The Strib's Terry Collins had an interesting story last weekend about new advances in education over at Armatage Elementary: the school banned touching. If you were the daily recipient of Dutch Rubs, noogies and/or Atomic Wedgies, this would come as welcome news, but the policy struck many as a bit broad.
It was later "refined" to permit holding hands -- awww, for cute -- and we assume it doesn't prohibit auto-touching, since that would make it difficult to clap. Unless kids learn to wink really loudly.
But the ban still prohibits touching in football and tag. Tag! How do you make someone IT without touching? Have a process server deliver a subpoena?
It's possible that tag has changed since my time, and kids now transfer the taint of being IT by decking their opponent with a haymaker. TAG you're IT -- and also UNCONSCIOUS. If that's the case I'd agree it should be nerfed down a notch. But more likely there are just a few rambunctious peer-pounders who put extra gusto into horseplay, and perhaps it's better to teach them how to restrain themselves instead of making everyone pretend they're limbless grubworms.
In my day gym class was fraught with pummeling, and I hated it. We had a game where the object was to throw balls at the other team, and the game was usually dominated by huffing, chest-puffed alpha males who specialized in hurling balls at your head, or worse. Those of us who got brained and sent to the sidelines learned important lessons in life. Either learn to throw, or find a way to avoid being hit in the head. Contact tag imparts similar messages. If you're IT, you're IT. So learn how not to be IT.
On the other hand, if the schools want to ban mocking, sarcastic eye-rolling, I think I speak for all parents: give it a shot. We need all the help we can get
jlileks@startribune.com • 612-673-7858 More daily at www.buzz.mn.
