ARE THEY SERIOUS!!?

How many of you guys played physical sports in elementary schools like kickball and football? I know I did almost everyday and that’s one of the reasons I loved going to school. In my Child Development class because we’re learning about the motor development of a growing child we came across a story in which a middle School in Long Island, New York has banned balls during recess. According to Kelly Wallace, the reporter for CNN who reported the story, “Long Island middle school's decision to ban most balls during recess and also require supervision of tag, even cartwheels, due to safety concerns. No longer allowed at the Weber Middle School: footballs, baseballs, soccer balls, lacrosse balls and any other hardballs that could injure a child. Also off limits: rough games of tag and cartwheels unless an adult supervisor is on hand.” I understand that safety should be a primary concern for schools because children are at very critical age where brain injuries are more likely to have long term affects but is this taking it too far? One argument that I thought posed a good concern was made by Alex Martin, an associate director at a Manhattan nursery school, "Without opportunities to learn how to navigate space with their bodies, and to negotiate rules, risks, and experimentation of cooperative play, how are children going to ever be able to handle themselves in any society as adults?”. I agree with this argument because it was through games of football and kickball and playground games that I leaned to cooperate with others and become very social by making new friends. Being social is a tool in today’s world that is mandatory as it has been proven that kids that are more social have higher self esteem. Now imagine you were back in elementary school and this was BAN was put in place. How would you feel? Do you think something like this is a good idea? How would you argue for or against this.