Treeclimbing to be banned?

[FROSTY]

Young baby bikie (10 year old boy) stretched out a bit far whilst climbing a tree a couple of days back. The inevitable happened and he did the big splat -cracked his head in the process. No big deal Kids being kids and trees being there to be climbed.
Not so simple.He made the mistake of falling at school.
The school is now having a meeting looking to ban all tree climbing on school grounds. Honest injun I thought they were kidding me.
If that isn't PC gone insane what is??

[MSTRS]

Not surprising. They don't want H+S on their backs.
The problem is when you stop kids being kids, what you achieve is a load of repressed, under-achieving adults.

[short-circuit]

If that isn't PC gone insane what is??

What's it got to do with politics?

[vifferman]

I'm surprised it wasn't banned already. Most schools and parks already have the trees pruned so that you can't get up into them.
Yeah, it's PC gone to mental extremes. Like playgrounds, where the equipment is so safe and boring that the kids resort to climbing up the outside of it and onto the top.

Personally, I blame the adventure tourism operators. :shifty:
I reckon they're giving the bureaucrats backhanders (not that they need much encouragement) to make everything safe and boring, so it fuels the hunger for excitement and danger.

[scumdog]

Young baby bikie (10 year old boy) stretched out a bit far whilst climbing a tree a couple of days back. The inevitable happened and he did the big splat -cracked his head in the process. No big deal Kids being kids and trees being there to be climbed.
Not so simple.He made the mistake of falling at school.
The school is now having a meeting looking to ban all tree climbing on school grounds. Honest injun I thought they were kidding me.
If that isn't PC gone insane what is??

Just wait until he falls off his bike, trips over the steps etc...boy, where will it end?

And then when he trips over his own shoe-laces that YOU didn't teach him how to tie properly - look out!:doh:

[Genestho]

Young baby bikie (10 year old boy) stretched out a bit far whilst climbing a tree a couple of days back. The inevitable happened and he did the big splat -cracked his head in the process. No big deal Kids being kids and trees being there to be climbed.
Not so simple.He made the mistake of falling at school.
The school is now having a meeting looking to ban all tree climbing on school grounds. Honest injun I thought they were kidding me.
If that isn't PC gone insane what is??

I thought it was already banned at alot of schools? Shocking I know!

[short-circuit]

Yeah, it's PC gone to mental extremes.

And again - This term is such bullshit.

What it is, is a misguided approach to child rearing

[James Deuce]

The reason for the approach is quite simple.

Women are generally risk averse, men generally aren't.

Single parent families are generally managed by women.

Schools are generally run and staffed by women, especially primary schools where tree climbing is a certainty.

Make teaching attractive for men (pay men and women above average wages for teaching and you'll get above average teachers) and stop demanding that men work 14 hour days AND have a balanced family life.

[gwigs]

Where the hell would the human race be now if no one took risks.
Maybe we should bubblewrap all children?Fucking Nanny State...

[Pussy]

All school kids should be issued with the big don't-fuck-with-me Stihl chainsaw.
That'll learn those trees

[short-circuit]

Fucking Nanny State...

Unfortunately schools are no longer managed by the state.

Like James Deuce is suggesting this shit is societal

[Genestho]

Unfortunately schools are no longer managed by the state.

Like James Deuce is suggesting this shit is societal

Agreed, and I believe if we don't already see the impact of banning tree climbing, we will.

Something so small inhibits kids from testing boundaries at a young age.
I guess if you have trees at your gaff, let them climb them. But don't whinge if they splat.

[vifferman]

Unfortunately schools are no longer managed by the state.

Like James Deuce is suggesting this shit is societal
Sort of.
If you look at the history of public schooling, it used to be mixed age group classrooms (which worked reasonably well), until the Gummint waaaayyy back when decided to make it age-group and 'skills' based, as part of the beginning of social programming policy. The 'skills' part of it quite neatly matched socio-economic group as well. Since then, it's been all downhill. You know the rest...

[short-circuit]

as part of the beginning of social programming policy.

Garbage - age grouping kids is more efficient: In high schools, year groups are further broken down into different bands - try as a teacher trying to cater to different ability ranges let alone age ranges as well.

