# Schools banning tag......ummm, huh??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 19, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566 "2002-11-19T18:03:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Toaster52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@Toaster52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster52)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/1 "2002-11-19T18:03:46Z")
I have been trying to find an online link for this story, but so far, no luck. If anyone can help me, feel free, as I am just bewildered by the utter idiocy of these people. It’s an AP story that appeared in The Trentonian (NJ) today, November 19, 2002. …Sigh… It seems that even playing tag isn’t safe anymore. According to Long Hill Superintendent Arthur DiBenedetto, “The idea of loosely running around and chasing each other is not safe.” WHAT THE FUCK?!?! That’s practically the _job description_ of kids……to run around a lot and bump into things. It’s been said, and I agree, that if you don’t have skinned knees at the end of the day, it’s been a wasted day. I mean, come on!!! What are we trying to do, raise children with the idea that they will grow up and NEVER get hurt? Physically….and mentally, too, it seems. Mary Beth Klotz (an apt name if I ever heard one), a psychologist with the National Association of School Psychologists, said, “Tag may look OK socially, but it can be a double standard because kids can use it to bully a certain student.” This is about as silly as pointing out that 2+2=4. Do some kids bully other kids? You got it…….and your point is??? For crying out loud, one of the ways that kids grow up is by learning how to deal with bullies and being bullied. Besides, get a clue……….this is a game of TAG, f’gawdssake, not a blueprint for life!!! :smack: I’m just so stunned that I can’t even rant properly. I sit here, staring at the computer, weeping for the species. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/2 "2002-11-19T18:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Toaster52 \* > **Mary Beth Klotz (an apt name if I ever heard one), a psychologist with the National Association of School Psychologists, said, “Tag may look OK socially, but it can be a double standard because kids can use it to bully a certain student.”** 'Scuse me whilst I sneeze… Ah… ah… ah… BULLSHIT!!! Thank you. In fact, activities like tag take time away from bullies to do their bullying. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/3 "2002-11-19T18:31:30Z")
Yes but when we have a superior race of scarless, emotionally stable of humans who will be ranting then? ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/4 "2002-11-19T18:42:58Z")
[Kentucky Fried Movie] Your childrens’ existence is illegal. Film at eleven. [/Kentucky Fried Movie] ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/5 "2002-11-19T18:48:25Z")
\*Yes but when we have a superior race of scarless, emotionally stable humans who will be ranting then? ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/6 "2002-11-19T19:07:45Z")
This just in: It is not safe for your children to leave the house. There might be bullies out there. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/7 "2002-11-19T19:13:30Z")
Here are some links: [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/tag020624.html](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/tag020624.html) [http://www.kevinsblog.com/marshall/archives/2002\_06.html](http://www.kevinsblog.com/marshall/archives/2002_06.html) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/8 "2002-11-19T19:18:05Z")
Actually, I’ve seen tag being used for bullying. Hell, I’ve been on the receiving end. It’s necessary for the victim to be one of the slower runners, obviously. And everyone else must be made to understand that _only_ the victim is to be tagged. When, exhausted and frustrated, the victim quits, start taunting him/her with being a quitter, a sore loser, a wimp, and whatever else you can think of. Of course, the solution is to have proper playground supervision, and to break up the game when this happens - not to ban honest-to-god friendly games of tag just because bullies can ruin it. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/9 "2002-11-19T19:18:26Z")
This was a story from last summer. Glad to see that more school districts are jumping on the bandwagon. :rolleyes: The Great Debates thread, if anybody’s interested. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121734](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121734) The original incident that started it all. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,55836,00.html](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,55836,00.html) > [@](#): > > By Anita Vogel > > SANTA MONICA — A Santa Monica elementary school has banned the game of tag, once synonymous with youth and innocence, because they say it creates self-esteem issues among weaker and slower children. > [@](#): > > **I have been trying to find an online link for this story, but so far, no luck. If anyone can help me, feel free** [www.news.google.com](http://www.news.google.com) and put in something like “tag klotz”. > **[Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source](https://www.newsday.com)** > > Breaking News, data & opinions in business, sports, entertainment, travel, lifestyle, plus much more. Newsday.com is the leading news source for Long Island & NYC. > [@](#): > > More N.J. schools banning tag, dodge ball and other playground games > November 18, 2002, 2:52 AM EST > > TRENTON, N.J. – Tag, dodge ball and other playground favorites are coming under more scrutiny at many New Jersey schools, as the threat of injuries and lawsuits spurs more districts to ban the games. > > In Long Hill, a ban on tag was part of a code of conduct signed by pupils at one of the Morris County district’s elementary schools this year. Instead, a modified version of the game is played indoors with plenty of supervision. > > \< snip \> > > In recent years, similar bans have been put in place at schools in Maplewood, North Caldwell and Woodbridge, mostly because children were being hurt when they fell or were piled on by classmates. However, many experts, parents and pupils claim the bans do more harm than good. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/10 "2002-11-19T19:19:46Z")
Actually, I wasn’t sure [tag hour](http://www.tagheuer.com/) was such a good idea for kids in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/11 "2002-11-19T19:25:34Z")
