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Elementary School Bans Students From Touching Each Other
theshowmecanuck writes "A school in British Columbia (the province that now even California can call flakey) has just banned elementary school students from touching each other during recess. You know, one of those times for play and more importantly learning how to socialize (which itself includes touching). CTV News reports: 'A ban on touching during recess at a B.C. elementary school has shocked parents, who call the new no-touch policy "ridiculous." For most kids, recess is a chance to run around and goof-off with their friends, but a new ban on touching at a school in Aldergrove could put a damper on playtime. School administrators at Coghlan Fundamental Elementary School in B.C. have banned kindergarten students from touching each other during recess.'"
My wife and I had to go in and have a conference with the principal and two teachers when my 4th grade son drew a picture of a figure holding a shuriken in its hand. I was confused by the initial letter of complaint sent home by the teacher: it was not clear whether he was in trouble for drawing a picture (any picture) because he had been instructed to not read or write after finishing a test he was taking, or that he was in trouble for drawing a picture of a WEAPON! (Underlined three times in the note). Things didn't get any better during the meeting when I pointed out that he hadn't read or written anything, he had made a drawing (he is very literal that way). Then they pointed out that he had drawn a picture of a WEAPON! (Imagine that, a 10 year old drawing a picture of a shuriken!). Since I knew already, I asked them what the test had been about - primitive societies. It included several questions on the tools that they used to hunt. You know, weapons. I asked them how they could possibly expect him to differentiate between GOOD weapons (used by primitive people 1000s of years ago) and BAD weapons (shurikens as seen in Japanese anime). Finally, my wife told them we were just going to have to agree to disagree about the whole weapons thing. They assured us they were just so concerned because it was school department policy to have to report any such incidents to the superintendent of schools. Sheesh. Oh - it is also a big no-no for them to make the "gun sign" (point your finger like a gun). This includes anything that even slightly resembles making the gun sign (like making the "L" for loser sign on your forehead).