Re: Nice Planet 2010
Back in my K-4 days, I remember we had to have snow pants if we wanted to play in the snow. Plus, snowball fights were banned.
And that was at a Catholic school.
We were fortunate enough to have a huge playground, half of which was grass, surrounded by a flagstone wall topped by hedges. Talk about your perfect set up for snowball fights! Forts, charges, hiding spots, etc. It was wonderful. And I don't recall platoons of faculty/staff our there to "protect" students. Anybody who didn't want to participate (and among the boys there were practically none) didn't have to. No question, you have to keep an eye on the little guys (K-4), but that's no justification for banning playing in the snow.
Naturally, when all the kids came in from recess there would be some melting in the hall ways. Big deal. That's what mops are for. Of course, you'd have that slush when they showed up in the morning, too.
But these people are talking about the DEPTH of the snow. Are they figuring kids are going to be lost in a crevass? And I'd want to see real (as opposed to annecdotal) statistics that playing in the snow is somehow more dangerous. IMO, these people are just lazy and are prepared to take away one of the joys of childhood because it presents a slight increase in their work. Yup, gotta make sure the little kids have their mittens, and boots and hats--gotta make sure they don't get wet. Yup, maybe there's a little slush in the hallway. Yes, it takes a few more minutes to get 'em out of their winter clothing after recess and ready for class. Much better to keep the kids locked up in school rather than let 'em out to have a blast in the snowl
I remember enviously watching the kids from St. Giles heading to Taylor park on Holy Days of Obligation to do a little sledding. We all wondered if they were going to have their Flexible Flyers blessed.