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To Whom It May Concern:
How ironic the salutation is above. I have just noticed this week
(living just off of McGregor) that a brand new sign was put up on the
corner of McGregor and the school property stating, "NO SKATEBOARDS OR
ROLLERBLADES ALLOWED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS".
As the parent of two boys that attend Pinckney Schools, can I tell you
how outraged this makes me the more I think about it ? My son (14 years
old) has participated in the schools organized functions and sports; as
a matter of fact, he has tried just about every sport offered at one
time or another. Just in the past 2 years he has became enthused about
skateboarding. He has a handful of buddies that are just as
enthusiastic about it and they enjoy from time-to-time, skateboarding
up to the high school to hang out with other friends at the football
games, etc.. These pre-teen and teenage boys are causing no harm to
anyone, including themselves. I have been told many, many times how
courteous my son is and what good manners he shows to others. However,
my son and myself are getting tired of and angry at the many, many
restrictions that are being placed on skateboarders (in general). Sure,
occasionally there may be the accidental 'cutting someone off', but ,
this happens every day in every shape and form. It's not as if the cars
in the drives and parking lot should be going at any rate of speed in
the first place; so, this should not be an issue-there is always
pedestrians walking around the complex-so the cars need to be careful
regardless of skateboarders or walking pedestrians. The vehicles
need/should be extra careful regardless because it is a school and
there is always young people around.
I wonder, if it is due in large part to the fact that
skateboarding is an 'ALTERNATIVE' sport; not a MAINSTREAM activity (or,
at least right now). It is, in fact, an activity that takes much
coordination, practice and skill and is very detailed.
When I called the school to find out the reason(s) for the new sign, I
was told that this is a 'LIABILITY ISSUE'. Maybe the bleachers should
be taken down at the football fieldŠwhat if someone trips and falls
while walking up and down themŠmaybe bikes should be prohibited from
school propertyŠwhat if someone goes too fast on a bike and misjudges a
bump in the sidewalk, drive, or parking lot and fallsŠmaybe the parking
lot should be taken outŠmaybe someone would be hit with a car while
going to or from their car for an "authorized" school function or
eventŠ Does it not seem to anyone there that we are limiting what our
kids can and can't do so severely that perhaps, we are unconsciously
hindering them and perhaps even 'accidentally' pushing them to try
harmful, damaging and vandalistic 'things' due to boredom ?
What makes me even more upset about this is the fact
that Pinckney has absolutely nothing to offer it's young people
entertainment-wise outside of school functions. There is no recreation
center, no place where skateboards would be welcome, is there ? There
is no movie theaters, bowling alley, rollerskate arena, etcŠ What harm
could come from allowing the kids to enjoy the outdoors in an activity
that is non-destructive, non-intrusive and NON-VIOLENT (unlike many,
many "organized" sports- i.e. football) ?
How ridiculous it is that our teenagers cannot practice a sport they
enjoy at an institution that is supposedly FOSTERING GROWTH AND
LEARNING and where they feel comfortable. There are dangers to many
activities not just skateboarding-if you are going to exclude
skateboarding, then eliminate EVERYTHING-ballet (ankle could be
twisted, etc..), weight lifting (dumb bells could fall, etc..),
machine-shop (numerous accidents could take place); why is the line
drawn at the sport of skateboarding? Whether a *responsible*
adult (and not all are anyway) is around or not, accidents are going to
happen. Again, because it is considered by the majority of adults as a
"reckless", "hazardous", "alternative" thing to do, it is alienated and
restricted. Period. Please take the time to watch the skills and
patience incurred by this activity before just irrationally adopting
the mainstream attitude. Or maybe it won't matter because the lawyers
and insurance companies say it's not a good idea to allow it to take
place-what if someone sues the school. Then again, referring to my
earlier point, what if a accident occurs on school property in any of
the above instances, someone could sue the school. Why is skateboarding
singled out?
My son has a t-shirt that says (in sign form), "SKATEBOARDING
IS NOT A CRIME". I think I may purchase one for myself. This statement
has more and more meaning to me everyday.
Michelle (Shelly) Rau
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