New Hampshire school district bans dodgeball for

[andrew8798]

Fears it encourages bullying

In the latest episode of an over-active school board making an overtly PC move, a New Hampshire school district has banned the game of dodgeball for fears that it reinforces and leads to bullying.

As reported by the Eagle Tribune and other outlets, the Windham (N.H.) School Board voted 4-1 to outlaw dodgeball and “nine other human target activities” because it was concerned that the traditional game was reinforcing the exact behaviors that the school district was aiming to eliminate in its students.

“We spend a lot of time making sure our kids are violence free,” Windham superintendent Dr. Henry LaBranche told the Eagle Tribune. “Here we have games where we use children as targets. That seems to be counter to what we are trying to accomplish with our anti-bullying campaign.”

Though dodgeball can occasionally lead to some students being targeted for their lack of agility or other physical limitations, it seems harsh to claim that the pseudo sport is a petri dish for bullying. Rather, it is a continued embodiment of the dog-eat-dog ethos that was once embodied in all school sports.

Apparently, Windham is making its stand against dodgeball on its own. The Eagle Tribune reported that neighboring districts plan to continue offering it, having overseen a general decline in interest in dodgeball, but no increased violence or antisocial behavior as a result of the game.

Meanwhile a pair of local schools in the area noted that dodgeball remains their most popular intramural sports, with the pair competing in a charity tournament against one another each year.

In fact, perhaps those schools -- Pinkerton (N.H.) Academy and Londonderry (N.H.) High -- could invite affected Windham students in on the fun in the future. That way at least the Windham students who want to keep taking part in dodgeball can while Windham officials continue to occupy the higher moral ground, lonely or not.

sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/hampshire-school-district-bans-dodgeball-fears-encourages-bullying-105525261.html

Come on now give me a break with this junk. When I was in school we played dodgeball everyday and we never had no problems

[mizerable]

You know what encourages bullying most? Socialization. Let's ban that!

[Urethra Franklin]

Patches O'Houllihan is going to be pissed.

[Piccolo]

Where are the lies, though? Dodgeball is the bullying-est thing about grade school. I don't know why anybody in the world thinks it's a good idea... "Hey, here's a fun activity where we tell the children to hit each other with objects!"

Even as a kid, I knew that was screwed up.

[Non Banjoble Tokens]

Mar 28, 2013 21:58:55 GMT -5 Urethra Franklin said:

Patches O'Houllihan is going to be pissed.

They should be glad it isn't a game played closer to its roots. In Chinese opium dens using people's severed heads.

[Deleted]

I'm glad they found someone professional enough to write a non-biased article.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2013 22:06:02 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Where are the lies, though? Dodgeball is the bullying-est thing about grade school. I don't know why anybody in the world thinks it's a good idea... "Hey, here's a fun activity where we tell the children to hit each other with objects!"

Even as a kid, I knew that was screwed up.

"knew" it was screwed up? or "thought" it was screwed up. Opinions, sir. I personally think Dodgeball is a great sport, it doesn't encourage bullying what so ever. We played it tons in high school and had zero problems.

[Toxik916]

Dodgeball kicks all kinds off ass, this ban is f***ing retarded. When I played dodgeball in school it encouraged teamwork, trust, and communication.

[Piccolo]

Mar 28, 2013 22:23:23 GMT -5 @lynch said:

Mar 28, 2013 22:06:02 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Where are the lies, though? Dodgeball is the bullying-est thing about grade school. I don't know why anybody in the world thinks it's a good idea... "Hey, here's a fun activity where we tell the children to hit each other with objects!"

Even as a kid, I knew that was screwed up.

"knew" it was screwed up? or "thought" it was screwed up. Opinions, sir. I personally think Dodgeball is a great sport, it doesn't encourage bullying what so ever. We played it tons in high school and had zero problems.

Miss, madam, or ma'am actually... take your pick. And it most certainly did encourage bullying at my school. Guys and gals alike groaned whenever we were trotted out to play it, because the same couple dbags would be nasty about it every time. If it's played in this NH school like it was played at home, they're right to not give these losers a free, school-sanctioned shot at their victims.

[mizerable]

Mar 28, 2013 22:23:23 GMT -5 @lynch said:

Mar 28, 2013 22:06:02 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Where are the lies, though? Dodgeball is the bullying-est thing about grade school. I don't know why anybody in the world thinks it's a good idea... "Hey, here's a fun activity where we tell the children to hit each other with objects!"

Even as a kid, I knew that was screwed up.

