New restrictions concerning children’s health and safety worried many parents and teachers who describe them as mad. An example of such restrictiosn is the prohibition for kids to run in the playground, as the health and safety police is near! In addition, they are obligated to wear goggles when they use Blu-Tack and to ensure they have read the briefing that consists of five pages on glue hazard.
Teachers have put forward dozens of safety regulations of this kind for a poll. A TV survey made of 585 school staff revealed that 44% of the teachers think that the current health and safety regulations affect education of the pupils rather than to support it. According to them the personal growth of pupils is also negatively affected by regulations of this kind.
The teachers gave some examples for such restrictive regulations that they now regularly meet in schools. They mentioned the ban for playing football in the playground or even running in the playground, as this might cause an injury. In addition, toilet roll tubes are not allowed and the pictures should not hang below 7ft from the floor. Teachers are also not allowed to open the windows of the classroom more than 6 inches to prevent pupils falling out of them. PE lessons have to be canceled due to the wet grass and pupils that can swim have to use arm bands when they enter into the sea. For children of first or second grade this might seem normal, but imagine a 16-year-old teenager to wear arm bands in order to swim. The plastic hair bands are also forbidden for pupils of primary school, while goggles are required before they use Blu-Tack to prevent them from rubbing it into the eyes.
Contrary to the expectations, some teachers report that accidents at schools have not diminished but increased in the last 5 years. Although they acknowledge that this may be because the term “accident” could now mean anything! So teachers believe that all these restrictions have a negative effect on education workforce as well as on pupils, their education and personal development. The good news is that some of the most extreme restrictions are still not the norm, but teachers should consider them to ensure pupils’ protection.
All these safety measures make pupils unprepared for the real world hazards they are going to face someday. Since risk is a part of the growing up process, children have to be taught how to protect themselves rather than to avoid all risks.
As a result, the Department for Children recommends the schools to take an approach that makes a sense in keeping them safe. The safety and health are priority, but they should not stop children from playing, learning and development. The normal child development includes a small amount of risk, while a sanitised childhood is not recommended.
Another ridiculous case of health and safety rules was experienced by a rock fan that was thrown out of a concert due to crazy dance moves. His demands for a refund were refused on the grounds of him blocking the views of the audience and refusing to sit down during the concert. All these actions provoked the fan to be thrown out, as they are considered to be at variance with health and safety regulations. The rock fan on the other hand considers starting a legal action for being forced to leave without doing any harm except for dancing during Sweet’s set while all others were sitting down.
Daz is a fan of Slade for 40 years and he complains that he has never been treated this way until now. According to him, the purpose of these concerts is to have fun and to dance, so he believes that what has happened to him is really stupid.
