Should Skateboarders be allowed to skate on school grounds?

Question

I'd like to know where Yahoo users stand. I was at a football party at school, and we had hamburgers and other food. Before that, 4 members of the football team were skateboarding. One of the Janitors threatened to call the police. The kid got off of it immediately, but forgot the threat and STOOD on his skateboard to talk to his girlfriend. He didn't skate, and he didn't move. 15 minutes later, there are three police cars and they write their names down so they could talk to his parents later. A weak punishment, yes, but still no excuse to call the police on the skateboarders. This school allows bikers to bike on school grounds! Why should they ban skating too?

It was an honest question, Ida. Don't be a jerk about it.

Answer 1

The main reasons have already been stated (injury/liability and skateboarding damages to property), but in addition, more often than not, those who skateboard also tend to like to vandalize things. This is, of course, not commenting on all skateboarders; it is a stereotype which seems to work a lot.

At my old high school, as well as any other that I happened to visit, skateboarders would vandalize anything they could get their hands on. The bikers never did, nor did the scooter folk. Skateboarders take school equipment and destroy it, either for their own use as jumps or the like, or just because. I ran a school organization, and the largest expense we had was repairing our equipment and fixing our storage shed because we found it broken into one day, our equipment on a field nearby making ramps or grinding areas or jumping platforms.
Thus, the schools generally make rules against all skateboarding, so they can get those that do tend to vandalize. It also gets those that don't break the law, but as they must enforce the rules on all (especially these guys, since they tend to cry about rights and mistreatment if they are singled out, and then go break something or cut down the school's tree), it's a sacrifice the school's are willing to take.

Answer 2

There are two issues here.

One is the school's legal liability in the event a skateboarder is injured or injures someone else. If the school has a stance of allowing skateboarding, they're liable for expenses and even punitive damages if the injury was serious, life-altering, etc.

The other factor is one that's proven itself repeatedly. Skateboarding causes minor damage which becomes major damage when viewed cumulatively. Painted rails get scraped, opening them to rust. Cement steps become chipped, open to water damage and later ice damage. Stone benches chip or crack. All of these are expensive or even impossible to repair. Why would any property owner, from school to your grandparents, sit idly by and allow property damage.

Bikes do damage, too, but the repair is cheap and easy: grass seed.

Answer 3

That was a little harsh but I understand why they don't want skaters on the grounds. It's a safety and upkeep issue. It seems unfair, especially for those kids who use their boards to get home (just like the kids who use their bikes to do the same thing.) Unfortunately, it's the bad reputation that skaters get for being "disrepectful punks" that causes concern. Skateboards have more flexibility to grind down the stair rails than a biker would and more kids are apt to use bikes for travel. It's a catch 22.

Answer 4

bring it up at the pta meeting. we are not here about your community norms at your school.
edit: lol thanks i know i am jerkish....i really did give you a nice answer for me that is. yes, the grass seed, the lawsuits etc. my personal belief are that you could go to the meeting and point out how kids in your area dont have a place to do this and perhaps get people talking about it. maybe part of the park is nearby and you could get a skat place in there or just a ramp or two in the back of the parking lot. the kids in my neighborhood have a dad on the block that built a few ramps. they bring them out in the street. (most people if not all dont park on the street we have large lots) and play. when the occasional car comes by they move it and then move it back to play some more.

Answer 5

How many ride bikes throughout a crowd? They generally get parked. If the skateboards were parked away from the gathering, there wouldn't have been a problem. Teenagers love to push the envelope and the kid got caught. Bet he won't "forget" again.

Answer 6

Because they r afraid that the parents of the kids will sue the school if their kids get injured. It’s more likely to get injured on a skateboard (doing tricks) than a bike. Sorry to say it but frivolous law suits have ruined it for everyone else.

Answer 7

I used to skate when I was younger and had to deal with this same dilema 15 years ago. Nothing has changed.

The issue is that the school doesn't want to be liable for injuries caused by skating on their property. On average more skaters get hurt from their sport then bicyclists.

I broke my collar bone from a fall from when I used to skate and I had to get stitches in my head too... I also rode a bike every day... never had an injury.

Answer 8

Skatboarding is not a safe sport. Schools don't want parents to try to hold the school liable when little Johnny gets injured.

Answer 9

WOW just fer standing on a skate board what the ice cream!!i think they should be able to becasue if they crack there head open or some thin we can sue em!!!!jk

Answer 10

depends on their insurance policie , skateboarders , and other people may not be covered , leaving the school , responsible for any inguries or property damage ,