"knew" it was screwed up? or "thought" it was screwed up. Opinions, sir. I personally think Dodgeball is a great sport, it doesn't encourage bullying what so ever. We played it tons in high school and had zero problems.

Pretty much this. I'd say it's one of the easier "sports" to play as well. And it's not like you were allowed to hit people in the head (nor did that happen) since it penalized your team if you did. No offense to anyone, but the people who would complain about dodgeball were the ones who refused to even involve themselves in it and essentially hated PE in general.

Hell I'd much rather play dodgeball over climbing a rope, doing pull ups, or any competitive contests where I had to perform against someone who was better than I was in a one on one situation, while everyone else is watching. THAT is more damaging to the ego rather than getting hit with a rubber ball that didn't hurt.

These committees who institute these things must not remember a single thing about being a kid. There was about 100 other things in PE that could be more traumatizing.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2013 22:30:20 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Mar 28, 2013 22:23:23 GMT -5 @lynch said:

"knew" it was screwed up? or "thought" it was screwed up. Opinions, sir. I personally think Dodgeball is a great sport, it doesn't encourage bullying what so ever. We played it tons in high school and had zero problems.

Miss, madam, or ma'am actually... take your pick. And it most certainly did encourage bullying at my school. Guys and gals alike groaned whenever we were trotted out to play it, because the same couple dbags would be nasty about it every time. If it's played in this NH school like it was played at home, they're right to not give these losers a free, school-sanctioned shot at their victims.

For the record, I'm a guy. But I guess it's personal experience. At least give students the option of playing it or not. We thought it was the best thing whenever we had a P.E lesson.

[kidglov3s]

People definitely got hurt in dodgeball when I was in elementary and especially in middle school. I can understand the rationale for banning it on the basis of physiological and psychological grounds. It basically allows the faster and stronger kids to batter anyone they want.

[Mr. Emoticon Man, TF Fan]

Mar 28, 2013 22:30:20 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Mar 28, 2013 22:23:23 GMT -5 @lynch said:

"knew" it was screwed up? or "thought" it was screwed up. Opinions, sir. I personally think Dodgeball is a great sport, it doesn't encourage bullying what so ever. We played it tons in high school and had zero problems.

Miss, madam, or ma'am actually... take your pick. And it most certainly did encourage bullying at my school. Guys and gals alike groaned whenever we were trotted out to play it, because the same couple dbags would be nasty about it every time. If it's played in this NH school like it was played at home, they're right to not give these losers a free, school-sanctioned shot at their victims.

Yeah, it can absolutely encourage bullying.

But the fault lies with the teachers or coaches who aren't paying attention to prevent that. Outright banning it, rather than requiring the supervisors to be more involved in making sure it stays a friendly game, is kinda weak.

[BigWill]

Meh, it's only happening in New Hampshire. It's hardly even an actual state.

[kamero00]

It's actually pretty dangerous.

Also if you threw a ball at another kid in any other class, it'd probably get you suspended.

[kidglov3s]

Mar 28, 2013 22:44:50 GMT -5 kamero00 said:

It's actually pretty dangerous.

Also if you threw a ball at another kid in any other class, it'd probably get you suspended.

That's why I don't understand the controversy of banning it. Allowing kids to throw stuff at each other was a bad idea to start with. Especially when it's something that every child is forced to participate in somewhere every child is forced to be.

[blackmegaman]

Decisions like these are always such a slippery slope.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2013 22:39:44 GMT -5 Mr. Emoticon Man, TF Fan said:

Mar 28, 2013 22:30:20 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Miss, madam, or ma'am actually... take your pick. And it most certainly did encourage bullying at my school. Guys and gals alike groaned whenever we were trotted out to play it, because the same couple dbags would be nasty about it every time. If it's played in this NH school like it was played at home, they're right to not give these losers a free, school-sanctioned shot at their victims.

Yeah, it can absolutely encourage bullying.

But the fault lies with the teachers or coaches who aren't paying attention to prevent that. Outright banning it, rather than requiring the supervisors to be more involved in making sure it stays a friendly game, is kinda weak.

If Dodgeball can encourage bullying, then any sport can. Like you said though, it's the supervisors fault for not paying enough attention. Sports like Football, Cricket, etc.. That can all encourage it if anything. Other kids, especially males trying to prove themselves better than others.

[mizerable]

I had many more dangerous calls when playing other sports and whatnot, that I was obligated to do; Basketball, kickball, flag football, soccer...hell even foot racing led to physical contact at times...it's just the nature of any activity that involves physical activity. At least in dodgeball, the only contact you usually had was with rubber or foam balls.

[Razor Gives It A 4/10]

At least they can still play Bombardment!