“Where are all the playgrounds?,” asked Mrs. Simpson as the admissions director toured her family around the school campus.
“Oh, we’ve removed the play equipment due to safety concerns,” responded Mr. Cruse. “We trust that children can find time and place to play outside of school time. Without the equipment, there’s much less risk of anyone tragically getting hurt. This aligns with our risk-management futuring at School.”
“Thanks for your time, Mr. Cruse. We’ve seen enough of campus. We need to be moving along now.” Mrs. Simpson stepped toward the route to the parking lot as Susie’s grip on her mother’s hand shifted from a frightened squeeze to one of deep gratitude.
———-
How much did the hypothetical scenario shock you? Unfortunately, it may not be so hypothetical (see here).
What if we thought of “playgrounds” as metaphors for social media tools in schools? What if we thought of “playgrounds” as allegorical symbols for smart phones in schools? What if we thought….
What “playgrounds” are we outlawing in many schools when we allow for legal considerations to trump educational ones?
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