topic Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools in Community Chat

Fences around playgrounds at schools

happycat — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:44:02 GMT

Just saw on Arkansas news, where last week a little six year old wandered off from an elementary school. They found his body in a nearby swimming pool, not connected to the school in any way. The school is now going to put up a fence around the playground as there wasn't one.

I think there were fences around the playgrounds when my kids were in elementery school. I'm just kind of surprised that there wasn't already a fence around this playground.

The news did say that 5 staff were on administrative leave. I don't know how many kids they were watching.

I know the schools where my niece and nepher go (different towns) have high fences around those playgrounds.

What do ya'll think about that? Are there fences around the playgrounds close to you?

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

bonnielu — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:48:37 GMT

Yes, and no. The older kids, no fences. The very young yes. However as I watch there seems to be two staff members for one kid. Not kidding. I really think THEY were not watching in this case and perhaps they were short of staff. Tragedy in any case.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

Bri36 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:53:35 GMT

What a tragedy.

No, there was no fence around the playground at my kids' elementary school. They did have a gate that prevented cars from entering the parking lot during recess.

I see some schools with fences and some without. It might have to do with how close they are to a busy street.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

151949 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:08:18 GMT

I was once coming home from work on a snowy morning and I blew a tire. On that icy street the car was totally out of my control - it just went flying off to the right. There was a school playground right there full of kids and had it not been for the fence stopping my car I could have gone right thru that playground. So I say yes to playground fences. Good strong ones.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

missy1 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:30:44 GMT

There are fences at all the schools here. (when they go out to recess) No adults are allowed out there, unless you work there. It would be hard to watch all the kids without a fence. Even growing up, all the schools I attended had fences,

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:25:05 GMT

The teachers/aides out there in the play yard aren't always looking out after the kids. I drove by an elementary on a busy street one day and saw one boy trying to push another boy over the fence, then there were two boys fistfighting in the yard - nobody watching. Unfortunately I couldn't do anything - if I had stopped, there would have been an accident. I thought to myself - glad those aren't my kids!

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

Mominohio — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:37:54 GMT

This is just so tragically sad! I think everyone expects to have their children well supervised when they go off to school, but in reality, it just doesn't happen all the time.

When we were growing up in our town, there were no fences around the playgrounds of most of our elementary schools. Most were on smaller side streets, and it allowed for an open and visually appealing experience, as most of our playgrounds had yards and trees in conjunction to the asphalt. We had a lot of room and lots of nature.

I remember how odd it felt to see the fences go up many years later at those schools. Unfortunately, this is now another necessity of life, to keep kids safe.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

AngusandBuddhasMom — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:54:42 GMT

Maybe because I was raised with a pool in the backyard and NJ laws requiring those with a pool to have a fence that I have a different concern. Was there no fence around the pool? That would be my question as well. How was it that this child was able to access the pool so easily.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

happycat — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 13:23:41 GMT

I tried to copy and paste the link, and it didn't work. The artlicle says that the home with the pool was adjacent to the school. It doesn't say anything about a fence around the pool.

I find it hard to belieive that we have an elementary school without a fence and a pool in that close of proximity without a fence also. I wonder if the homeowner had a fence and somehow the child got in thru a gate.

I don't know, it is just terrible.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

missy1 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 13:57:14 GMT

@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
Maybe because I was raised with a pool in the backyard and NJ laws requiring those with a pool to have a fence that I have a different concern. Was there no fence around the pool? That would be my question as well. How was it that this child was able to access the pool so easily.

Wherever I have lived, a fence is also required around a pool.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

cherry — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:05:29 GMT

We didn't have a fence when I was in school. I think they should fence off playgrounds ,for the safety ,and protection of the kiddies

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

SaRina — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:15:33 GMT

What an unthinkable tragedy with such a simple preventive measure.

Having grown up in the city, I cannot imagine (and have never heard of) a school playground without a fence around it. Not just for children not wandering off, but to keep pervs away from them.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

2blonde — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:38:20 GMT

I grew up in a small town. Parts of the playgrounds had fencing and parts didn't, depending on what was adjacent to it. In the front of the school, where there was a main road, there was only a split rail fence. Back in those days, we never had any issues with kids wandering off or pervs wandering in. There usually was only one teacher outside at any given time, or maybe none at all. It was truly a different age.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

SahmIam — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:19:01 GMT

All elementary schools have fences around the playgrounds (each has two: one for preschool, k-2 and another for grades 3-5). In addition, all public playgrounds IF near a body of water must be fenced in as well.

Simple common sense to protect children; when you have many playing together, a child can slip away unnoticed. My heart goes out to the child and his parents.

One thing though: why was there no fence around the pool? Again, it's required that ALL pools (public and private) have a 6 foot fence around them in my county. I've never been to a public pool anywhere that wasn't fenced it.

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:30:13 GMT

When I was in school, our playgrounds were not fenced in, most elementary schools were on side streets with little traffic, once my children were in school, I did notice some fences in some schools but not all. I think now though there are fences at all elementary schools, but not Middle schools.......What a tragic accident.......Where I live you also have to have a fence around any pool whether it be an above the ground or in ground pool........I feel so sad for those parents and that poor little boy......

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

IMW — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:49:42 GMT

Yes!

Re: Fences around playgrounds at schools

sunshine45 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:36:17 GMT

our area in general does NOT have fences around the playgrounds at schools, but most of them are not set near the road in front of the school. they didnt when i was young either.

pools are required to have fences around them.