 posted on 08/31/2007 4:27:23 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

ExCalifornian’s are doing their best to ruin this once conservative state.


19 posted on 08/31/2007 4:28:11 PM PDT by jwh_Denver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA&NR=1 Paul Potts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

In other news, America is more obese than ever...........

mrs


20 posted on 08/31/2007 4:30:20 PM PDT by proudmilitarymrs (It's not immigration, it's an invasion!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson