National PTA should be ashamed

Oh my goodness gracious.

I find the comments below from Debbie Gatti of the North Rocklin PTA absolutely dumbfounding. How can the National PTA be opposed to local parent teacher associations assisting in improving our school's playgrounds? Sure schools need funding for books and teachers but this postition discounts the true value of free time on the playground and hiding behind the "L" word is as inexcusable as it is irresponsible.

The early lessons learned on the playground are as valuable as any a child will learn. Often our children's first experiences in learning to share, cooperating with others, socializing with peers, stress-coping, and problem-solving all occur on the playground. I challenge anyone reading this to consider their everyday life if the other adults that had not learned these life skills early and well.

We are raising the most obese generation in the history of the world and our schools are the last place where physical activity is mandated. How a national organization begin to discard the true value of physical benifits of the playground to our children? Perhaps a round padded room with TV's and Gameboys would be a better use of our children's recess?

Citing liability is another way of not having to explain your agenda. Here in Hawaii just the mention of the "L" word generates unfounded panic. Before acceptance of impending doom I suggest that we check the validity of the risk by asking a professional pointed questions such as, "what exactly is our liability in doing this?" In the case of a playground, if it is constructed within federal guidelines and laws, maintained and supervised correctly, there's next to zero laibility for the local PTA. To our knowledge there has never been a suit filed against a PTA in Hawaii for assisting with a playground.

http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/102504/b03w25edplayground.html

By MERYL HYMAN HARRIS THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 25, 2004)

Playgrounds appear to be as irresistible to adults as they are to children.

Even though the National PTA advises against it, some local parent teacher associations continue to give playground equipment to local schools.

"Over the years, probably each one of the elementary schools have used PTA funds for playground equipment," said Debbie Gatti, North Rockland PTA Council president. "I can't tell my PTA units not to do it.

"The PTA is supposed to enhance children's lives at school. Children spend a lot of time on the playground, where things get old," she said. "Where is that money going to come from? Some from state grants and some from PTA because the district doesn't have enough money to put into playgrounds. I'd rather the district spent the money on books and teachers. I don't think it's realistic on the part of National PTA to say don't do that."

The national group is attempting to dissuade parents from buying equipment for reasons it considers entirely realistic.

National PTA does not recommend the purchase of equipment chiefly because of insurance liability and maintenance issues, said spokeswoman Laura Battle. "PTA efforts are better spent educating the community about funding for education," she said.

Nonsense, said Gatti. "There are liability issues with lots of things. I don't think you can live your life worrying about that. We have ice cream socials sponsored by PTA, Halloween parties, and there are always liability issues. Knock wood, we haven't had anybody sue, but you have to decide what's important, and the kids have to have a safe place to play.''

A leading advocate of safe playgrounds agrees that the National PTA has gone too far.

"I think that's a terrible decision on their part because the playground companies have improved the safety of equipment, particularly in the past 10 years," said Donna Thompson, director of the National Program for Playground Safety.

Thompson and her group were among those who over the past decade lobbied successfully for stringent standards of equipment to stem the tide of accidents. It is estimated that some 200,000 children are sent to emergency rooms every year because of playground accidents at a cost of more than $1 billion. Home playgrounds, such groups caution, are often more dangerous than public ones.

Thompson's group does spot checks of public playgrounds throughout the United States, grading each state on such criteria as supervision, age-appropriate design, maintenance and surfacing. From 2000 to 2004, New York rose from a C+ to a solid B.

It is with those current safety standards in mind that local PTAs purchase equipment, said Gatti. "The PTA sits down with the principal and it's a collaborative thing," she said. "They think about what will be the safest thing the children will enjoy."