Marc Armitage - Thought Crime

Recess

Hard lessons on the road to becoming an advocate for children and their playing

Hard lessons on the road to becoming an advocate for children and their playing

1,100 words about the importance of advocating for children and their playing by way of a hard lesson learnt.

"The children at this school told me about ‘The Swinging Tree’. It was right at the back of the school field and was called this because there was one branch in particular that was at just the right angle and height to produce a great place to swing."

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Chinese Skipping

Chinese Skipping

670 words on the history of one particular form of skipping game, a radio show, and the contibution of a littleold lady.

"Interview done, I sat back sipping my cup of BBC coffee and listened to the calls coming in. One of them took me and the programme staff aback a little."

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Whatever happened to marbles and jacks?

Whatever happened to marbles and jacks?

A 1,000 words on why we might not see 'collectables' based play like marbles and jacks being played as often as in the past.

"When I was at school I distinctly remember playing seasonal games with ‘collectables’. Mainly this involved games of marbles, played strictly during ‘marble season’ only you understand, although at home we played jacks often as my mother was an absolute expert at the game." 

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Is play a right or a privilege?

Is play a right or a privilege?

A biographical short on how schools treat the recess/playtime periods at school for objectives other than playing. 

"Well if you can’t learn to behave yourself properly then I’m banning you from this week’s lesson on the Tudor kings and queens.”

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