I just posted this on one of my other blogs as well.
In a day and age where real violence fills the airwaves and floods the headlines, it can seem that the world, and our children, are becoming increasingly aggressive. As a teacher, I am torn between what I personally know about aggressive play (it's often how boys play) and what is written into school policy. Of course it is my job and my desire to create a safe environment for all students, but I have to wonder if we haven't gone too far.
In the article, Ask the Experts: What's the Deal with Boys + Guns?, Dr.Michael Thompson, an expert and author on child development had this to say, "Parents need to remember the difference between play and real violence; play is fun and consensual; aggression is meant to hurt and it does. Parents should intervene when things get angry and out of control. If boys are just playing, even though the themes are violent, parents should trust their sons and let them play". I would think that educators could use this advice as well.
Although Dr, Thompson's research has shown that violent themes in pretend play does not lead to real-life aggression, schools often have zero tolerance policies in place that are generally biased against boys. So where should a school draw the line? When does a child's behavior demonstrate true aggression? In most cases, common sense is the key to answering this question.