And on a related point - there's also age appropriate curriculum content to consider also

[Laava]

The kindergartens have to have all the trees marked at 600mm [2'] and that is as high as the kids can climb in theory. But of course the child that falls out of the tree, and that is quite rare, is the same child that will fall off the barrier you put up to stop them climbing the tree, and so on. Risk takers will always find a way to hurt themselves.

[short-circuit]

Don't forget, school BOTs (for better but mostly worse) run schools now - not government.

[James Deuce]

Don't forget, school BOTs (for better but mostly worse) run schools now - not government.


BOTs in schools Decile 5 and above are mostly made up of women.

Most of the primary schools in the Hutt have mixed age classes. The ones that don't are generally Catholic.

[Pixie]

Where the hell would the human race be now if no one took risks.
Maybe we should bubblewrap all children?Fucking Nanny State...

In some dinosaur's stomach

[FROSTY]

Hmm well baby bikies comment pretty well nails it "Yep Im still gonna climb trees daddy,Just not when teachers are watching"
ONYA BOY!!!!

[p.dath]

I can see it now "ten year old boy suffers learning injury - teaching banned at school".

[pete376403]

Kids need to learn some things can hurt. Otherwise they grow up thinking they are invincible, and when they get their first car, they quickly find out that this is not the case.
I wonder if kids who get bikes first are from families that allow a bit of risk-taking and finding out what is ok to do and what is not (but not necessarily what is safe) whereas kids that get into cars have been more protected while young.

[Big Dave]

Bad luck Tarzan.
My ancestors climbed down from the trees.
I've never felt any desire to go back up.

(Monkey ropes over rivers exempted.)

[sAsLEX]

Bad luck Tarzan.
My ancestors climbed down from the trees.
I've never felt any desire to go back up.

(Monkey ropes over rivers exempted.)

It a good way to develop hand eye co-ordination, muscle strength, flexibility and balance...... maybe he should go to his technology and play a bit of Playstation like the rest of todays yoof

[98tls]

If i was a kid id say pftt and climb them anyway,not like you can smack me for it.:bleh:

[Usarka]

Hmm well baby bikies comment pretty well nails it "Yep Im still gonna climb trees daddy,Just not when teachers are watching"
ONYA BOY!!!!

Humans need risk. If we're denied it legally we seek it illegally.

Funny that 10 year olds know this but all the clowns in charge don't......

[R6_kid]

Tree climbing was banned at all schools I attended since way back in 1992. If not to keep the trees in condition, then definitely to stop things like this from happening.

While you are quite open minded Frosty other parents will want to drop an A-bomb on the school for their kid not being supervised while tree climbing and subsequently cracking their poor little head open, or worse. Would you still be so ok with it if he'd landed just a little bit more vertical and paralysed himself or worse yet crossed himself out of the great human race?

Seems like a smart move to me. If they were to ban tree climbing full stop (as in on private property) then there is a problem. What your kid does at home under your supervision is a whole different ball park compared to what a teacher is prepared to be responsible for, and fair enough too.

[Big Dave]

It a good way to develop hand eye co-ordination, muscle strength, flexibility and balance......

So does juggling on a unicycle and it's not nearly as dumbarse.

[short-circuit]

So does juggling on a unicycle and it's not nearly as dumbarse.

Tree climbing is only slightly dumbarse if you're 40+ and six and a half feet tall

[BiK3RChiK]

Ha! Reminds me of my risk-taking daughter... She climbed onto the roof at the High School she attends (more than once) and all hell broke loose! Now, my son just wouldn't even consider doing something like that... He broke his arm on the 'safe' playground at Primary School and I think the pain of the snapped bone was enough to put him off for life!!

[98tls]

It a good way to develop hand eye co-ordination, muscle strength, flexibility and balance...... maybe he should go to his technology and play a bit of Playstation like the rest of todays yoof Or schools could be provided with fleets of Trials bikes,the upside being later in life when attempting a simple wave whilst on the move moments like this could be avoided.

[short-circuit]

Ha! Reminds me of my risk-taking daughter... She climbed onto the roof at the High School she attends (more than once) and all hell broke loose!

DangerousBastard = dangerous daughter

[Mekk]

Schools should just put bark underneath trees like on the playground. Not a whole lot of difference between that and a jungle gym.

