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School bans cartwheels

School bans carthweels

A South East Queensland school is facing a revolt from angry parents after it banned students from performing cartwheels and hand stands.

Even the state government has criticised the decision.

It is the school decision that's turned decades of playground fun on its head.


After injuries including broken bones from students practising complex cheerleading moves in the playground, Peregian Springs State School has come down hard - to stop children falling down hard.

A school statement read: "All students have been advised that under no circumstances are they allowed to perform cartwheels, handstands or any other type of gymnastic move at school unless they are properly supervised by a trained PE teacher."

Student Savannah Taplan said: “I had to sit out of play just because I did a cartwheel down the hill.”

The parents of gymnasts who the ban is aimed at say they accept the risk of injury.

Parent Cherie Studt said: “Even if she broke it, at the end of the day she's learning a lesson - step back from that person who's doing the cartwheel.”

At least one government minister does not support the decision.

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said: “When are we going to let kids just be kids. When are we going to allow people to just live their life.”

It is hard to believe the risks associated with handstands could vary from school to school, but that is the way the education department views them.

Rather than having one policy across the state, it allows principals to decide how safe they are.