A popular childhood game has been banned in one school district in Washington State.
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“The kids had been told not to play tag, and I think they were really bummed”, Joyce said. “I survived.” Still another parent noted that now her son walks around chatting about video games during recess, rather than getting more vigorous exercise.
“The “hands-off” policy intended for unstructured play and recess however well intended, has led to confusion, false reporting and clearly not supported by many staff and many parents”, he said. In addition, elementary principals will seek student input and feedback on these expectations to demonstrate ownership in their learning.
Parents told Q13 that they weren’t consulted before the ban was made, and a lot aren’t happy.
It’s a game that nearly every person has played at one time or another.
“STAR Michigan (Support “Tag” At Recess in MI) is a group for Mercer Islanders who value physical activity at recess”, the Facebook page explains.
Traditional tag is back in the Mercer Island School District. The school will also encourage other non-contact games for the kids, such as wall ball, foursquare and hopscotch.
Mary Grady, the Mercer Island School District communications director, released a statement to KCPQ about the decision.
That reversal came after parents objected to a new “hands off” policy, which required students to keep their hands and feet to themselves at all times, including recess.
The point of discouraging the game was to minimize negative physical interactions among students. Tag is not banned. We know that in order for students to be their best in the classroom, they need to feel safe and secure within the school environment….
The Seattle-area school system outlawed playground tag without any evident provocation – no freakish traumatic incident, no injury, no reported complaint.
Thursday the school district attempted to clarify.
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“It’s regretful that what seemed to be a well-intentioned desire to help protect kids has taken a life of its own,” he commented to the board.