We were never allowed to climb trees and that didn't kill our imagination.

[slofox]

"Wrap them up in cotton wool and store 'em in a glass case" is what my old dad woulda said about all this crap...

[Number One]

when you stop kids being kids, what you achieve is a load of repressed, under-achieving adults.
AND apparently less physically developed and slightly infirm also!

Climbing trees is the shizzle - I still do it now and then when I come across a good tree.

How the hell else are supposed to teach kids to hang on properly and take risks in what is actually a pretty safe manner? Most kids don't climb too high to do themselves REAL damage and nothing quite beats scaling a knarly old tree!

[marty]

BOTs in schools Decile 5 and above are mostly made up of women.

Most of the primary schools in the Hutt have mixed age classes. The ones that don't are generally Catholic.

Really? Where did you get that stat from?

In the 2 'above D5' schools that I have chaired on the BOT, the split has been 50/50, with male principals at both.

[SPman]

"Wrap them up in cotton wool and store 'em in a glass case" is what my old dad woulda said about all this crap...That's the teachers, right?

[Big Dave]

The Nepean river to the south-west of Sydney is a meandering, usually gentle stream that has, over the eons, cut steep ravines through the sandstone hills.
In one of these ravines is the 'Picton Weir'. Created to control the river's flow whilst a larger dam was constructed downstream, the weir has high, with steep escarpments on both sides and a reservoir of great depth behind.
A huge, moss covered slippery slope is to the front. The slope can be 'slid' on a Hessian sack and the shallow catchment pool at the base and ensuing high speed aquaplaning can cause some slight abrasions, the buzz was the second best reason we rode out there regularly.
The main attraction (not counting the girlfriends who went topless anywhere near water) was the 'Tarzan' swing that must be a contender for best on the planet.
Some brave soul had climbed a massive ghost gum and securely attached 40m of the type of rope you would see on a tug-boat, to a huge overhanging limb.
Somebody just had to climb up and get it, till we attached a grabber rope.
Then it was just a matter of climbing the steep sides, rope in hand, as far as you could 'bottle it' - grab hold and swing out over clear, fresh water, a hundred feet deep.
There was a small ledge to clear, but once done (easily), how long and how high and how far you fell were virtually limitless, just depended on how high you climbed and how long you hung on.
There were four ledges up the slope that saw most of the action: Girls, mice, men and bloody lunatic.
Most of us would leap off the 'man's platform', the more athletic dived from the rope, most attained a good altitude and then dropped into the drink as stylishly as we could. What a hoot.
Some of the best riding days. Stinking hot on the bikes though.
You can still see the moss on the slope.

[slofox]

The Nepean river to the south-west of Sydney is a meandering, usually gentle stream that has, over the eons, cut steep ravines through the sandstone hills.
In one of these ravines is the 'Picton Weir'. Created to control the river's flow whilst a larger dam was constructed downstream, the weir has high, with steep escarpments on both sides and a reservoir of great depth behind.
A huge, moss covered slippery slope is to the front. The slope can be 'slid' on a Hessian sack and the shallow catchment pool at the base and ensuing high speed aquaplaning can cause some slight abrasions, the buzz was the second best reason we rode out there regularly.
The main attraction (not counting the girlfriends who went topless anywhere near water) was the 'Tarzan' swing that must be a contender for best on the planet.
Some brave soul had climbed a massive ghost gum and securely attached 40m of the type of rope you would see on a tug-boat, to a huge overhanging limb.
Somebody just had to climb up and get it, till we attached a grabber rope.
Then it was just a matter of climbing the steep sides, rope in hand, as far as you could 'bottle it' - grab hold and swing out over clear, fresh water, a hundred feet deep.
There was a small ledge to clear, but once done (easily), how long and how high and how far you fell were virtually limitless, just depended on how high you climbed and how long you hung on.
There were four ledges up the slope that saw most of the action: Girls, mice, men and bloody lunatic.
Most of us would leap off the 'man's platform', the more athletic dived from the rope, most attained a good altitude and then dropped into the drink as stylishly as we could. What a hoot.
Some of the best riding days. Stinking hot on the bikes though.
You can still see the moss on the slope.


Tch tch tch...oughtn't to be allowed that. Someone might stub their toe!!

