Outrage as School Bans Excursions to Laser Tag

A ban on school excursions to laser tag has been labelled an “overreaction” and PC gone mad.

The Education Department’s “unsuitable activities” policy was updated at the end of April to include any “weapons-based real life action games”, such as archery tag or laser skirmish.

Shooting, paintball, bungee jumping, canyoning, hang gliding, skydiving, light aircraft flying, quad bike riding and flyboarding were also listed as activities not be undertaken by students, reports The Mercury.

A department spokesman on Tuesday said the decision to prohibit government schools from participating in laser tag was made “in light of community expectations around simulated violence and gun-related activities”.

But a Tasmanian company, Tas Laser Skirmish, has said he believed the Education Department had taken political correctness a step too far and should let “kids be kids”.

“There are seven laser tag operators in Tasmania and the ban could make trading very difficult in such a small state,” he said.

“We have about 50 school groups come in each year and we rely on their weekday business.

“Some public schools have returned for seven or eight years in a row because they know the kids love it and will benefit from the team-bonding experience.”

Mr Simonetis said safety instruction briefings were held before every session and schools were always provided with a detailed risk assessment plan before arriving at his Kingston laser tag field.

“A laser tag phaser is not classed as a firearm. All our games require communication, leadership, decision-making and strategy,” Mr Simonetis said.

Tasmania Education Minister, Jeremy Rockliff, said he supported the department’s decision but it was up to parents and carers what activities they participated in with their children outside of school hours.

“I’ve had a great time playing laser tag with my children but it was on the weekend, not during school hours,” he said.

“During school time, there is a wide range of other activities that provide for a broader educational benefit for schools to consider when taking students off campus.”

Do you think it was a good decision or total overreaction?

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21 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 17 Feb 2020
    1:50 pm
I remember this story when it was in the news. I wonder if the school changed their mind

- - mom81879 said
  - 31 Oct 2019
    12:47 pm
Why ban it? Usually permission slips are sent home for parents to sign and return to the school. If you don’t want your child to go, don’t fill in the permission slip. Pretty simple, no point banning it for all!

- - rnash02 said
  - 30 May 2019
    7:44 pm
Over reaction, it’s times like this let kids be kids.

- - BellaB said
  - 30 May 2019
    7:43 pm
I think it’s a sensible ban. Weapons should not be treated as a game.

- - mom93821 said
  - 30 May 2019
    6:51 pm
Depends on how it is linked to curriculum – justification.

- - mom114371 said
  - 30 May 2019
    2:41 pm
I can’t see the harm. If a kid plays laser tag and then commits some kind of gun related crime they have much bigger issues going on!

- - DaffyD said
  - 30 May 2019
    11:24 am
Stupid idea to take kids out with the idea of shooting each other. These days especially

- - mom366598 said
  - 30 May 2019
    10:57 am
Definitely an over reaction. Let kids be kids and play. Will hurt the industry as well putting stress on those families.

- - Ellen said
  - 30 May 2019
    3:57 am
I don’t have a problem with Laser tag.
I think they should loosen up about the educational benefit: there’s a lot of educational benefit in having fun and sharing with others.

- - serotonin said
  - 29 May 2019
    11:23 pm
I’m not sure the school here has ever had an excursion to laser tag. I hope they would consider it if it was suggested, though.

- - mom265671 said
  - 29 May 2019
    10:57 pm
Definitely will hurt the industry

- - Shorty said
  - 29 May 2019
    7:54 pm
PC gone mad!!! For gods sake just let the kids have fun!!!!!!!!!

- - ashna9 said
  - 29 May 2019
    7:23 pm
I don’t see the educational value in this type of excursion anyway. Yes tream building, but through violence?

- - becstalou said
  - 29 May 2019
    6:21 pm
Overreaction it is a way to teach the kids where they will engage.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 29 May 2019
    3:46 pm
I personally don’t see what the big deal is! It’s just a lazer. If it were bungee jumping I would have a problem with it lol

- - mom90758 said
  - 29 May 2019
    1:53 pm
Ha. Ha. I was thinking the same. I hope my daughter is never brought to bungee jumping during school excursions!!
I wouldn’t have a problem with laser tag instead.

- - mom206279 said
  - 29 May 2019
    1:23 pm
Are skydiving and bungee jumping common school outings?

- - AmbieBambi said
  - 29 May 2019
    1:11 pm
Thats paintball you are thinking of laser tag doesn’t hurt. Its guns shooting with invisible bullets that tag other players vest. But it’s just a lazer so nothing actually hitting them. The vest just picks up the signal that they are been shot or something like that.

- - Carly said
  - 29 May 2019
    12:38 pm
It’s laser tag!! Why do they seem to continually take the fun things away that the kids are looking forward to

- - mom81879 said
  - 29 May 2019
    12:25 pm
I have never been myself but from what people who have been say, it hurts! They’re covered in dark bruises. I would let my kids go. Basically, it should be up to the parent to decide if their child should go or not. Why spoil it for everyone if it’s just a couple that wouldn’t go?
- Blossom replied
  
  29 May 2019 , 5:20 pm
  I have seen many people with bruises from paint balling. They are probably s lot worse if you caught cat short range. We had a lot of sore bruised people at work after go to one with the company social club event. A group of guys had a bucks party at one. Just as well the wedding wasn’t for about 3 weeks. They all had bruises. They attacked the groom several times. He had a lot of big bruises