Friday, November 09, 2007

4307

Unintended consequences of over protecting children

Yesterday there was an article in the WSJ about "the bubble wrap generation." Using that article, plus my memory of being in public school in the 40s and 50s and having children in the public schools in the 70s and 80s, I came up with a list of what may not be allowed anymore (can vary by district).
    dodge ball
    tag
    chatter on the baseball diamond
    chasing on the playground
    running in the halls
    swings
    teeter totters
    hugs between classmates, same sex or opposite sex
    sand boxes
    cops and robbers
    cowboys and Indians
    touch football
    junior ROTC
    prayer
    moment of silence
    Bible reading
    Pledge of Allegiance
    Christmas programs
    Halloween parties
    single sex sports
    chastity
    creation
    walking to and from school
    unshaded playgrounds
    any words that could be perceived as harming another’s self-esteem
    pranks of any kind
    sharing an aspirin or Excedrin with a classmate (zero tolerance)
Teens are bringing alcohol and drugs to school in candy dispensers and water bottles, but being expelled for sharing an aspirin. I asked a teacher why the zero tolerance rule, and she said school administrators refuse to make judgement calls--they won't accept the responsibility since parents blame them for everything, big or small. What does that teach the kids about personal responsibility and making choices, I asked. She just shrugged.

And yet, on the far side of overprotectiveness--all the way to harmful to the environment--are the blue dyed, shredded and mulched automobile tires spread on the children's playground where we voted on Tuesday. When it rains, the 1/2 inch dyed chips wash out under the fence into the parking lot, get on our shoes, tracked into our car, and I'm guessing animals might eat them, or even small children. All to protect kids from a few bumps and bruises. Green greed turned blue.

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