At one Queensland state school, doing a cartwheel in the playground can get you suspended.
Belgian Gardens State School has banned all forms of gymnastics during breaks, including handstands and somersaults – even the humble forward roll has been given the flick, the Townsville Bulletin reports.
Mum Kylie Buschgens was dumbfounded when her daughter Cali, 10, was told she could no longer do cartwheels, even on the grass.
Have authorities gone over the top on child safety? …
larger version – flickr – The_Admiralty
“She came home from school a couple of times and said ‘I got in trouble for doing a cartwheel’,” Ms Buschgens said.
“I thought she meant that it was wrong to do it on the concrete, but they made an announcement at assembly that gymnastics was banned.”
Cali said cartwheels made her happy because she wasn’t interested in other sports.
Her friend was busted and punished by the cartwheel cops this week. …
School bans all forms of gymnastics during breaks, even on grass – Herald Sun
(via Amy Van Deusen, About.com Guide to Gymnastics)
Gymnastics Australia already spoke out against the ruling.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 