[FROSTY]

Tree climbing was banned at all schools I attended since way back in 1992. If not to keep the trees in condition, then definitely to stop things like this from happening.

While you are quite open minded Frosty other parents will want to drop an A-bomb on the school for their kid not being supervised while tree climbing and subsequently cracking their poor little head open, or worse. Would you still be so ok with it if he'd landed just a little bit more vertical and paralysed himself or worse yet crossed himself out of the great human race?

Seems like a smart move to me. If they were to ban tree climbing full stop (as in on private property) then there is a problem. What your kid does at home under your supervision is a whole different ball park compared to what a teacher is prepared to be responsible for, and fair enough too.
wOULD i BE GUTTED -HECK YEA - Would I then want tree climbing banned-no way

[Number One]

I believe the REAL problem here is that there is basically NO supervision in 'out of class time' at schools. Seems the teachers are not really interested in having a bar to do with our little gems when that play and lunchtime bell rings!

ooo this could start me on my lunchtime bullying rant - I won't go there!

backs away from thread...

[soundbeltfarm]

It a good way to develop hand eye co-ordination, muscle strength, flexibility and balance...... maybe he should go to his technology and play a bit of Playstation like the rest of todays yoof

too true.
Im on a bot for our school and ERO are the ones that make us take down our school fort because of risk and also stop letting kids climb the trees.
But alot of it is the parents fault, it goes like this.
kid falls out of tree, tells parent, parent comes ranting at school because johnny has never hurt himself playing on his playstation, so we as the school must be in the wrong, we have board meeting and this bull shit comes up in the meeting.
a meeting with some people from sports places and sports taranaki last week.
we are finding out now that kids are not developing adequete upper body strength , ( wonder why, ) not allowed to climb anything and the school ,jungle gyms are a crock of shit., no firemans pole, tire ladders etc.

also kids dont have periphial vision now from playing games on computer and tv.
3d games but the kids eyes are looking at a small area.
dont believe me.
get kids lie them on their back hold a string with a tennis ball on the end.
anchor string directly above their eyes , then pull the ball to the side and let it go. the kid has to keep their eyes facing up at all times. and see if they can use periphial vision to spot ball and stop it with their hand.
easy eh, well
the kids could hardley do it.
the adults that were there tried it and we all stopped the ball.
this is pretty shocking.
now when they are older and ride a bike, fukn look out.

[Swoop]

Humans need risk. If we're denied it legally we seek it illegally.

Funny that 10 year olds know this but all the clowns in charge don't......
Superb. Blingo!

I believe the REAL problem here is that there is basically NO supervision in 'out of class time' at schools. Seems the teachers are not really interested in having a bar to do with our little gems when that play and lunchtime bell rings!
Damn right. The teachers need a break, away from the "little darlings" that are placed before them in a classroom in groups of thirty or more. Surely the parental guidance that has been instilled in them by the parents will mean that they are well behaved and respectful of their elders?

[yungatart]

Tree climbing was banned at all schools I attended since way back in 1992. If not to keep the trees in condition, then definitely to stop things like this from happening.

While you are quite open minded Frosty other parents will want to drop an A-bomb on the school for their kid not being supervised while tree climbing and subsequently cracking their poor little head open, or worse. Would you still be so ok with it if he'd landed just a little bit more vertical and paralysed himself or worse yet crossed himself out of the great human race?

Seems like a smart move to me. If they were to ban tree climbing full stop (as in on private property) then there is a problem. What your kid does at home under your supervision is a whole different ball park compared to what a teacher is prepared to be responsible for, and fair enough too.

With respect, that is just a big crock!
When I was a lass at primary school, tree climbing and all sorts of physical activities were encouraged. We even played bullrush for PE, along with our teacher (in full nun regalia....she was tough!)

How many kids are injured playing rugby and other 'recognised' team sports? I have yet to see a ban on them because little Johnny hurt himself.

I was a parent help on a year 8 camp a few years ago...there were many little darlings who lacked the strength, co ordination and mental toughness to complete lots of the activities available to them.
We are breeding a whole generation of wimps! Tree climbing should be compulsory!

[James Deuce]

Really? Where did you get that stat from?

