School Bans Tag, says it "Causes Conflict"

A Colorado Springs elementary school has banned tag and any other form of chasing on the playground after some students complained about being chased by other kids.

“It causes a lot of conflict on the playground,” said Assistant Principal Cindy Fesgen. In the first days of school, before tag was banned, she said students would complain to her about being chased or harassed.

Fesgen said she would hear: “Well, I don’t want to be chased, but he won’t stop chasing me, or she won’t stop chasing me.”

Seriously? This is the biggest thing our principals have to worry about? If that’s the case, our schools are not as bad off as the news would have us believe.

When every day we hear more laments about childhood obesity and lack of exercise, should we really be banning tag? It’s bad enough that kids can’t play dodgeball anymore.

Kelly Mills on Strollerderby said it well: “We are raising a nation of namby-pamby kids, unable to resolve conflicts or function in the world because there’s a damn ban on everything remotely controversial.”

Pet Peeve: Hey Freecyclers–Beggars Can’t Be Choosers!

Let me start by saying I am a big fan and frequent user of Freecycle, both to give and to receive. For the uninitiated, it’s an online community that started in Tucson AZ but now has groups worldwide. The purpose of Freecycle is to match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them, and so keeping usable items out of landfills. Most people post when they have items to get rid of, though it’s also considered OK–to a point–to post for an item you are seeking, in hopes someone has it sitting around and wants to be rid of it.

Most requests are reasonable but occasionally people will post wanted ads for cars, specific brands and models of cell phones, “stroller, winnie the pooh, must be in EXCELLENT condition,” things of that nature. Or they not only want it for free, but they demand that you deliver it to them as well. It just strikes me as a little nervy, when you are asking for someone to give you their stuff FOR FREE, to come across as so picky. Two posts already this morning: “Wanted–4 drawer dresser, need you to deliver”; and “Wanted–loveseat and coffee table, but nothing too ugly, please.”

Jeez, if you are so particular, trot down to the store and buy it yourself!

Diligence, yes. Vilify, no.

Back in June I wrote about a new campaign launched by the Virginia Department of Health targeting sexual abusers of children. The campaign plays on public fears of predators and seems to cast suspicion on any man interacting with a child.

Accompanying radio PSAs are even worse than the billboard. In one that I heard this morning, a mother says in a concerned voice that she works several evenings a week, and on those nights her husband bathes their daughter and puts her to bed. That’s all she says, but the implication, of course, is that if a man is bathing the daughter, something untoward must be taking place. It’s a sickening and offensive assumption.

Are We Teaching Kids to Fear Men?

The controversy has left father of two Barry Pfluger in an uncomfortable situation. “My reaction is we have gone too far,” said the girls’ soccer coach of eight years.

Pfluger said now men have to question whether or not they can even give children a hug.

“It should be something that we just do that’s human nature and we shouldn’t have to think about the liability associated with it,” he added.

I find this whole campaign so insulting to men and particularly fathers. As a mother of two young children I am certainly as worried as anyone about sexual predators, but I think this approach is opportunistic and only serves to further vilify and alienate good and honest men from their rightful place in children’s lives.

Surely we need to be vigilant in protecting children as there are very real threats out there. But let’s not make it seem like any and every man who has a legitimate reason to be involved in a child’s life is up to no good.

RIP baby Lauren, July 18- August 24, 2007

At the young age of 37 days, little Lauren passed away this morning. I never met Lauren personally, but I’ve been following her story closely for the past three weeks since I learned of her illness. She is the infant cousin of one of my dearest friends. All seemed well during the pregnancy and the first days of Lauren’s life. Then suddenly she stopped breathing and then starting having seizures when she was just three days old. In the hospital with extensive testing, it was discovered that she had an untreatable, fatal metabolic disorder. She was taken off the ventilator 2 weeks ago and has been held by loved ones round the clock since then.

I am beside myself with grief for this family. How horrible to know that your baby is dying and know there’s not a thing you can do about it. My religious faith is somewhat shaky to begin with, and I’m having a hard time understanding this. It just seems so cruel to bring a beautiful life into being and then to snatch it away.

I always thought language and expression were my strengths, but words seem so inadequate now. If any good can come out of this, it’s surely the reminder to appreciate our blessings. How easily fate can take a different, darker path.

Of WD-40 and Duct Tape

Growing up as the daughter of Junkman, I’ve know for as long as I can remember that you can do almost anything with Duct Tape and WD-40. If it doesn’t move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn’t, use duct tape.

A blog post and a news item today alerted me to even more uses for these amazing products.

First, some yahoo in Kentucky apparently couldn’t find a ski mask so he wrapped his face in duct tape to rob a liquor store.

Then I heard about a site listing almost 2000 uses for WD-40.

Surprisingly, “use it to remove duct tape goo from your face” wasn’t on there….yet.

China continues to poison our kids…

EhiPassika has been chronicling the many ways that China is trying to harm us with its shoddy lead-filled toys, faulty tires, poisoned toothpaste, and tainted food. Yet another 9 million made-in-China toys were recalled today by Mattell.

With more than 80 percent of toys sold worldwide made in China, toy sellers are nervous that shoppers will shy away from their products.

Um, ya think?!?!

Mattell, to its credit, is attempting to get in front of this one and reassure parents that they are addressing the issues that led to the recall.