JP has been at “summer camp” since the start of the week. His summer camp is at the same pre-school that he attended all year; only difference, so far as I can tell is that they use a sprinkler at their rooftop playground. Only problem is that they haven’t used it yet, the sprinkler, that watering device designed to entrance, divert, and COOL youngsters.
The reason? It’s too hot. It has been too hot to go outside and let my five-year-old male child with energy enough for twenty old men like me and run around in some freezing water. Oh, and the ozone levels have been too high–the school coordinator actually told me that this morning. They had checked the OZONE yesterday and determined the air quality was too poor to venture outside.
I should mention that JP spent twenty minutes yesterday after dinner running laps around the table; this after we spent the better part of the evening outside with me playing catch and hanging out.
Ozone layers! Perhaps this image is what they teachers would prefer:
Further proof of the wussification of America.
JP–(nice name, btw). That, and also, it’s impractical. The teachers themselves are frustrated because the kids don’t get to work out any of their kinks. JP’s entire class got a timeout yesterday. –theodore.
One thing to consider: you might be shocked by how many kids in the city, even in affluent neighborhoods, suffer from asthma. When the National Weather Service issues ozone alerts, as they did a few days this week, asthmatics are generally discouraged from engaging in physical activity outdoors. So yeah, there’s some wussiness and legal fear here, but asthma attacks are no picnic for the school and the other students, either.
Still, they should have a back-up plan that involves vigorous indoor exercise–jumping jacks, sit-ups/wall-ups, etc.
No argument here, Tim. But I tend to think it’s painting with a pretty wide brush: all of the kids shouldn’t stay inside because some might have asthma. –theodore.