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The Playground


See the caution tape in the picture?

I was reminded the other day of the new playground we got at school about 4 1/2 years ago. It was nice and the best part was a big play structure with monkey bars, slides, ladders, poles to slide down, all sorts of fun things. Really really fun.

Then, maybe a year later, maybe a little longer, the slightly spongy squishy stuff that goes under play structures started coming apart. They play structure was deemed unsafe and was slated to be fixed "right away." Eventually it was "fixed" and the kids got to play on it again, for about two days. Then it was unsafe again.

For the last two years or so, the kids have had to look at this wonderful play structure that they're not allowed to touch. It's like torture for them, seeing this tantalizing hope of fun beyond what they are able to currently experience. They're reminded every couple of weeks over the loudspeaker that they need to stay off the play structure, and disciplined when they don't.

Is there any child who can resist the temptation of getting on the play structure when someone's not looking?

My sister had the best reaction:

"WHAT?!that is ...wow."
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi this is Devons sister Alyssa. I didn't have your email address and Jessmyn and Dev have left for Hawaii, so i thought this was the best way to reach you!
I received all of the wonderful letters from the children in your class, it was very sweet. I would love to stay in contact with them through pen-paling. Really, I would like to get to the classroom sometime, but at the moment I cant afford to take a day off of work, hopefully soon that will change.
I’d love to know how I could go about writing to some of the kids, sending pictures, etc., if that’s a possibility. My email address is arumrill@creativeleisure.com I’d love to hear from you!
Lots of love to you for all of the good you do for these kids.

Alyssa
8:46 AM
Anonymous said…
how much does it cost to get it fixed?
10:00 PM
Bronwyn said…
No idea. More money than I have!
10:35 PM
Jessamyn Harris said…
by the way, alyssa does know how to spell my name : )
you just got a free penpal!
what is even wrong with the playground?
7:22 PM
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