From: John Howat, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Nelson Mail (New Zealand) 3rd September 2000 TAKING THE GLORY OUT OF GUNS by Karen Clark Gun battles are definitely out but controlled culling of possums is allowed, within certain guidelines, by licensed children at Nelson's Tahunanui Kindergarten. While most other kindergartens ban the use of toy firearms, Tahunanui Kindergarten has adopted a policy which allows gun play in certain circumstances. One of the key elements is the issuing of "gun licences" for children who want to play with toy guns. If a child wants to create a toy gun they have to ask a teacher for a licence, give their reasons for wanting it, and agree to rules about its use. The rules include not pointing the run at a person and using it in specified areas where it will not endanger anyone else. The children are encouraged to add their own rules as well. Head teacher Helen Durbridge said the policy was developed after teachers found that some children were engaging in gun play even when it was banned. Rather than trying to sweep the issue under the carpet, the kindergarten decided to allow limited gun play as an educational tool, she said. "If you say 'We don't have guns here,' all that teaches them is that the teachers don't like guns." By having to apply for a licence, the children had to think through safety issues, so they developed a better understanding of guns instead of what was portrayed on television, she said. "It takes all the glory out of guns." Children also learned about pest eradication and conservation if they were using their pretend guns to "kill" possums or rabbits, she said. Mrs Durbridge said children were not allowed to bring toy guns from home -- they could only play with guns they had created. This made them think carefully before deciding to play with them. She said teachers had noticed less gun play since the policy was introduced two years ago. She had also received positive feedback from parents, some of whom had adopted the licence system at home as well. Picture of two boys goes with the story. They are holding what look like official documents and the caption says Licensed to shoot: Tahunanui Kindergarten's Connor Murray and Drew Neilson, both 4, with their gun licences. -- John Howat Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
