Attleboro School Bans Tag, Other Recess Games

(CBS4) ATTLEBORO Children at the Willett Elementary School in Attleboro are not allowed to play tag, touch football or any games involving contact during recess. Prinicpal Gaylene Heppe cited the safety risks and the school's liability in case of injury as reasons for the recess ban. Heppe, who is in her second year as principal, told CBS4 the ban is not new and has been in effect for years. "I was surprised....I think they should be allowed to. I used to run and chase, play kickball, dodgeball, all that," said parent Colleen Bischoff. Critics of the policy said it's just another way to micromanage kids. "Kids will be kids, no matter what. Kids are going to trip on rocks, it happens," said one unidentified parent. The Attleboro Sun Chronicle reports elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyo. and Spokane, Wash. banned tag at recess this year. A suburban Charleston, S.C. school also outlawed all unsupervised contact sports. Principal Heppe said she isn't interested in any trends around the country, her concern lies with keeping the children as safe as possible.

*CBS4.com