In the safety obsessed culture that defines the modern American parenting experience — organic-only baby food, locks on toilets, GPS tracking devices on baby shoes — we can’t help but shriek anytime we hear about parents shunning a lifestyle of caution.
That was our initial response to British news reports about parents insisting schools in the southern India state of Tamil Nadu stage “risky” stunts in honor of the centennial of the founder of the state’s modern education system.
To wit, at one school, a martial-arts trainer drove a motorcycle over students’ outstretched hands. Another stunt involved a motorcycle zooming over a plank placed on top of a girl. Parents thought death-defying motorcycle tricks would be the perfect way to show off their children’s physicality, developed from karate lessons. Forget our show-offy, lame tournaments. The Tamil Nadus are some badass teachers.
Parent_dish (Thanks Ned-de-de-dah)
So…do they ban them or don’t they?
Running over someone’s hand on sandy ground with a motorcycle wouldn’t hurt THAT much, but subjecting children to it that’s maybe slightly different.
What if their fingers are irreparably damaged then how can they be our tech support when they grow up?
In the culture rich conservative place like tamil nadu where i grew up, i think things like this are quite uncommon . I am glad that Derren posted this link on his site. Derren could you think of a new trick involving mass participation?? oh im sure he already has something in his mind.
Is Derren going to attempt RISKY STUNTS that could otherwise be BANNED? Or is he going to be doing something deemed taboo and dangerous? – with children perhaps? Is he going to ‘train’ a group of children to steal the crown JEWELS?! Wouldnt he be charged with treason for that?! im confused… but the number 999 is beginning to give me nightmares….
This story suggests they are encouraging risky stunts rather than banning them…
I think that “in honor of the founder of Brown Towers”, Phillis, Abeo, Coops etc should all try the same to show their “physicality”!
I’d say … let the parents theirselves do that type of stuff, not their childeren. However small the risk may be … It’s just not normal to put your childeren in that type of situation. Lots of adults would not want to see to it theirselves either. Nothing to do with fear, but with common sense. If their childeren turn out to be thrill seekers they will seek for those things in due time theirselves. Childeren will quite often not feel fear for so many things, but that’s not always such a good thing .. they don’t see danger as close up yet. Any stuntm\an knows the risks .. calculates .. I myself def. would not want to have been placed in those type of situations as a child. Jumping in the deep part of the swimming pool whereas someoe was going to catch you was already thrilling…
@sonofsam83
If Derren was to ‘train’ young children, especially to steal the crown ‘jewels’… surely the authorities will have to take a ‘hardline’ with him?
Maybe they should step-up the rotor of security on the jewels in time for The Events?
Don’t get me wrong… I love all animals, but I keep having these owls show up and they are begining to bother me a little…. they are eeriee creatures
Back when I was a kid I, had to walk ten miles to school, barefoot, in the snow, uphill, both ways.
An oldie but a goodie.