In the 2 'above D5' schools that I have chaired on the BOT, the split has been 50/50, with male principals at both.
Depends where you live I guess.

Most schools around here, except Secondary schools (Public seem to be male, Private Female), have Female Principals.

One Catholic School went so far as to import a Brazilian Headmaster. They only got female applicants for a boys school.

BOTs for my kid's school has 3 blokes on it. They're all house husbands. The rest are female.

[Number One]

Damn right. The teachers need a break, away from the "little darlings" that are placed before them in a classroom in groups of thirty or more.

:lol: I should clarify my position. I don't mean to imply that I don't blame them for taking a huge deep exhale when it's lunchtime and as such wanting to relax away from said "little darlings" - FECK I couldn't do what they do.


Surely the parental guidance that has been instilled in them by the parents will mean that they are well behaved and respectful of their elders?

I concur in principle but (insert TUI ad here) there are two problems with this....

Firstly not ALL "parental guidance" is particularly useful...and second...they are just KIDS and when given an hour of free time some will use that time unwisely without sensible guidance being known to be around and about.

[LBD]

Where will it all end ? after a ban on climbing trees, next will come a ban on riding bikes over bridge arches...:doh:

[Number One]

With respect, that is just a big crock!
When I was a lass at primary school, tree climbing and all sorts of physical activities were encouraged. We even played bullrush for PE, along with our teacher (in full nun regalia....she was tough!)

How many kids are injured playing rugby and other 'recognised' team sports? I have yet to see a ban on them because little Johnny hurt himself.

I was a parent help on a year 8 camp a few years ago...there were many little darlings who lacked the strength, co ordination and mental toughness to complete lots of the activities available to them.
We are breeding a whole generation of wimps! Tree climbing should be compulsory!

Hell yeah Le Grande Biarch I concur! I grew up playing Ballrush and Dodgeball and climbing trees AND our jungle gym was a couple of huge old army tent frames OVER CONCRETE! OUR firemans pool was 4 meters high in the air AND we even WALKED TO SCHOOL!!!! da da dum!!!!!! :gob:

[sunhuntin]

tree climbing wasnt banned when i was at primary school, but it was openly known that we werent supposed to do it. we had these wicked evergreens that grew like a massive shrub, with branches low to the ground. we were forever climbing those. to my memory, no one ever fell out. i do remember copying the bigger boys and jumping off the fort to the bark below. got a massive piece of sharp bark in my bare foot. i had failed to notice the boys were wearing shoes. there were no teachers about, and i was about 6 years old.

i loved climbing trees, and we even had a treehouse. to get to it, you had to climb onto the front gate, to the letterbox and onto the fence that was higher than an adults heads. it was then a large step to reach the tree and hope like hell you found something to hang onto the haul yourself the rest of the way. i remember i got new shoes that had no tread. the result was my shoe didnt grip the tree, and i fell onto my back. screamed my head off, but am no worse for wear.

we were both actively encouraged to do things like tree climbing, and i have a healthy appetite for danger now. i used to do a course that was up 6 large ramps. i got sick of walking up the ramps, so i climbed the railing instead. lmfao. both of us got our motorbike licenses first, and i still dont have the car license and never will.

[Ixion]

...they are just KIDS and when given an hour of free time some will use that time unwisely without sensible guidance being known to be around and about.


Too bloody right. And a very good thing too. Unwisely, without "sensible guidance" FTW. That's why we always went way off when I was a kid, into places where no adult knew where we were. To avoid "sensible guidance". First rule of being a kid = lose the adults.

[James Deuce]

Too bloody right. And a very good thing too. Unwisely, without "sensible guidance" FTW. That's why we always went way off when I was a kid, into places where no adult knew where we were. To avoid "sensible guidance". First rule of being a kid = lose the adults.

When I was a kid, the first rule of adults was: lose the kids.

[98tls]

When I was a kid, the first rule of adults was: lose the kids. :laugh:Gold,have a very early memory of being left sitting on a horse,shit scared i remember having to turn the WHHAAAAA level way up before someone bothered to come outside to my rescue.:confused:Not like the thing had handlebars to hold onto.

[Ixion]

When I was a kid, the first rule of adults was: lose the kids.

