Toronto School Bans Hard Balls 319
In an attempt to finally "think of the children," Earl Beatty Public school has prohibited students from playing with balls after a "few serious incidents" in which students and staff were hit or almost hit by balls. From the article: "The happy days of kicking a ball around at recess ended Monday after students took home a letter advising that henceforth, no child could bring a soccer ball, football, volleyball or even tennis ball to the junior and senior school in the area of Coxwell and Danforth Aves." I assume all lunches will soon be taken via feeding tube to minimize choking hazards.
Beyond reasonable (Score:4, Interesting)
Many kids today are inactive and do everything to play sports. School is an environment to grow, learn, play and socialize. Sports seems to fit this very well.
A colleague of mine at work said their 8 yr old son was sent home from school on Halloween, because their outfit was 'too scary'. The parents got a letter and other kids were apparently dismissed. He had a mummy or vampire costume mom had made him.
I don't have kids yet. It seems odd that the generation that grew out of having hippie pot smoking, acid dropping, heavy metal parents to their kids who, like myself, grew up listening to and enjoying even crazier music and exposed to more sex, drugs and alcohol are the same that are deeply offended by 'scary' Halloween costumes or kids playing sports at school.
I live in Toronto and compared to what goes on in the rest of the city, playing with your (or other people's) balls should be the least of parents' concerns. (pun intended),
Re:What next? (Score:5, Interesting)
Right after the Columbine thing happend (I was in highschool), the school I was at started banning stuff left and right. Noting the ridiculousness in a very similar fashion to waht you are doing here, me and a few buddies printed out a ream of flyers declaring that "Sharp writing utensils, including pencils and pens will be confiscated" and that you have to use "approved safe" writing instruments like markers and crayons.
We then snuck out during an assembly and taped them up everywhere. Amazing, noone got caught - but it was effective. A few students took them home, some discussion started, and some of the bans were lifted (including dusters/long coats).
It was the proudest moment of highschool for me :)
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)