1990 The International School in a small island in the Philippines. We had a field with lots of trees, we had no yard duty teachers, just a security guard at the gate. We were unsupervised but managed to be on class on time,stay safe, and have the best time. We played around the trees. In our culture, we love these jumping spiders, we wo…
1990 The International School in a small island in the Philippines. We had a field with lots of trees, we had no yard duty teachers, just a security guard at the gate. We were unsupervised but managed to be on class on time,stay safe, and have the best time. We played around the trees. In our culture, we love these jumping spiders, we would collect them and let them fight. One classmate had a hurt jumping spider. We had no idea spiders laid eggs in an eggsac. We just thought she was pregnant. So we "tried" to save her baby, and operated on her with the sharp point of a compass. We had so much freedom, nothing bad happened. Now im a teacher in a public school in Australia. During yard duty, im expected to actively supervise. I cant help to think that we have dug such a deep hole of generations who cant take risks, that children these days dont know what to do with themselves with "free time" any more. Free time is equated to screen time. Not explore time, talk time, game time.... under my watch the grade 7-8 students rough play. They wrestle and chase each other. Other teachers say no to this. Before I stop anyone from rough playing I observe those playing look at their eyes and smiles. Most of the time they control when they see their mates are starting to be uncomfortable, and i don't intervene.... this is my little form of promoting play.... and actively advocating play
1990 The International School in a small island in the Philippines. We had a field with lots of trees, we had no yard duty teachers, just a security guard at the gate. We were unsupervised but managed to be on class on time,stay safe, and have the best time. We played around the trees. In our culture, we love these jumping spiders, we would collect them and let them fight. One classmate had a hurt jumping spider. We had no idea spiders laid eggs in an eggsac. We just thought she was pregnant. So we "tried" to save her baby, and operated on her with the sharp point of a compass. We had so much freedom, nothing bad happened. Now im a teacher in a public school in Australia. During yard duty, im expected to actively supervise. I cant help to think that we have dug such a deep hole of generations who cant take risks, that children these days dont know what to do with themselves with "free time" any more. Free time is equated to screen time. Not explore time, talk time, game time.... under my watch the grade 7-8 students rough play. They wrestle and chase each other. Other teachers say no to this. Before I stop anyone from rough playing I observe those playing look at their eyes and smiles. Most of the time they control when they see their mates are starting to be uncomfortable, and i don't intervene.... this is my little form of promoting play.... and actively advocating play