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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Playground health & safety

40 replies

MrsLadywoman · 15/07/2010 22:09

My kid loves doing cartwheels. She's obsessed with them - does them all the time. And I've now been told that she's not allowed to do them in the school playground during playtime. Not because she might crash into someone else (even) but because she might hurt herself.

The boys at school get the run of the playground because of football and basketball. This is not exclusively a privelege for the boys - girls can play football and basketball too - but of course the way the kids play, the girls get left out and shouted down and so it ends up that its just the boys playing football and basketball and, therefore, getting the run of the playground.

So with the remaining space left to the girls, it seems that they are not allowed to do cartwheels/handstands ie something SPORTY.

Basically, it's fine for the boys to go mental with a ball and be active, even if that means lots of accidents, kids hit in the face by a ball, barralled to the ground etc. But the same 'high risk' sport is not allowed if you're a girl. Even though she's never once hurt herself or anyone else by doing cartwheels.

I'm really pissed off...

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsLadywoman · 16/07/2010 16:58

To JanJoJo: Ouch!!!
To MrsWobbly: Thanks, I was wondering how long it would take for someone on this thread to utterly patronise me.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsLadywoman · 16/07/2010 17:03

To olderandwider: Thanks. That is EXACTLY what I will do. Although I will leave it til next term - not sure I'd get a very sympathetic hearing during the mayhem of our final week!

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olderandwider · 16/07/2010 17:10

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 16/07/2010 18:55

Hard not to patronise someone who says that it's definitely sexist! It is stupid, I agree, but I doubt very much that it's sexist.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 16/07/2010 19:50

Mmmm... it seems to be sexist in the same way that paying binmen more than dinner ladies was ruled sexist. Broadly similar principle.

katiestar · 16/07/2010 20:21

It is very possible to be sexist without meaning to be.
Applying a condition which applies more to one se than another is indirect sex discrimination-which would seem to be the case here.

Original poster

MrsLadywoman · 17/07/2010 11:32

To Heathen & katiestar: Precisely my point.
To MrsWobble: At least you admit that you were being patronising.

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Feenie · 17/07/2010 11:42

We wouldn't allow cartwheels on concrete at our school - it isn't safe. When we do it in PE, we use mats. That's just sensible, imo, not over the top.

"My argument is that I think it is SEXIST. Whatever the risk of injury, boys sports are ok, and there's this underlying bias that boys 'need' to have a sporty playtime"

The only sexist thing is this comment! What are boys' sports? If you are referring to football, it shouldn't be exclusively for the boys. Maybe that's the problem that needs tackling here. You don't need mats to play football, therefore it's fine. What about other playground equipment? We've got loads of stuff for children to play with - perhaps the PTA could be approached to help pay for some skis/bouncers/skipping ropes, etc.

Original poster

MrsLadywoman · 17/07/2010 11:59

If you follow the whole argument here from the start you will see that I have said that football and basketball in our school END UP being monopolised by the boys, not that the sports themselves are exclusively for the boys. Also, the whole point of my kid doing cartwheels is that she doesn't need a mat. She does them on the pavement, in the garden, absolutely everywhere.

I understand that accusing the school of being sexist is going to ruffle some feathers. But my point is that, although football SHOULD be for both sexes, in our playground that's not how it works out. Of course, I understand this is normal behaviour and kids can be factional. I am not, for instance, demanding that every playground football match should have an equal number of girls and boys in them!

I am simply arguing that the playground becomes 90 per cent taken over by the boys and that, in the small remainder of playground space on the peripheries of the playground, surely it would be ok for the girls to do cartwheels, since this is the only sporty thing they end up doing.

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choccyp1g · 17/07/2010 12:08

Cartwheels are more dangerous for the OTHER children, I remember DS kicking a friend in the head as he ran past as he was cartwheeling. You do need a dedicated space, and/or to take turns with a lot of playground games. Skipping is another one, I have been nearly strangled by running skippers when the playground is almost empty. (Picking up after clubs).
At our school football is only allowed on certain days, because too much of the playground gets used up by a large group of boys. My DS moans about it, but does understand that it is only fair for other children to get a chance at their favourite games.
Can you talk to the school to get the rules applies more fairly for all children?

Feenie · 17/07/2010 12:08

"If you follow the whole argument here from the start you will see that I have said that football and basketball in our school END UP being monopolised by the boys, not that the sports themselves are exclusively for the boys"

I did follow the whole argument - and suggested that perhaps that was the problem!

I think she does need a mat - when teaching PE, I have to ensure that mats are used for cartwheels.

I notice you have ignored my suggestion of playground equipment - that's how we ensure that the playground is not monopolised by football.

sayithowitis · 17/07/2010 12:13

I think the problem here is that the school is not doing anything to ensure that girls get a chance to play football if they wish. Maybe you could suggest 'football free' days? At our school, football is only allowed on two days per week, with other equipment used on the other days; skipping ropes, giant board games,etc.
Actually, I can see why the school would not want anyone to do cartwheels on a hard playground surface. It only needs another child, or stray football, to cause a cartwheeling child to lose their balance and there could be some nasty injuries. And you can bet that if that were to happen, parents would be up in arms for not taking enough care of the children, possibly with legal action.

Original poster

MrsLadywoman · 17/07/2010 12:20

Sorry if I sounded spiky, I really didn't mean to!

I guess I precisely didn't want to go down the avenue of asking the school to supply playground equipment for cartwheels because I felt that this would be a bit demanding and fussy.

And I really don't want to stop the boys, girls whoever from playing football and basketbell!

I just think there are a coterie of girls doing cartwheels. They haven't hurt anyone, they are careful not to hit anyone, and they are being made to stop.

It just feels unfair.

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Original poster

MrsLadywoman · 17/07/2010 12:23

I guess my real gripe is that the health & safety litigious aspect of the modern world can drive me a bit crazy. I really do understand the reasons why they are implemented in the school playground, but it seems to me that the kids are losing out, some more than others.

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olderandwider · 19/07/2010 12:04

Seriously, anyone on MN ever come across any case of serious injury at school in a playground involving cartwheeling? I don't count a foot in the face - painful but not likely to be serious. You get worse injuries from a ball or racquet in the face (or are those banned now too?)

Got a bit ranty now, but really, kids are not made of glass.

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