An elementary school in Colorado banned the game of Tag at recess.
I’m sorry, what?
This is, again, a sad example of the ridiculous notions of a couple of people somehow winning over the giant laws of common sense. Why would you eliminate a game that clearly helps kids define friendships, boundaries, fair play, self-discipline and problem solving? It’s TAG!!! If someone’s doing it inappropriately, then discipline them. Then everyone learns A) what the rules are, and B) what happens if you break the rules. Then they can decide whether they want to break the rules and get punished. (Like we must do as grownups…but why the heck would we want to prepare young people for growing up?)
It’s interesting, this ties in with the Penny Arcade Expo (commonly known as the Pax Convention), which is the annual Gamers convention. It celebrates tabletop board games, video games, card games, gaming and gamers in general. Pax was held this past week, and Wil Wheaton, the writer/blogger/actor/gamer, gave the keynote speech. It was quite wonderful; topical and relevant, while being funny and poignant as well. I, frankly, was quite impressed. He examined the notion that video games in particular are an evil, antisocial element in our society. In the midst of some great storytelling, and reminiscing about growing up as video games and arcades made their first appearances in the world, he discusses how games, gaming in general, is an extremely social activity. It’s a lack of people wanting to take responsibility for raising their children that’s a much bigger problem. It’s a lack of respect for other people that’s a much bigger problem.
These two things, the speech and the ridiculous banning of Tag, both just happened recently and both connected immediately in my mind.
Why, oh why, can people not be ridiculous? If my kids are being bothered by someone who is chasing them at recess, I would work with my son or daughter on how to deal with the situation: talk to the teacher, or recess monitor. If that doesn’t work, I would take my kid, and talk with those people, and possibly the parents of the other child, if it gets bad. Would I propose that the school ban Tag?!
No.
If a video game is available that lets you drive a car around in a very realistic environment, run over real looking drug dealers, get out and rob them while beating them, should I let my child play that game? How about a game that lets you walk through and “play” what is essentially a terrifying horror movie with graphic special effects?
No.
I may want to play it myself, I like horror movies. If I choose to play it, it would be when my children were not at home, or after they’d gone to bed.
Gaming, and playing games, is a big part of my family. We play games all the time. It’s social time, family time, and we have fun being together. It’s also great for teaching and reinforcing fair play, patience, tolerance, sportsmanship and how to have FUN with a group of people. God knows, I’m not perfect – in some of these games my 7 year old son gets so wound up and distracted that he’ll drive me insane while adding 30 minutes to a game by not paying attention to his turn. And so, in these instances, it’s not just my KIDS who learn how to play well with others, it’s me.
How does all this tie together?
Responsibility.
Good Lord, don’t ban Tag. Teach them about fair play, and boundaries.
Don’t ban violent or scary video games. Don’t let children play them! (They’re not for them ANYWAY! BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOUR UNDERAGE KIDS DO WITH THEIR TIME!)
Responsibility. Respect. Surely these things can’t be that hard to understand?
Tony Caselli 
Interesting, I’ve just spent three days taking a course on how to teach kids strategies in just these kind of things- attentive listening, mutual respect, no put-downs, inclusiveness, taking responsibility for their own actions and emotions. Far better to give kids these kind of life skills than banning them from playing childhood games. Such things really do go way too far.
I’ll bet that was a great, but difficult, course. My wife was telling me about a similar course they just did in her school district, about many of the same subjects. She said some of it was hard – you hate to think of kids being bullied and belittled – but that it was very useful.
Hope your school year is a great one!
Good post!!!!
I’m afraid that by the time I have children and they are old enough to go to school, everyone’s going to be forced to buy plastic bubbles and have absolutely no reaction with one another.
Like The Boy In The Plastic Bubble, starring John Travolta! A Classic!