Schools try to reduce playground conflicts -- Recess coach is putting the ‘play’ back in playground

Recess at many public schools isn’t what it used to be.

Many schoolyard games – such as tag – have been discouraged because kids play too rough and the conflicts carry over into class time afterward, educators say.

“We haven’t played tag for a long time,” says Tamala Newsome, principal at Rosa Parks School in North Portland. “If someone gets pushed down, it’s not intentional but you can’t spend time resolving it. … They’re missing their instruction time. That’s just not OK.”

Now, tag and other schoolyard games have a chance to make a comeback.