Today's winner is Belgian Gardens State School in Townsville Australia. They get the award for the following-
Belgian Gardens State School in Townsville has banned all gymnastics activities during lunch breaks, declaring it dangerous because it has the potential to cause back and neck injuries.Another instance of the Nanny state run amok. We can't have any gymnastics, someone may get hurt! Did you know around 100 children a year get killed walking to school? Get your priorities straight Vicki Baylis. In the meantime I name Belgian Gardens State School in Townsville Australia today's Knucklehead of the Day.Cali Buschgens, 10, has been reprimanded for cartwheeling on school grounds and her grandmother Val Bryce says the ban is a sad reflection on modern society.
"Sadly I think this is probably linked with the current society where litigation is rife and I feel that schools are probably trying to avoid a child being hurt and an irresponsible mother then trying to sue them for it," she said.
Education Queensland has defended the ban on unsupervised gymnastic activities.
Regional executive director Vicki Baylis says fear of litigation was never a factor in the decision and it was made purely for the students safety.
"The issue around the gymnastics is around the safety of the kids and it was not motivated by any concept of litigation, but certainly [by] that safety and well-being component of those kids when we're talking heads and necks and potentially backs if there were an injury."
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says she is surprised by the decision, and says the school is obviously taking student safety very seriously.
"I'd be interested to hear from this school what prompted them to take this action, because school communities by and large try to meet the standards that parents have in that community," she said.
Thank you to a Wizbang reader who tipped me off to this news.
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Comments (6)
Guess the next big action a... (Below threshold)1. Posted by epador | September 20, 2008 10:33 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Guess the next big action adventure movie out of Australia might be:
Polywog Dundee
Emotionally Challenged Max
Picnic at the Little Hill
Sunday Just Right
1. Posted by epador | September 20, 2008 10:33 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 20, 2008 10:33
2. Posted by mojo | September 20, 2008 11:16 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I'd be interested in seeing any examples this twit has of children injuring themselves during recess. I'm betting on lots of skinned knees and the like, but few head/back injuries.
"Litigation was not a factor", huh?
What's that smell?
2. Posted by mojo | September 20, 2008 11:16 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 20, 2008 11:16
3. Posted by Maggie Mama | September 20, 2008 12:02 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Gee, how many people fall in the bath or shower? I think we need a law saying everyone has to wear a helmet to bathe ...
Oh, yeah, that...Well, they can then wash their hair in the kitchen sink.
3. Posted by Maggie Mama | September 20, 2008 12:02 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 20, 2008 12:02
4. Posted by Candy | September 20, 2008 1:39 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Heck, I spent the bulk of my childhood doing cartwheels, falling off the jungle gym onto good ol' fashioned concrete, riding my bike without a helmet and banging around in the back deck of the beach wagon.
And I turned out ok!
And I turned out ok!
And I turned out ok!
(No, seriously - I'm fine... it really is a sad turn of events when little kids can't just play on the playground anymore.)
4. Posted by Candy | September 20, 2008 1:39 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 20, 2008 13:39
5. Posted by tyree | September 20, 2008 3:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
My grandson started kindergarten a few weeks ago. My daughter cannot walk him to the classroom. She has to check him in at the gate.
5. Posted by tyree | September 20, 2008 3:44 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 20, 2008 15:44
6. Posted by brainy435 | September 20, 2008 11:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I broke my foot in grade school, playing touch football. I crawled across the playground and into the nurses office to wait for my mom, who insisted I was fine... right until the x-rays I insisted on came back.
If only I knew then that I was supposed to sue and make money from that. Missed opportunity, I guess.
6. Posted by brainy435 | September 20, 2008 11:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 20, 2008 23:14