First schools started taking away playground equipment like merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters because students could get hurt. Next came, the banishment of the best ball-throwing game ever, Dodgeball. But now a school in Washington has taken away another game that has probably been played by every kid during recess, and parents are saying that things may have gone too far.

Because of a new school rule requiring students to keep their hands to themselves, the Mercer Island School District in Washington has decided to ban kids from playing tag on the playground.

According to the school district, focus is now on student safety, especially unstructured time and recess. With a new focus on students keeping their hands to themselves, the rationale of the school district is “to ensure the physical and emotional safety of all students.”

Parents of the students at the Mercer Island School District feel differently, however, creating and joining a Facebook page dedicated to changing the newly enforced rule. According to their Facebook page, the parents feel that their kids playing tag encourages independence and physical activity. Many parents also feel that there are more serious issues in schools that should be dealt with, and if there is a problem during a game of tag, it should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

A spokesperson for Mercer Island says that there isn't an official "ban" on the game of tag, but the school district still believes that it is just safer to have a "hands-off" policy to keep everyone safer.

The staff is working with the students to promote different options that will continue to allow the students to "still have fun, be with their friends, move their bodies and give their brain a break from their studies."  Other "safer" options for these students that the staff is promoting includes wall ball, foursquare or hopscotch.

 

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