A primary school in East Dunbartonshire has stopped pupils in P4-P7 from playing the playground game tig, also known as tag or it, for the next two to three weeks after children were hurt during rough play. The decision has drawn criticism from parents and the Scottish Conservatives.
Headteacher explains the temporary ban
In a letter to parents, headteacher Annamarie Conway said she had advised children during a P4-P7 assembly on Monday, November 2 that they should not play tig for the next two to three weeks. She explained that there had been a lot of rough play in tig and children had been hurt, and that staff would work with pupils to agree rules for safe play, with kind hands and feet.
Conway noted that she did not discuss tig at the P1-P3 assembly because there was not the same level of concern. She said that as head teacher she is responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children, adding that everyone has the right to have a happy playtime.
Political and parental reaction
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher MSP called the decision absurd, saying it seems headteachers are having to ban games and stop children having fun at playtime rather than dealing with real issues in their schools.
One parent, quoted by the Daily Mail, branded the decision unfair, describing it as a farce. They acknowledged that some children may have been too rough when playing, but argued that banning a whole game because of the actions of a few does not make sense, and that children who were not taking it too far are now being punished. Another parent said that with water ingress into the school building in recent weeks, banning playground games should be the least of the council's concerns.
Council backs the headteacher
Greg Bremner, Chief Education Officer at East Dunbartonshire Council, supported the decision. He said children in primaries P4-P7 at Bearsden Primary School have been advised not to play tig at playtime over the next few weeks because children have been hurt as a result of rough play. He added that teachers will work with pupils over the next two to three weeks to agree rules for the game that will ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children during playtime, and that the headteacher has written to all parents to inform them of this course of action.
