School ban on conkers

Attain_by_suprise

Has anyone else encountered this ban at their children's school? I think it is ludicrous to ban a game that has been played in the school playground for decades. I used to play conkers and can not recall at any time anyone getting injured playing it. You have more chance getting injured doing PE.

They always rant on about trying to get kids out of the house and not sat in front of the TV or games consoles but when you have a game that is free to play which encourages kids to go out running around the woods looking for big conkers, they ban it.

Becles

They've banned balls at our primary school, even soft sponge footballs!

Attain_by_suprise

Becles wrote: »

They've banned balls at our primary school, even soft sponge footballs!

What danger do they say a sponge football poses?

InsideInsurance

Remember this hitting the headlines over a decade ago and Top Gear doing a p!ss take in 2000 as a response. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conkers#Safety_concerns

Theres been the two sides to it, one being on the hitting each other with it and the second be a claimed fear for allergies

Errata

Children don't need to play conkers on school premises.

sinizterguy

People sue schools for anything and everything.

They take steps to reduce these instances.

What is wrong with that ?

Damned if you do, damned if you dont.

Attain_by_suprise

Errata wrote: »

Children don't need to play conkers on school premises.

True, but its more fun for the kids to be playing it against loads of their friends than a select few they see outside of school.

pollypenny

It's interest that the Wikipedia report says that 'some schools ' have banned conkers, but it also says 'citation needed'.

It's probably as true as Baa Baa Green Sheep. :cool:

j.e.j.

There was a rumour a few years ago that a school had made children wear hard hats while walking under a horse-chestnut tree in case any conkers fell down and hit them on the head.

I hope it was an urban myth. But in this day and age of elf & safety gone mad it would not surprise me if it were true.

Attain_by_suprise

pollypenny wrote: »

It's interest that the Wikipedia report says that 'some schools ' have banned conkers, but it also says 'citation needed'.

It's probably as true as Baa Baa Green Sheep. :cool:

Our's is baa baa rainbow sheep. I dont think you can say green now, its racist towards aliens.

sarahkmv

As a TA (Teaching Assistant) who also does lunchtime duty I can understand why you are frustrated but do agree with the ban. I had many happy years of playing conkers with bruises on my hands to show for it!


Generally schools don't let you bring in toys from home (due to too many parents complaining when they get broken/lost etc) I can see that conkers would fall under this category.


Also I think some (not all) kids would get upset at school if their conker got damaged or broken, and the way that boys in particular egg each other on to be silly there could be risk of injury, which sadly means that many parents would complain their little darling got a bruise. (I've been on the receiving end of these silly complaints).

Yes, it's a shame, but our school provides a load of playground equipment (bats, balls, footballs etc) so the kids don't get bored. I'm sure this can be a fun after school activity instead.