One year has passed since two sad occasions when unknown vandals caused nearly $2,500 of damage to the old playground equipment, which included a “Discovery Tot Tree,” a “Country Cottage House” and an “Easy Stove Table.” The top of the plastic treehouse was ripped from the bottom, hoisted over the 4-foot fence and later found adrift in the river. The house and the table were torn apart.There is now an eight-foot fence around the tot-lots. I asked a colleague if that was required by some safety regulation and the colleague indicated that from time to time they'd have the apparatus damaged by collegians who got over the old four-foot fence to play on it. Although some of the new features can handle the live load of an adult, this stuff is engineered for toddlers. But again, as with the beanbag, does the propensity of collegians to use the tot-lot indicate insufficient opportunities for spontaneous play with other youngsters?
The continued fallout from the withdrawn (pending redesign?) Delaware consciousness-raising treatments suggests that the overscheduled childhood becomes an overscheduled freshman experience.
The direction Residence Life has taken with its meetings and programs is also unsettling. In previous years, floor meetings and programs were focused on social icebreakers and interacting with new members of the residence hall community. Testimonials from both sides show that many of these meetings have been redirected to focus on tolerance and diversity issues.(Via The Torch.)
There are always a few things the residence hall advisors ought to make clear. I still remember the warning about having a high school guest in the room with her shoes off ... On the other hand, perhaps the best way to learn about your neighbors' talents is to, well, get to know them as people. Be nice to that dork, he can write code like nobody's business.
No comments:
Post a Comment