Rules and Regulations at the Roller Rink
Stephanie
My daughter got a pair of rollerblades for her 6th birthday
recently. We decided to take the girls to the rollerskating rink
last night.
I was struck by how many arbitrary rules and regulations there were.
Even before we got in the door, there was a huge sign posted outside
that listed all of the rules. Then, to get from the ticket area to
the rink area, there was a door that we had to be "buzzed in"
through. After that there was a big sign on the other side of the
door that said you couldn't go back out or you would have to pay
again to get back in.
Then, we had to give our driver's license to the ticket guy in order
to rent "baby skates." Not on any other kind of skates, just
the "baby skates." And we couldn't get the id back until we returned
the skates.
Then, once we were on the floor, the teenage employees kept coming up
to us and saying, "You can't stop on the floor, you have to keep
going!" Never mind that my 6 year old has never skated before and
she starts and stops frequently to rest or get her balance. Never
mind that sometimes I need to stop to let her catch up to me. Never
mind that the rink is not exactly *packed* and we're not in anyone's
way.
And then they stop the "free skate" periodically and often so that
they can have these little competitions or do the hokey-pokey or
whatever. If it's couple skate you have to be two people holding
hands. Saren (the 6 y.o.) would get going good and be really into
what she was doing and really proud of herself and then she would
have to get off the rink so that they could do limbo, which she isn't
good enough to do yet (or whatever other thing they were doing).
I used to go skating when I was 13 and 14 at the same rink (same
company anyway) and I know the rules were there then too. But I
didn't think anything of it because my life was so regimented and
full of arbitrary rules anyway. For Saren, though, it created some
dissonance and she asked why some of the rules were in place. They
didn't make sense to her and it didn't occur to her to just accept it
unquestioningly anyway.
At first I wondered why there were so many rules and then I realized
that rollerskating rinks are primarily for children and where
children are concerned it's all about control. It was maddening.
Are other rollerskating rinks like this?
~Stephanie
unschoolingmama.blogspot.com
theunschoolinglife.blogspot.com
recently. We decided to take the girls to the rollerskating rink
last night.
I was struck by how many arbitrary rules and regulations there were.
Even before we got in the door, there was a huge sign posted outside
that listed all of the rules. Then, to get from the ticket area to
the rink area, there was a door that we had to be "buzzed in"
through. After that there was a big sign on the other side of the
door that said you couldn't go back out or you would have to pay
again to get back in.
Then, we had to give our driver's license to the ticket guy in order
to rent "baby skates." Not on any other kind of skates, just
the "baby skates." And we couldn't get the id back until we returned
the skates.
Then, once we were on the floor, the teenage employees kept coming up
to us and saying, "You can't stop on the floor, you have to keep
going!" Never mind that my 6 year old has never skated before and
she starts and stops frequently to rest or get her balance. Never
mind that sometimes I need to stop to let her catch up to me. Never
mind that the rink is not exactly *packed* and we're not in anyone's
way.
And then they stop the "free skate" periodically and often so that
they can have these little competitions or do the hokey-pokey or
whatever. If it's couple skate you have to be two people holding
hands. Saren (the 6 y.o.) would get going good and be really into
what she was doing and really proud of herself and then she would
have to get off the rink so that they could do limbo, which she isn't
good enough to do yet (or whatever other thing they were doing).
I used to go skating when I was 13 and 14 at the same rink (same
company anyway) and I know the rules were there then too. But I
didn't think anything of it because my life was so regimented and
full of arbitrary rules anyway. For Saren, though, it created some
dissonance and she asked why some of the rules were in place. They
didn't make sense to her and it didn't occur to her to just accept it
unquestioningly anyway.
At first I wondered why there were so many rules and then I realized
that rollerskating rinks are primarily for children and where
children are concerned it's all about control. It was maddening.
Are other rollerskating rinks like this?
~Stephanie
unschoolingmama.blogspot.com
theunschoolinglife.blogspot.com
Cathy Hilde
We frequent three rinks in our area and none are this rigid. We skate during
organized homeschool skates though and that might make a difference. Maybe
we homeschoolers are better received. Do you have homeschool skates?
Cathy
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephanie [mailto:Mam2474@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 3:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] Rules and Regulations at the Roller Rink
My daughter got a pair of rollerblades for her 6th birthday
recently. We decided to take the girls to the rollerskating rink
last night.
I was struck by how many arbitrary rules and regulations there were.
Even before we got in the door, there was a huge sign posted outside
that listed all of the rules. Then, to get from the ticket area to
the rink area, there was a door that we had to be "buzzed in"
through. After that there was a big sign on the other side of the
door that said you couldn't go back out or you would have to pay
again to get back in.
Then, we had to give our driver's license to the ticket guy in order
to rent "baby skates." Not on any other kind of skates, just
the "baby skates." And we couldn't get the id back until we returned
the skates.
Then, once we were on the floor, the teenage employees kept coming up
to us and saying, "You can't stop on the floor, you have to keep
going!" Never mind that my 6 year old has never skated before and
she starts and stops frequently to rest or get her balance. Never
mind that sometimes I need to stop to let her catch up to me. Never
mind that the rink is not exactly *packed* and we're not in anyone's
way.
And then they stop the "free skate" periodically and often so that
they can have these little competitions or do the hokey-pokey or
whatever. If it's couple skate you have to be two people holding
hands. Saren (the 6 y.o.) would get going good and be really into
what she was doing and really proud of herself and then she would
have to get off the rink so that they could do limbo, which she isn't
good enough to do yet (or whatever other thing they were doing).
