School Bans Tag.. Says it creates "Self-Esteem" problems...
Document 029.20.1.0 # 35
Subject: School Bans Tag-- creates "self-esteem" issues
Date: 22 June, 2002 9:51 AM
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,55836,00.html
School Says Game of Tag Is Out.
Children play tag at a school in Santa Monica, Calif.
Thursday, June 20, 2002
By Anita Vogel
SANTA MONICA. A Santa Monica elementary school has banned the game of tag,
once synonymous with youth and innocence, because they say it creates
self-esteem issues among weaker and slower children.
"We had some children who were not playing 'it' appropriately. How do you
differentiate between those that are playing correctly and those that
aren't?" asked Franklin Elementary School Principal Pat Samarge.
In the school's weekly newsletter, Samarge told parents that without adult
supervision, the game would be banned. The principal said children playing
tag suffered both physical and emotional injuries.
"Little kids were coming in and saying 'I don't like it.' [The] children
weren't feeling good about it," Samarge said.
Dr. Judy Young, executive director of the National Association for Sport
and Physical Education, disagreed with Samarge, saying that games like tag
"are organized to have a winner and a loser," which is simply a part of
life. "Self-esteem should not be imbedded in whether you win or lose a game,"
Young said.
Tamara Silver, a parent of a fifth-grader at Franklin Elementary School,
said the school sent her two letters informing her of the new rules. The
second letter cited safety concerns, not issues of self-image, to justify
the tag ban.
"I want my child to know that he can have some freedom," Silver said. "I
want my child to know he can play. I want my child to know that he can fall
down and skin his knee."
Fox News' Alec Melman contributed to this report.
029.20.1.0 # 35 End.
"We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary
Americans." Comrade Pres W. J. Klinton. USAToday. 11 Mar 93. Pg 2A. "You
know the one thing that's wrong with this country? Everyone gets a chance to
have their fair say." Comrade Pres W. J. Klinton. 28 May 93. The Courtyard.
City Hall, Philadelphia. "I'm not going to have some reporters pawing
through our papers. We are the President." Comrade Hillary Diane Klinton.