Oh aye, went both ways. Mum was as glad to get us out of the house as we were to escape. And no adult ever pursued the usual question "Where did you go, what did you do?" beyond the usual answer "Nowhere. Nothing much".

Don't ask. Don't tell. Worked well.

[AllanB]

There is no tree climbing at my kids school.

I take them over there in the weekend and they can climb if they so desire.


My 7 year old son had a boy fall out of a tree and accidentally kick him in the eye on his way down recently - he got a excellent black eye.

Now if he was climbing the tree as well this would not have happened ......

[Ixion]

My 7 year old son had a boy fall out of a tree and accidentally kick him in the eye on his way down recently - he got a excellent black eye.

Now if he was climbing the tree as well this would not have happened ......


Yeah. Riggght .

[98tls]

There is no tree climbing at my kids school.

I take them over there in the weekend and they can climb if they so desire.


My 7 year old son had a boy fall out of a tree and accidentally kick him in the eye on his way down recently - he got a excellent black eye.

Now if he was climbing the tree as well this would not have happened ...... When at primary school in Culverdun there was a flying fox in the domain,the kid that went before me had a technical problem (it didnt stop) which resulted in him ending up with a black face once the bruising came out.:doh:

[Number One]

Too bloody right. And a very good thing too. Unwisely, without "sensible guidance" FTW. That's why we always went way off when I was a kid, into places where no adult knew where we were. To avoid "sensible guidance". First rule of being a kid = lose the adults.
Don't disagree with what you say there. My stance is not about stopping good and 'normal' kids from taking risks and playing in trees or any of that stuff and is more about focussing on keeping the "Nasty little shits' from being allowed an hour of unbroken 'standover and bullying' time.

[James Deuce]

Don't disagree with what you say there. My stance is not about stopping good and 'normal' kids from taking risks and playing in trees or any of that stuff and is more about focussing on keeping the "Nasty little shits' from being allowed an hour of unbroken 'standover and bullying' time.
I was really diplomatic aboiut the same issue. I'm not sure the words "Fat Arse", "playground", "now" were seen as diplomatic though, but it seems to have worked in terms of a duty teacher for the playground. They don;t have to do anything except be seen. Simple prison psychology.

[Number One]

I was really diplomatic aboiut the same issue. I'm not sure the words "Fat Arse", "playground", "now" were seen as diplomatic though, but it seems to have worked in terms of a duty teacher for the playground. They don;t have to do anything except be seen. Simple prison psychology.
Well it's only seen as a problem by those parents whose kids happen to be the target....and of course it must also be the victims fault. Good on you - no fat arses in boys school though - would more like "OI!" "Bag o Bones" "Playground now" :lol:

[James Deuce]

Well it's only seen as a problem by those parents whose kids happen to be the target....and of course it must also be the victims fault. Good on you - no fat arses in boys school though - would more like "OI!" "Bag o Bones" "Playground now" :lol:

I was talking about the principal.

[nothingflash]

And then when he trips over his own shoe-laces that YOU didn't teach him how to tie properly - look out!:doh:

It's ok. Once they are tied up before he leaves for school they won't be 'allowed' to come off again anyway in case of prickles. They could of course concrete over the grass at schools but then they're increase the risk of stubbed toes, grazed knees...

[White trash]

Well it's only seen as a problem by those parents whose kids happen to be the target....and of course it must also be the victims fault. Good on you - no fat arses in boys school though - would more like "OI!" "Bag o Bones" "Playground now" :lol:
Difference is, you can be assured that once his schooling is over, the "victim" will be a well rounded individual, thoughfull and full of compasion. Possibly destined for great things. His tormentors will be the unemployed losers their parents are, feeding their 7 kids a mince and cheese pie each for breakfast before they walk to school in the pissing rain in bare feet while mummy or daddy sits at home waiting for the local to open so the can get there quick smart and win big on the pokies.

Unfortunately, I've found the only way to deal with the buulies I've encountered is to bully them back. That's why I hang out with folk like Big Dave.

[Number One]

I've found the only way to deal with the buulies I've encountered is to bully them back. That's why I hang out with folk like Big Dave.
Perhaps Big Dave will be up for going to school with Sully one on his first day of term next year then?

