I recall learning to spin 360 degrees around the playground bar with one leg back in elementary. It was terrifying and exhilarating all in one.
It was a surprise to me years later to see they had removed them because of possible injuries. How sad to realize many will never know the thrill of making their clumsy bodies behave as I finally made mine.
Now apparently even Dodgeball is under attack...
Back in the 70's it was all about telling a child something would be fun in order to get them to try it and then the "self-esteem" and "no child left behind" movements followed.
My mom used to tell me when I was in elementary that she was sick to death hearing about how this thing or that thing isn't "fun", and I didn't want to do it. She reminded me that life isn't fun. Fun was the operative motivator in my day.
Much of life isn't fun, just as she said; and it was a cruel thing to do to my generation to make out like it would be.
