This was sent to me by Will Kirousis and a comment was posted on the blog – The North Attleboro (town in south east MA just north of the Rhode Island border) school department has decided there will be NO tag or other UNSTRUCTURED games played during recess or gym class to “reduce the odds of lawsuit as a result of injury”.
In many ways this summarizes the whole problem. The other day I was driving somewhere and the kids were getting out of school. All the kids were carrying their bike helmets (not wearing them). Why do they need them? I am all for safety but how we all survive growing up without bike helmets. It is another excuse not to exercise. Liability is the reason much of the playground equipment has been taken off of school grounds. What can we do? It is a real dilemma; I certainly do not have an answer or even a suggestion. Some way, some how we need to get back in touch with reality.
I also saw where the NFL had given money to provide a grant that would provide exercise programs for the school curriculums. That is great, but why do we need to reinvent the wheel. Let take that money and hire more qualified PE teachers. There are great curriculums out there; they are just not being implemented. To get this turned around is going to require very dedicated individuals in the trenches working their butts off every day with great administrative support. The time for talk is over, now is the time for action!