[Fatt Max]

The kindergartens have to have all the trees marked at 600mm [2'] and that is as high as the kids can climb in theory. But of course the child that falls out of the tree, and that is quite rare, is the same child that will fall off the barrier you put up to stop them climbing the tree, and so on. Risk takers will always find a way to hurt themselves.

Agreed, 100%. Have seen this at mini max's kindy, kids will be kids weather we like it or not.

I say let them push the boundaries as best as possible but keep an eye open, just in case....hang on, must dash....

....oi, get down from that fire station practice tower THIS INSTANT....and hand me that catapult as well.....

[White trash]

Perhaps Big Dave will be up for going to school with Sully one on his first day of term next year then?
You better not be telling me that you're worried about S1 and bullying problems before he's even encountered them?

Can't wrap them in cotton wool forever luv. Deal with it when it happens mate, it may not.

[James Deuce]

Difference is, you can be assured that once his schooling is over, the "victim" will be a well rounded individual, thoughfull and full of compasion. Possibly destined for great things. His tormentors will be the unemployed losers their parents are, feeding their 7 kids a mince and cheese pie each for breakfast before they walk to school in the pissing rain in bare feet while mummy or daddy sits at home waiting for the local to open so the can get there quick smart and win big on the pokies.

Unfortunately, I've found the only way to deal with the buulies I've encountered is to bully them back. That's why I hang out with folk like Big Dave.
That is so uncannily true as to be scary. I've been to one school reunion, and the "cool" kids were a disaster. First time in my life I was happy to have been a science room hiding, D&D playing, cricket loving nerd.

[Number One]

Can't wrap them in cotton wool forever luv. Deal with it when it happens mate, it may not.

Actually S1 is almost completed his first year of school and umm yes he is encountering them. Wrap HIM in cotton wool I think not - he doesn't allow it.

[ynot slow]

I remember about 6yrs old with my brother and cousins(we were all around same age,but I was the oldest grandchild by 4 days)decided to go to nanas' lounge as adults were in dining room talking,we were playing cards,then decided lets play escape,open window(old sash type)and jump,then we all ran round and did it again.After second time the adults asked what are you doing,just then I jumped out and landed awkwardly spraining ankle.Game over lol.

We climbed up grandparents oak trees,never fell out,had fun.Built tree huts,made huts in hay barn when half empty,sat on bales of hay when there was 10 bales or so on a pallet,then lifted to loft by block and tackle.

Swung off the hay sweep(was fitted to back of tractor)when tractor reversing with hay on,if you fell off no way of being run over as rear wheels wider than front ones.

As an impressionable kid,watching my grandad come back from racecourse riding one and leading another horse,stop at the gate off main highway,lean down,unhook the latch and ride into paddock,close the gate same way,all without hopping off,especially neat after watching cowboys do similar on TV,then seeing grandad do it.

[Conquiztador]

Straight away I see an opportunity here:

Start a business producing treas that are OSH approved and climb safe for shools: They do not grow higher than one meter!

Now just need a name for the business and a slogan...

[mstriumph]

Not surprising. They don't want H+S on their backs.
The problem is when you stop kids being kids, what you achieve is a load of repressed, under-achieving adults.

shhhhhhhh!! :confused: don't give the deadbeats ANOTHER excuse!!

[Big Dave]

Mongo like trash man.

[paddy]

Slightly off topic - but when I first read the thread title I thought it was some kind of fancy new trials discipline. The Tree Climb. :-)

[sunhuntin]

That is so uncannily true as to be scary. I've been to one school reunion, and the "cool" kids were a disaster. First time in my life I was happy to have been a science room hiding, D&D playing, cricket loving nerd.

yep! i was at the bottom of the chain at high school, and got picked on daily. but now, when i see former classmates, the majority have got at least one kid with no partner in sight and are stuck in this town. i dont think very many have travelled beyond aussie, nor will they. im pleased that i wasnt cool enough to follow the flock and actually have a life of my own. im fairly sure none of them have gone to bluff twice on a 250 motorbike, never mind going alone. lol. being a no mate rocks. :2thumbsup

[Big Dave]

Slightly off topic - but when I first read the thread title I thought it was some kind of fancy new trials discipline. The Tree Climb. :-)

I'm sure some of them could do it too.

