New Hampshire Elementary School Bans Child's Game Tag

No More Tag For These Elementary School Students
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BOSTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - An elementary school in New Hampshire has banned the age-old schoolyard game of tag, saying students sometimes tag each other too forcefully.

"The other issue with tag is that students are running and not paying attention to where they are going," Patricia Beaulieu, principal of the Charlotte Avenue Elementary School in Nashua, said in a notice on the school's website.

The action, which followed several playground injuries attributed to the game, was criticized by some parents.

"Tag is one of the oldest playground games anywhere," Bill Chisholm, 43, told Nashua's Telegraph newspaper. "To ban tag is just ridiculous."

A school district in Port Washington, New York, this year banned children from using hard balls, like baseballs or soccer balls, during recess and has made it policy to distribute soft, spongy Nerf balls instead. (Writing by Richard Valdmanis)

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Before You Go

Weird Things Banned At Schools
Holding Hands(01 of20)
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A bill passed in Tennessee earlier this year declared hand-holding a 'gateway sexual activity,' with teachers facing firing for even demonstrating the action. (credit:Shutterstock)
Hugging(02 of20)
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Surprisingly, the ban on hugging isn't a one-off rule at a select school, but a trend that seems to be spreading. Schools in Portland and Florida started instituting these rules in 2010, while administrations in New Jersey, Brooklyn and New Zealand took it upon themselves in 2012. For all, the reasoning appears to be the same: Respecting personal space and "unsuitable interactions" between students. (credit:Shutterstock)
Red Ink(03 of20)
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At schools in both Australia and the U.K., green ink has replaced red ink in marking children's paper because of its 'confrontational' nature. (credit:ShutterStock)
Dodgeball(04 of20)
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Due to its "aggressive" nature, dodgeball has been banned in schools across North America, as it's frequently named the cause of injuries and fights. Adult dodgeball, on the other hand, has been enjoying a continued popularity. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jason Franson)
Non-Motorized Transportation(05 of20)
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You'd think, with all the talk about childhood obesity these days, schools would be encouraging students to ride their bikes or skateboards to school. One New York said it was illegal for kids to have bikes, while another Orthodox school disagreed with the freedom afford by the two wheels. (credit:ShutterStock)
Bookbags(06 of20)
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There's plenty of debate about the best possible bookbag for kids -- but one school in Michigan doesn't allow bags into the classroom at all. Citing safety concerns in lunchrooms and classes, the high school asked students to keep returning to their lockers between classes to retrieve the appropriate books. (credit:ShutterStock)
Pogs(07 of20)
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Bake Sales(08 of20)
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Though later overturned, a Massachusetts school attempted to ban bake sales on the basis of their lack of nutrition.
Black Makeup(09 of20)
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Yoga Pants(10 of20)
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An Ottawa school banned yoga pants last year -- unless the tight bottoms were covered up with long shirts.
Silly Bandz(11 of20)
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Silly Bandz are fun! Silly Bandz are cute! Silly Bandz are, apparently, a distraction in the classroom and should not be permitted. Schools all over North America have banned these collectables from class, but that sure doesn't keep them from getting trading at recess. (credit:JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images)
Best Friends(12 of20)
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No more BFFs for you, British kids! At a few U.K. schools, teachers are preventing children from making "best friends" in an attempt to save others' feelings.
Milk(13 of20)
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Milk was always seen as part of a wholesome school lunch, but now a group of doctors wants it off the menu entirely. A vegan and physician group in the U.S. is pushing a petition to get rid of milk in schools, due to it being "...high in sugar, high in fat and high in animal protein that is harmful to, rather than protective of, bone health."
Dinosaurs(14 of20)
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Ugg Boots(15 of20)
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Skinny Jeans(17 of20)
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And then there's the opposite end of the spectrum. Much like yoga pants, skinny jeans have been banned in schools all over the place, due to their lack of modesty and distraction factor for the opposite sex.
Winning(18 of20)
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Balls(19 of20)
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A Toronto school made headlines last year when it was announced it would ban hard balls from its premises, following a parent suffering a concussion after being hit by a ball. (credit:Shutterstock)
Christmas(20 of20)
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