A Gameless Education

See Dick run. See Jane run. No more, Dick and Jane. Sit. Sit. Sit. The fun games of childhood may be a thing of the past. Tag, touch football and other unsupervised games have been banned at an elementary school near Boston, Massachusetts. The principal has cited legal liability as the issue behind the ban. Our litigious society has claimed the last bastion of physical fitness. of our youth . The once time honored game of dodge ball incurred modifications to assure user friendly participation. Across the nation, tag and other chase games are out. Will recess in the schoolyard now mirror the yard at the state prison with students milling around , walking the "yard", leaning against the walls and planning the 3:00 break over the walls?

These games are what being a kid is all about. At home they sit with their TVs, IPODS and computers. Not a negative in all cases, but there certainly is no exercise if that is the only menu they have to choose from. A recent poll on MSNBC.com, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15317229/ , reveals that 97% of those polled feel that a ban is not favored.

What will be next? Jump rope? The rope can be fashioned into a weapon. Should we explore the possibilities of alternatives to recess? Maybe Mr. Foley's Interactive Magical Mail and Messaging Program?

Kids have enough problems, especially with the other types of school violence frustrating their lives. Politicians call for the arming of teachers, but officials ban a childhood game? Our children face incompetent school districts, administrators and teachers.

Give me a break. There are times we wish we could all enjoy a simple game.