[Shadowjack]

Saw this thread and remembered my son (aged about 7) falling out of the neighbours tree, snapping his arm clean above the elbow joint/ball. There were months of healing and rehab involved. These days, he is doing an aborist apprenticeship, and I spent Saturday watching him compete in an arborist competition, speed climbing trees, swinging around on ropes, high in trees, on simulated work exercises. Funny old thing, life...

[crazyhorse]

All kids should be wrapped in cotton wool , I say

yeah right!!!!!

[crazyhorse]

Kids of today are turning into wimps!

[pete376403]

No,they are being TURNED into wimps. Leave the kids alone and they will do all the stupid things you used to do. Some of these things will hurt and they will learn something.

[FROSTY]

Yep my guys sure are turning into wimps. Wont even pushstart the ol mans racebike fuggit

[ready4whatever]

Stupid. Lets cable tie their feet together so they cant move

[ynot slow]

Wimps alright.What's going to happen at sports venues now?You know the arsehole tormenting his 16yr old(or other players from sideline)during soccer,and then get someone like me slightly misjudge a clearing kick,and manages to send the ball into his nuts from 10 yards,and act all apologetic as it happened accidentally honest,true,it was an accident it clipped an oposition player as he stuck his foot out,and the deflection did the trick,otherwise it would've gone out further up the field.Picking the ball from his feet,and him wrything sideline,priceless,his son laughing,wife saying that'll learn ya ya bloody prat(in nagging accent).

[MSTRS]

...What's going to happen at sports venues now?...

Same as always happened. One team will win, and one will lose.
The only difference is that in an International match, (sort of, but not quite, like it used to be) there is still a near-guarantee of which team will win...

[ynot slow]

Same as always happened. One team will win, and one will lose.
The only difference is that in an International match, (sort of, but not quite, like it used to be) there is still a near-guarantee of which team will win...

Are we allowed to lose?I upset the kids teacher about 10years ago at netball,the little 8 year olds or so played well,so asked do you get 1 point per goal,yes miss smartypants kids won't win or lose teacher said,cool was my reply,we got beaten 12-5 sugeest the defence tighten and shooters get accurate(daughter was 1 of shooters).

Couple of parents looked weirdly at me,some even said cool we got same score,sure winning aint the be all,but kids need to know go out to win,if you don't win better luck next time.When I was that age the fun factor of result was lost 5 minutes after the game,once the ice creams were given out,never felt traumatised if we lost while at school.

[MSTRS]

...if you don't win better luck next time....

And that, right there, is a big part of the problem.
Winning has fuck all to do with luck...
Just like climbing trees, there's skills involved that need to be learned and practised, if kids are to grow and develop. Losing (falling out of the tree) is part of it.

[ynot slow]

And that, right there, is a big part of the problem.
Winning has fuck all to do with luck...
Just like climbing trees, there's skills involved that need to be learned and practised, if kids are to grow and develop. Losing (falling out of the tree) is part of it.

Yep when you get up a tree you have to get down,sometimes harder than getting up,usually involved climbing down and jumping to ground from 10' or so.

We used to see who could get up highest,some were probably 20' which was huge as 8-10 yr olds.And can't recall any of us injuring (breaking bones) ourselves,think it was common sense even then.

We were lucky we had neighbours with land beside us,and dads parents had 15 acres on other side,so were rural in town 35-40 years ago.Best part we could ride the neighbours ponies,or motorbikes,make tree huts,make bmx tracks before bmx was discovered,the raleigh 20 or chopper bikes and home made bikes with long forks were trial and error lol.Yep got the odd stitch in head,but relatively unscathed for what we did.

[Rayray401]

If winning didnt matter, why keep the score?. . . . .

[ynot slow]

If winning didnt matter, why keep the score?. . . . .

Yep tell that to the league teams this weekend,the contenders for ranfurly shield,etc,etc.And we wonder why Aussie are competitive,they go out to win at school age.

[Ixion]

Yep when you get up a tree you have to get down,sometimes harder than getting up,...

As many a kitten has discovered.

[Timber020]

As many a kitten has discovered.

We get called in once every few years to rescue kittens/cats/RCplanes/stunt kites. If they would just let me use a rifle it would be MUCH quicker.