Category — Childhood

Childhood is was a time of testing one’s abilities and limits. Today, being a kid is banned as aggressive, antisocial and overtly masculine, Oh the shame, the shame of being Ritalin free.

At McLean School, Playing Tag Turns Into Hot Potato

Robyn Hooker, principal of Kent Gardens Elementary School, has told students they may no longer play tag during recess after determining that the game of chasing, dodging and yelling “You’re it!” had gotten out of hand. Hooker explained to parents in a letter this month that tag had become a game “of intense aggression.”The principal said that her goal is to keep students safe and that she hopes to restore tag (as well as touch football, also now on hold) after teachers and administrators review recess policies.

After her review, tag will be acceptable provided there is no running and being “it” is abolished. New touch football rules stipulate walking for a touchdown and saying in a modulated voice “you’re touched.”

Students will be gratified to know the:

The Fairfax County schools’ office of risk management maintains a list of activities that are prohibited at any school-sponsored events. In addition to bungee-jumping and scuba diving, students are not permitted to break dance or play dodge ball or tug-of-war.

Unregulated activities such as

A 14-year-old Arizona girl was arrested on suspicion of hitting another teen over the head with a folding chair…[snip]

are not part of written school policy. This seems to be of a more serious nature than tag. I guess proscribing this behavior might sully the student’s self-esteem. Better to raise girlymen.