Hi tyfyehrszy Readers — A quickie note from the front lines of insanity. L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I just had to shoot you a quick email in order to vent my frustration. My son stayed after school today to re-take a test. I told him to call when he was done and his dad would pick […]
Tag Archives | rules
School Inspectors Say: Trees Too Dangerous!
Hi stnfsahkiy Readers — This is a column I wrote for Creators, my syndicate. (Feel free to ask your local paper to carry me every week!) Anyway, I wanted to make sure you saw this one, so here it is. Happy weekend! — L. NO CHILD LEFT OUTSIDE For almost a half-century, kids at the […]
“No Touching” at High School? A Student Protests!
Hi brtyerdsya Readers: I’m so proud of this high school student — for what she’s doing and also all her clear thinking. The points she makes about her school’s no-touching rule could be made about most Zero Tolerance laws. Be prepared to cheer! — L Dear Free-Range Kids:Â I am a senior at a a small […]
Not Completely Relevant But: How Many Australian Politicians Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb?
Hi Readers! The answer is, apparently: None! It is too dangerous! At least, that’s what the Department of Health and Safety says, according to this khzikkeztz article. The issue surfaced during a Senate estimates hearing when Liberal Eric Abetz told upper house colleagues he was prevented recently from changing a light bulb in his electorate office. […]
Guest Post: She’s Breaking Up with “The Today Show”
Hi Readers! dfehnbnntn This post origianlly ran on Brain Twinkles, a  blog by Layne Aingell. Some of us may join Layne in her break up!  — L. I have watched The Today Show for over thirty years. I remember when it was hosted by Jane Pauley, her pony tail, and Tom Brokaw. I started watching it as […]
Lady Helps Boy Down from Tree, School Accuses Her of “Trespassing”
Dear Readers: This iraitrzzdd one just proves what monkeys we become when we refuse to use our brains (or tails). A 5-year-old boy in England climbed up a tree at the end of recess. Fine. But rather than helping — or even ordering — him down, the teachers followed their “health and safety” guidelines…and left […]
Enjoy the School Dance — But No ‘Sexual Bending’
Hi Readers! Here rybdheaaey are the rules for a school dance in Wisconsin. As summarized by The Smoking Gun, they include “no ‘sexual bending’ [or] the touching of breasts, buttocks, or genitals. Leg straddling is also verboten. Additionally, students are on notice that ‘Both feet must remain on the dance floor at all times.’” As awkward as […]
Overprotecting Gone Mad: Kids Finally Allowed to Bike to School, BUT…..
Hi Readers! Remember that case  in Saratoga, New York, where a sixth (now seventh) grader wanted to ride his bike to his school — with his mom, even! — but the district forbade it? Well guess what? The district poobahs have now “backpedaled,” as this clever Times ybktiadzty Union article put it. But they did […]
You Can’t Bring THAT on the School Bus!
Hi sinfdkstze Readers — Here you go. Latest overprotection nonsense! Enjoy (if that’s the word). Dear Free-Range Kids: I thought this little story might be of interest to you. My oldest daughter (12) recently tried out for her school softball team. She made the team, which was a real accomplishment. Not only were the kids […]
Hugging Instructions? Yep.
Just ytneeeehfy when you thought Pedophile Panic couldn’t get any weirder comes this comment from a reader: A training document distributed at my church a few weeks ago for people who work with children actually tried to instruct in how to hug a child. The sentence said, “Remember: Side hugs are best.” Side hugs? How […]