I used to go skating when I was 13 and 14 at the same rink (same
company anyway) and I know the rules were there then too. But I
didn't think anything of it because my life was so regimented and
full of arbitrary rules anyway. For Saren, though, it created some
dissonance and she asked why some of the rules were in place. They
didn't make sense to her and it didn't occur to her to just accept it
unquestioningly anyway.
At first I wondered why there were so many rules and then I realized
that rollerskating rinks are primarily for children and where
children are concerned it's all about control. It was maddening.
Are other rollerskating rinks like this?
~Stephanie
unschoolingmama.blogspot.com
theunschoolinglife.blogspot.com
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
organized homeschool skates though and that might make a difference. Maybe
we homeschoolers are better received. Do you have homeschool skates?
Cathy
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephanie [mailto:Mam2474@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 3:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] Rules and Regulations at the Roller Rink
My daughter got a pair of rollerblades for her 6th birthday
recently. We decided to take the girls to the rollerskating rink
last night.
I was struck by how many arbitrary rules and regulations there were.
Even before we got in the door, there was a huge sign posted outside
that listed all of the rules. Then, to get from the ticket area to
the rink area, there was a door that we had to be "buzzed in"
through. After that there was a big sign on the other side of the
door that said you couldn't go back out or you would have to pay
again to get back in.
Then, we had to give our driver's license to the ticket guy in order
to rent "baby skates." Not on any other kind of skates, just
the "baby skates." And we couldn't get the id back until we returned
the skates.
Then, once we were on the floor, the teenage employees kept coming up
to us and saying, "You can't stop on the floor, you have to keep
going!" Never mind that my 6 year old has never skated before and
she starts and stops frequently to rest or get her balance. Never
mind that sometimes I need to stop to let her catch up to me. Never
mind that the rink is not exactly *packed* and we're not in anyone's
way.
And then they stop the "free skate" periodically and often so that
they can have these little competitions or do the hokey-pokey or
whatever. If it's couple skate you have to be two people holding
hands. Saren (the 6 y.o.) would get going good and be really into
what she was doing and really proud of herself and then she would
have to get off the rink so that they could do limbo, which she isn't
good enough to do yet (or whatever other thing they were doing).
I used to go skating when I was 13 and 14 at the same rink (same
company anyway) and I know the rules were there then too. But I
didn't think anything of it because my life was so regimented and
full of arbitrary rules anyway. For Saren, though, it created some
dissonance and she asked why some of the rules were in place. They
didn't make sense to her and it didn't occur to her to just accept it
unquestioningly anyway.
At first I wondered why there were so many rules and then I realized
that rollerskating rinks are primarily for children and where
children are concerned it's all about control. It was maddening.
Are other rollerskating rinks like this?
~Stephanie
unschoolingmama.blogspot.com
theunschoolinglife.blogspot.com
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email
the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner,
Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an
email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Those rules sound similar to the rules at our local skating rink. The rules
do seem harsh and arbitrary, but they are in place for safety and business
reasons. Although not all kids, maybe not even many kids, will be sneaky and
unethical, some will. Kids will try to sneak in the rink without paying when
another person goes in ( hence getting buzzed in) Kids will go in and out of
the rink, goof off outside, maybe get hurt outside or damage property..hence
having to pay to get back in. When a person stops on the rink, it is
potentially dangerous for themselves and other skaters, it's difficult to stop on a
dime in skates. Kids at the rinks are skating on different levels, some may get
bored with continuous free skate, so other activities are provided to keep
all the customers happy. You also have to keep in mind that most kids at the
skating rink are dropped off and left with no adult supervision, other than the
rink employees.
A lot of rules do suck, and a lot of them are really not needed, but they are
in place to protect the business from law suits and the customers from the
few folks that do not behave appropiately. Sometimes we forget that the rest
of the world does not operate on unschooling principles. We take for granted
that folks will always do the right thing. I get caught up in that bubble
sometimes too. Going on a homeschool day would probably be a lot better.. at
least you would have some other familes to commiserate with about the rules..
Teresa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
do seem harsh and arbitrary, but they are in place for safety and business
reasons. Although not all kids, maybe not even many kids, will be sneaky and
unethical, some will. Kids will try to sneak in the rink without paying when
another person goes in ( hence getting buzzed in) Kids will go in and out of
the rink, goof off outside, maybe get hurt outside or damage property..hence
having to pay to get back in. When a person stops on the rink, it is
potentially dangerous for themselves and other skaters, it's difficult to stop on a
dime in skates. Kids at the rinks are skating on different levels, some may get
bored with continuous free skate, so other activities are provided to keep
all the customers happy. You also have to keep in mind that most kids at the
skating rink are dropped off and left with no adult supervision, other than the
rink employees.
A lot of rules do suck, and a lot of them are really not needed, but they are
in place to protect the business from law suits and the customers from the
few folks that do not behave appropiately. Sometimes we forget that the rest
of the world does not operate on unschooling principles. We take for granted
that folks will always do the right thing. I get caught up in that bubble
sometimes too. Going on a homeschool day would probably be a lot better.. at
least you would have some other familes to commiserate with about the rules..
Teresa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/27/03 05:16:41 PM Central Daylight Time, Mam2474@...
writes:
Are other rollerskating rinks like this?
~Stephanie
Both the roller-skating rinks in our town are like that. With the exception
of the drivers license thing. The other rule ours have is they have to inspect
any skates you bring in. They won't let you wear rollerblades or regular
skates if they have been worn outside!
~Nancy
Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.
Elbert Hubbard
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
Are other rollerskating rinks like this?
~Stephanie
Both the roller-skating rinks in our town are like that. With the exception
of the drivers license thing. The other rule ours have is they have to inspect
any skates you bring in. They won't let you wear rollerblades or regular
skates if they have been worn outside!
~Nancy
Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.
Elbert Hubbard
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]