LIABILITY: Weber Middle School in Long Island, New York bans certain recess activities deemed “dangerous” in fear of future lawsuits.
by Valeria Gutierrez, Staff Writer
Think back to the simpler days when life was a cinch. Think back to elementary and middle school when recess was the golden time to get up from behind your desk and blow off what little steam you did have. Through a quick game of tetherball, an intense round of handball or a few minutes of playing tag, you were ready to sit down and learn.
An entire generation in Long Island, New York is in jeopardy of losing the same type of fun their older siblings and parents had. Weber Middle School has banned all tag games, prohibited cartwheels unless supervised and “hard” balls such as baseballs, basketballs, tetherballs, lacrosse balls, footballs and soccer balls. Although Weber claims the “hard” ball ban is temporary due to construction and limited space, other elementary and middle schools believe the ban is a reasonable way to prevent injuries. Most of the students and parents are outraged by the school’s solution to increase protection because multiple other recess safety precautions are already in place.
During our parents’ generation, there was no soft padding to fall on in the playground or any restrictions on what games could be played. Back then, our parents fell onto hard, rigid concrete if they were pushed during a rough game of tag. More often than not, our parents got up and continued playing with multiple cuts, bruises and abrasions. Regardless, our parents survived and are one tough generation thanks to their independence. By taking care of themselves, our parents had the better opportunity to flourish and eventually take care of others. Parents and students are shocked at the new regulations; it seems illogical to ban any form of exercise as obesity rates continue to rise in children. Students are surprised because there are already numerous other safeguards in place such as foam padding in playgrounds and multiple supervisors. If schools are so worried about the children’s safety, they might as well swaddle them in bubble wrap and keep them inside of a plastic bubble for the entire school day.
Weber Middle School and other schools willing to adopt the ban believe this is the best step to take to protect both the school and the students. Over time, parents and their children have become more sensitive and overdramatic. In previous generations, if you came home with a broken bone, your parents would punish and blame you for being careless. Now, if you come home with a mild scratch, parents are quick to call the lawyer. Ergo, schools are worried about losing what little money they do have through lawsuits from injuries. Weber is currently under construction which has caused a decrease in the playground space. The middle school believes students are bound to hit others with “hard” balls and cause serious injuries such as concussions and broken bones. The school’s solution is to put an end to tackle games and substitute the “hard” balls with Nerf balls. Although Weber Middle School has kept the “hard” balls for P.E. classes in order to satisfy some of the students’ wishes, the students are still discontent.
Even though both parents and their children are outraged, they contributed to the decision. When injuries occur, some parents are quick to place blame on the school, especially if there is a profit to be made. Usually, students don’t harm themselves intentionally. Parents need to understand that accidents happen and no one is to blame. Therefore, if schools are worried about lawsuits, they should beat the parents to the punch by having them sign a contract agreeing not to sue the school or anyone in it. The less complicated solution is for schools to teach students how to properly play rough games. This would prevent more accidents as students would be better educated about each sport and more willing to wear protective gear.
So don’t ban the fun, ban the ban. Schools should not feel the need to minimize recess activities available because of a few bad encounters. This new step towards safety will ruin future generations’ opportunity to experience what their parents did. With so much protection, are we not causing greater harm to our children by creating a society of weaklings?