American Republic Online

There’s a new threat in American schools: tag.  That’s right, the game of tag.  In Colorado Springs, an elementary school has banned kids from playing tag:

“It causes a lot of conflict on the playground,” said Cindy Fesgen, assistant principal of the Discovery Canyon Campus school. 

Apparently kids were being chased “against their will.”   Against their will?  Ok, so I guess their parents taught them to run from people chasing them?  Or maybe it’s too hard to not play?

Let me paint you a picture.  You’re minding your own business, swinging on the swings, playing in the sand, etc. when some kid runs up touches you and says “Tag, you’re it!”  Hear are your options: 1. ignore them, 2. start crying and go tell the teacher, 3. say “I’m not playing tag”, 4. wait until you go home to start crying and then tell your parents and/or therapist.  Now, for the sake of the argument, let’s say you choose option 3, and tell the kid you’re not interested.  After half-heartedly trying to convince you to play, they quickly grow bored, and realize that all the people who do want to play have gained a lot of ground on them and leave you alone.

Instead, teachers and parents are intent on not letting kids resolve differences on their own.  What happened to “If it’s not bleeding or broken, go back outside.”?  What are these kids going to do when they don’t have anyone to make things “fair” or “safe”?