A beloved childhood game played by youngsters throughout many decades has been thrown out the window by a Toronto school.
The words, “tag, you’re it!” may never again be heard on the playground of St. Luke Catholic Elementary School after it banned all types of tag games involving physical contact because of roughhousing.
This comes after the school noticed a spike in the number of children getting scrapes, bruises, and in one case a fractured bone.
It’s not the first time a school has sought to ban a rough game. Many young adults remember when red rover, a game in which two teams link arms across from one another and ‘call over’ an opponent to try and break the link, was banned in many Ontario schools in the 1990s.
This announcement from the school has brought only scrutiny and anger both from parents and bystanders.
@SpotterBrett School in Toronto, Ontario banned kids from playing tag at recess because of injuries. Let’s bubble wrap them all!
— Donna Evans (@donnaevans88jr) December 11, 2015
“This is like building a playground with brand new equipment and then banning the children from using it because they ‘might’ get hurt,” said Zika Petrovic, whose two children attend the school.
“Kids will be kids. They will make mistakes, and they will get hurt, but this is how they’re suppose to learn. What’s next?”
Is banning tag taking child safety too far?
— Nik Cvetkovic (@nikki_freshie) December 14, 2015
John W. Yan from the Toronto Catholic School Board clarified the rule, saying it is only full contact tag that has been banned, but normal tag is allowed.
Say What?! The game #Tag is banned from #Toronto #schools How do kids play in schoolyard nowadays? #favgame #growingup #tag #youreit
— Jackee King (@Jackee_King_) December 9, 2015
St. Luke’s is requesting a representative of Toronto Public Health to attend the school to advise teachers about options for activities that are not potentially dangerous.
This is part of the initiative, Physical Activity Leaders in Schools, is a playground leadership program that encourages children to be active at recess. A Toronto Public Health adviser will train teachers about playground safety strategies, lessons that they will pass on to students.
Here is the new tag playing in schools. Toronto Catholic elementary school has banned the game “Tag. pic.twitter.com/DJSpcxwF2O
— Lillian May (@Lillianna277) December 9, 2015