Raising Wimps

I see, via Unfogged, that a McClean County Virginia school has now outlawed Tag at recess.

Robyn Hooker, principal of Kent Gardens Elementary School, has told students they may no longer play tag during recess after determining that the game of chasing, dodging and yelling "You're it!" had gotten out of hand. Hooker explained to parents in a letter this month that tag had become a game "of intense aggression."

I knew dodge ball was out because kids got hurt. That was always one of my favorites. In addition to organized games in gym, we played pick up games at recess, with our backs against a brick wall. Yeah, heads were smashed against the brick. You picked yourself up and played again.

I can only imagine what happened to the very un-PC, "Smear The Queer."

My friend's nieces and nephews play in park district leagues where everyone gets the a trophy for participating. That's fine and all but they don't keep score and they don't acknowledge who wins the leagues (which is why I won't describe them as "sports leagues.") I understand teaching fundamental skills in a no pressure situation but at some point kids need to learn there are winners and losers. And part of a sport's fundamentals is scoring! The coddling just goes on too long.

Of course, it goes way beyond just sports and recess. By the time I was 7 I walked or rode my bicycle a full mile to school. Can you imagine kids doing that today? Not a chance. Oh, maybe some want to and some are capable of doing so, but parents don't let that happen. One coworker drives her kids three blocks to school daily.