I abhor the "Nanny State" and its consequences on individual freedom,
personal responsibility and creative learning opportunities. Yesterday we
watched a couple of girls climbing a tree. They were well out on a limb and
enjoying the experience. Good for them. There is hope for the future.
In Canada there has been a reaction against nanny state playgrounds with
nothing to challenge kids. Several schools and parents groups have worked to
develop playgrounds with objective hazards, places where someone might slip,
fall, and get hurt. A minor bruise, a skinned knuckle even a broken bone etc
is a minor inconvenience for the satisfaction from enjoying a personal
challenge.
While in the UK recently we were aghast at the pervasiveness of the nanny
state. Signs saying "Face forward, Use the handrail, Mind the gap, doors
closing, doors opening etc". So many warning defeated their purpose. It is
much better to allow people to observe, assess and decide themselves, taking
personal responsibility for such hazardous things as taking an escalator,
elevator, just climbing a the stairs or checking the time on an analemmatic
sundial.
Often in life I just did it. It was easier to seek approval, authorization
or forgiveness later.
Regards Roger Bailey
"Life's but a Walking Shadow...."
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Martina Addiscott" <martina.addisc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 10:23 AM
To: <sundial@uni-koeln.de>
Subject: Re: Why are schools, across the world,'banning' analemmatic
sundials ?
Dear Reinhold,
Thanks for your reply, saying you also had some difficulty with
an 'analemmatic' sundial at a school - and caused by "jealousy"
plus people being frightened of some legal action, against them.
As you suggest, I would love to 'defy' our Educational Authority
to install this feature - but if I did so, then I am afraid that
both myself and my Head Teacher will be dismissed from our jobs.
I really cannot understand why (say) any "Hop-scotch" grids and
"Snakes & Ladders" layouts are OK for playgrounds - but when it
comes to interactive Human Sundials, they are deemed 'dangerous'
for children. Nobody seems to be able to give me a satisfactory
explanation for it - except to say, "Health and Safety" reasons.
If anyone else has some ideas on this, then please let me know.
Sincerely,
Martina Addiscott.
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