To find this unbelievably joyless and pathetic…

[EmmatheStageRat]

I’ll preface by saying that I live in Yorkshire and it’s snowing/been snowing.

DD1(15) has just read out an email that she’s received today from the new principal of her grammar school (well, the principal’s PA) warning that students should not ‘pick up snow’ if they have to venture outside for any reason. And there will be sanctions for anyone who throws a snowball.

Jeez, is this how joyless secondary schools have become?

As somebody who absolutely hated snow as a child and got really fed up and annoyed at people throwing snowballs at me for ‘fun’ I applaud the rule.

I think it is necessary…I was hit in the face by a snowball with a pebble centre that split my eyelid.

Is there some reason the teens can't go to the park to throw snow?

Fair enough. I hear you. DD1 is blind and autistic and she also hates the snow and ice but she felt the rule was a bit harsh for the other NT students who would miss out on a bit of fun.

They’re at school? They’re not allowed to leave the premises during the school day. There is no park nearby. Plus, students travel from all over the region (up to 25 miles) to get to the school.

Sorry to hear that. It’s always good to get other perspectives. Thank you.

Not in school but academy kids where we live used to throw snowballs at moving cars on the way to and from school. Jolly good japes until you're hit on the driver's side windscreen and suddenly unable to see the road.

Unfortunately snowballs often contain stones or ice and do a lot of damage. Schools need to do what they can to keep children from harm and allowing them to throw missiles at each other isn't it.

@EmmatheStageRat we're in the same region, DS grammar school have just clarified they are not permitted to take part in any sort of snow ball fights/play. - I don't know the exact wording of the warning, that's as much as I for from ds.
I understand why, some snowball fights can get a little out of hand.

I was struck by a snowball in December in our highstreet - all just "harmless high jinks". Unfortunately it struck the place where I had just had surgery and broke two stitches open

It's pretty standard

At my kids' secondary the rule is that the hockey pitch is the designated snowballing space and everywhere else is off limits. Works well.

@EmmatheStageRat because not all kids can be sensible, and or make mistakes

I do think H & S rules can be a tad joyless, but concerning snowballs I agree. I was hit so many times at school by lads thinking it was funny. I don't think it was malicious, but they compressed slush into effectively ice missiles and they bloody hurt.

I don’t know if it makes a difference that it’s a grammar school but DS’s is very strict too. Even they were allowed a snowball fight when we had a (tiny bit) of snow on Wednesday. We don’t get snow very often though as we live by the sea so you have to make the most of it when you can!

I used to dread snowy days at school because we would get non stop snowballs thrown at us by boys. It was horrible and painful, and one of my friends ended up with a damaged eye. I agree with this rule unfortunately.

@Mariposa26 I used to dread snowy days at school because we would get non stop snowballs thrown at us by boys. It was horrible and painful, and one of my friends ended up with a damaged eye. I agree with this rule unfortunately.

I also agree

I should mention the pebble wasn’t even on purpose…it was from scooping up snow in a hurry from on top of gravel. So I’m not saying it was a malicious bully. It was accidental.