Morons. Complete fucking morons. My heart rate is up just thinking about all the time and money that is wasted holding meetings about, “…Johnny being bullied by Big Bobby, and Casey being chased by Johnny…blah blah blah!!!” Morons. Children are SUPPOSED to play tag, have fun, run around during recess, get skinned knees and yea, perhaps be bullied by some other rednecked kids…It’s part of life!!! Parents out there! GET A CLUE! You cannot protect your children from life. Thanks, I feel much better now. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/12 "2002-11-19T19:33:22Z")
As long as it doesn’t get out of hand, I think a little teasing is good for a kid! Keeps 'em humble. Out-and-out bullying is a bad thing, but it certainly doesn’t put “tag” in the no-go zone. Kee-rist! ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/13 "2002-11-19T19:37:20Z")
You know, all this will only end when children grow up in featureless plastic orbs with only “safe” content streamed directly into their brains, lest they should come to any harm by actually interacting with anything outside the orb. It will be soft and warm and friendly in there. Almost like a second gestation. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/14 "2002-11-19T20:41:45Z")
mmmmmm…sec-ond gest-atiiiooooon. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/15 "2002-11-19T20:42:22Z")
Times change quick. It was only 15 years ago that I was not only playing tag with the teachers’ approval, but playing _ball tag!_ For those unfamiliar, this is when the object “it” tags people with is a playground ball, rather than a hand. Well, not exactly “tags.” More like pegging them in the head with the ball. The bully excuse is just plain bullshit. As a bullied kid, I was in much more danger after school when I started my walk home than I was during a supervised recess. Kids are going to play sports. The ones who are uncoordinated and weak will be the ones singled out to be bullied. Even if you eliminated gym class and all physically competitive activies from the curriculum entirely, it’s still not terribly difficult to tell who the weak kids are just by looking at them. I just wonder what all these “protected” children are going to do once they get out into the real world… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/16 "2002-11-19T20:44:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by particlewill \* > \*\*You know, all this will only end when children grow up in featureless plastic orbs with only “safe” content streamed directly into their brains, lest they should come to any harm by actually interacting with anything outside the orb. > > It will be soft and warm and friendly in there. > > Almost like a second gestation. \*\* Where can I get one? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/17 "2002-11-19T20:48:53Z")
Yeah, this is stupid. The problem here is that friggin tiddly-winks can be used for bullying (in the hands of a creative bully). Banning tag and dodge ball and shit like that to try to alleviate the world of bullies is treating the symptom and not the ailment. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/18 "2002-11-19T20:50:04Z")
I wonder how long it will be before they ban two-square, four-square, and tether ball? > [@](#): > > You know, all this will only end when children grow up in featureless plastic orbs with only “safe” content streamed directly into their brains, lest they should come to any harm by actually interacting with anything outside the orb. Yes, but they do need some fresh air occasionally. That’s why maybe recess should be spent by having the kids just stand outside motionless and silent in one spot for 30 minutes. That way they’ll be little chance of anything traumatic or emotionally-scarring happening to the kids. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/19 "2002-11-19T20:56:01Z")
Imagine for a moment that you walk into work. And then your boss says those dreaded words. “Today we are going to get some fresh air, and play tag”. You run. But you are the only target. And your boss is sitting there looking at you so you can’t not play. Everyone is after you. Inevitably, you are tagged. Your keep running, but you can’t keep up. Your legs are a little to short, your breath a little to weak. You get within steps of your coworkers, and they sprint away. Everyone is focused on you. Everyone is laughing at you. You are the spectacle. You run and run and run until you are out of breath, completely humiliated. Every single person is watching you and laughing. Occasionally when no one is watching, someone will stick out a leg to trip you. Maybe you manage to tag someone else. It doesn’t matter. Everyone wants to make fun of you, so you are tagged again as soon as possible. Your cowokers arn’t interested in getting exersize. They are interested in singleing out a person and watching them break down. That is why I dreaded tag at PE. Tag allows one single person to become the focus of a very public humiliation. And unlike other more turn-based games, that humiliation can last the entireity of the game, and indeed, becomes the entirety of the game. It’s normal for kids to mean, but it is not normal for a kid to come home and tell her mommy that she would like to die. My mom heard that plenty. We don’t allow adults to harrass other adults. We don’t allow adults to publically humiliate kids. We don’t allow anyone to torture animals…so why do we sit back and let kids be cruel to kids. I’m not saying we have to ban tag. The problem goes deeper than a game, and the game itself isn’t the problem. Being hurt as a kid is just as painful and humiliateing as being hurt as an adult. It is not okay. It should not be allowed. Kids arn’t made of steel. They are not able to withstand any amount of torture. Kids break. I broke. When kids would do stuff to me that would get anyone else in the world arrested, and nobody cared, it tore me apart. I was a suicidal child. Just as suicidal as you would be if your boss at work allowed and encouraged your co-workers to humiliate and harrass you without pause. No child should be subject to that kind of cruelity. And their pain should not be written off. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566/20 "2002-11-19T21:02:47Z")
You’re right. So we, as a society should try to figure out why bullies bully and what we can do to make sure that future generations of children don’t fall prey to whatever it was that turned them into bullies in the first place, thus alleviating the kind of shit you went through. Or we can just ban everything until they stop. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-banning-tag-ummm-huh/137566.md?page=2)