Month: August 2012

This story is 2 months old, but with the recent ban on cartwheels at a Sydney school, it’s worth reposting: A PRIMARY school is punishing students with “counselling sessions” if they are caught giving high fives, hugging or playing tiggy, basketball or football… Principal Judy Beckworth said the community had overreacted “and I don’t see what we have done as unreasonable”. Students caught breaking the no-contact policy were taken from the playground and given a lecture about safety and the risks of rough play. “They are given time to reflect…

The Daily Telegraph reports: THE fun is over for some Sydney schoolchildren who dare to do cartwheels and handstands in the playground. Drummoyne Public School has banned handstands, cartwheels and somersaults during lunch and recess unless “under the supervision of a trained gymnastics teacher and with correct equipment.” In a newsletter sent to parents principal Gail Charlier said the ban followed consultations with the State Schools Sports Unit, a branch of the Department of Education.

As part of our “Let Kids Be Kids” campaign, we’ve been trying to track some of the most egregious cases of governments persecuting parents for, well, being parents. Usually, politicians seem to take every opportunity too try to ban things, so it was refreshing to read Senator Cory Bernardi’s blog today arguing: An important part of being a parent is making the judgment calls that help children develop a sense of responsibility and self-reliance… Consider this week the case of the public servant who was arrested for leaving his nine-year-old at…