Playtime whistle banned in case it ‘alarms’ pupils
A SCHOOL has banned whistleblowing at the end of playtime – because it is “too aggressive” and may alarm children.
A school has banned whistleblowing at the end of playtime as it is 'too aggressive'
Instead teachers must raise a hand to mark a return to lessons and hope youngsters notice.
Teaching assistant Pamela Cunningham, who works at St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Milton Keynes, Bucks, raised the bizarre move in a letter to Country Life magazine.
Responding to a previous article about whistles, she wrote: “At the primary school where I have worked for more than 26 years, blowing to signal the end of playtime has now been banned.
"It’s thought to be too aggressive and some children may be afraid.
“We now have to raise a hand in the air and hope that the children can see it and stop playing.
“God forbid we should have to gather the children in an emergency – I still keep my whistle in my pocket just in case.”
Teachers at St Monica's instead have to raise their hand to mark end of playtime
Emma Kenny, a psychologist and therapist who lectures at the University of Manchester, said she is yet to meet a child who is afraid of whistles.
We are at a time where health and safety is fundamentally eradicating childhood
She said: “I do not know where the basis of their evidence has come from, but if a child is taught the alarm system there is no reason for it to be feared.
“I think we are at a time where health and safety is fundamentally eradicating childhood.”
The move has been criticised by psychologist and therapist Emma Kenny
A teacher at the school brought the bizarre ban to light in a letter to Country Life magazine
Referring to “cotton-wool parenting”, she added: “Show me a playground where children are cowering in the corner and I’ll reconsider it.
"We are underestimating children – we’ve forgotten how resilient they are.”
No one from St Monica’s School was available for comment.