School district bans popular childhood game to “ensure physical, emotional”

Q13 Fox News’ Steve Kiggins reports the Mercer Island School District has deemed the popular recess game unsafe.

A district official is quoted as saying the move was made to ensure the physical and emotional safety of the students.

“The kids had been told not to play tag, and I think they were really bummed”, Joyce said.

“He has been spending most of his recesses wandering around with his friend talking about video games, which is the last thing I want him to be doing,” she said. Is tag an acceptable game for children at school to play? In addition, elementary principals will seek student input and feedback on these expectations to demonstrate ownership in their learning. Others are concerned about the lack of exercise their children are getting during recess if they can’t run around after one another.

“The result of those studies is that more school districts have removed discretion in applying the disciplinary policies to avoid criticism of being biased”, said Ronnie Casella, an associate professor of education at Central Connecticut State University who has written about school violence.

At least she’s still allowed to play tag-for now.

However, the game of tag is now banned at the Mercer Island School District.

It all started with a social media report earlier this week when a group of parents, responding to what they had heard was a ban on the game of tag in elementary schools, formed a group called “Support “tag” at Recess”. “Kids should be free to have spontaneous play on the playground at recess”.

Superintendent Gary Plano brought up the backlash to the new “hands-off” rule at a school board meeting Thursday, according to the Mercer Island Reporter. After all, a pat on the back in a voluntary game of tag might… make you mildly uncomfortable? Other respectful games that involve appropriate physical interaction are also encouraged. Or perhaps the school can’t charge $190 for tag, so they’ll ban it.

‘In this day and age of childhood obesity, there’s a need for more activity’.

What is wrong with this school district?