whether they let kids make human targets out of their classmatesBias. More accurate would be to say: "whether they let kids make human targets of themselves to their classmates. BIG difference.
In 1963, when I was in seventh grade, we got a new principal. One of the first things he did was stop dodge ball, a hallowed formal and informal recreation much beloved by my classmates and I.
I wasn't good at a lot of sports, but I was good at dodging. I used to love to do it. I was outraged at this new interloper for his idiotic rigidity.
Guess he's mainstream now. It's enough to make you puke.
I am a good bit older than you in 1963 I was 23 years old & a mother but we didn't play dodge ball in 7th grade. In 7th grade we played softball, tennis, volleyball & basketball. I played dodge ball in 2nd & 3rd grade. At least thats when I was the dodge balls target. I was very small & a year younger than most of the class. The call for dodge ball was the thing I dreaded most of all. The small kids were the targets of the larger stronger boys, it didn't matter if we were girls. Girls & boys played together & it was an elementary school game. I can remembr being knocked down & skinning my knees & hands till they bled. If we had played in 7th grade I probably would have loved it too.