SACKED RACE!
School bans sports day favourite
14th July 2008
By Bill Mosley
CAMPAIGNERS have slammed education chiefs for banning the sack race and three-legged event in case kids get hurt.
Children were meant to be doing the traditional races at an Edwardian themed sports day today.
But they were dropped because of fears that a child might fall over and get injured.
The decision has been slammed as “completely over the top”.
Teachers at John F Kennedy Primary in Washington, Tyne and Wear, dropped the traditional races after discussions with staff from Beamish Open Air Museum, where the sports day will be staged.
About 375 children aged four to 11 are taking part in the event, dressing in period costume and playing old-fashioned games as part of the school’s centenary celebrations.
Simon Woolley, head of education at Beamish, County Durham, said: “We looked at a three-legged race and a sack race but we want to minimise the risk to the children.
“We had to assess which of the activities were liable to cause a risk. We thought we would be better to do hopping and running instead because there was less chance of them falling over.”
The decision has come under fire by the Campaign Against Political Correctness group.
Founder Laura Midgely, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: “It’s health and safety rules gone mad. It’s completely over the top. Three-legged races are very constructive and involve teamwork ... they are good for a number of reasons. It’s a great shame.”
“Why should these activities be so dangerous when they’re fine in every other school? We certainly had no problems with these events when I was at school.
“The worst thing that could possibly happen is the children fall over. They’re going to fall over doing any event aren’t they?”
Teacher and organiser Gill Hanley said: “An awful lot of schools haven’t done these kind of activities for a long time, so I don’t see that it’s a problem.
“We decided we had too many events anyway and we wanted the easiest things that we could get for the children to take part in.”
Schools have already banned pastimes like conkers, fearing parents will sue over injuries and others axed football, saying it was anti-social. One school even banned skipping after a girl fell over.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/43982/Sacked-race-/
School bans sports day favourite
14th July 2008
By Bill Mosley
CAMPAIGNERS have slammed education chiefs for banning the sack race and three-legged event in case kids get hurt.
Children were meant to be doing the traditional races at an Edwardian themed sports day today.
But they were dropped because of fears that a child might fall over and get injured.
The decision has been slammed as “completely over the top”.
Teachers at John F Kennedy Primary in Washington, Tyne and Wear, dropped the traditional races after discussions with staff from Beamish Open Air Museum, where the sports day will be staged.
About 375 children aged four to 11 are taking part in the event, dressing in period costume and playing old-fashioned games as part of the school’s centenary celebrations.
Simon Woolley, head of education at Beamish, County Durham, said: “We looked at a three-legged race and a sack race but we want to minimise the risk to the children.
“We had to assess which of the activities were liable to cause a risk. We thought we would be better to do hopping and running instead because there was less chance of them falling over.”
The decision has come under fire by the Campaign Against Political Correctness group.
Founder Laura Midgely, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: “It’s health and safety rules gone mad. It’s completely over the top. Three-legged races are very constructive and involve teamwork ... they are good for a number of reasons. It’s a great shame.”
“Why should these activities be so dangerous when they’re fine in every other school? We certainly had no problems with these events when I was at school.
“The worst thing that could possibly happen is the children fall over. They’re going to fall over doing any event aren’t they?”
Teacher and organiser Gill Hanley said: “An awful lot of schools haven’t done these kind of activities for a long time, so I don’t see that it’s a problem.
“We decided we had too many events anyway and we wanted the easiest things that we could get for the children to take part in.”
Schools have already banned pastimes like conkers, fearing parents will sue over injuries and others axed football, saying it was anti-social. One school even banned skipping after a girl fell over.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/43982/Sacked-race-/
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.... I agree with jambutty, scabby knees and elbows are part of what it means to grow up ... and if outdoor activities are limited and have the fun taken out of them, there is so much more temptation to sit in front of a screen (like we do) and get flabby ... there was a lot of talk in Canada about kids in the junior leagues playing no contact hockey