Peter Garelja: Don't be a swinging voter on swings

Swings should not be removed from playgrounds.

The humble playground swing is under threat. In some states of the US, moves are currently afoot to remove playground swings, in response to an increasing number of injuries to people using swings, and the associated likelihood legal action being taken against the owners of swings. For the reasons outlined below, I believe that it would be a sad day, indeed, should NZ decide to follow suit.

Over the Christmas/New Year period, we holidayed at Glinks Gully. Along with many others, we spent time being with our children (or, in our case, our two young grand-daughters), while they used the swings on the reserve, close to the entrance to the beach. These swings have been there for many a year, but are regularly maintained by the Kaipara District Council - thank you, for that. What we observed and experienced was a mixing of people from all walks of life, (all having, in common, the love of their children). Impromptu real, face-to-face, conversations, interspersed with lots of laughter, were the order of the day, as we together enjoyed the simple pleasures in life - nicely facilitated by the drawing power of the swings.

Of course, playground swings need to be safe, but it is difficult to eliminate all risk. Life itself is one big risk, so learning how to deal with this is surely part of the learning experience that swings can provide to our young people.

Swings have, so far, stood the test of time and this is because:

-Humans can take on the force of gravity and indeed play with it.

-They are self-powered, use renewable resources and require no batteries.

-No animals were harmed in their production.

-They encourage inter-generational play and communication.

-Teach Newtonian physics (what goes up must come down).

-Users learn about safety procedures, such as, where and where not to stand when someone else is on the swing.

-It builds trust in each other.

-Users learn how to give others a hand or a nudge in the right direction. As Joe Cocker put it "we all get by with a little help from our friends".

-Provide outdoor recreation and exercise.

-Facilitate socialisation through interaction with other swingers.

-They indirectly help to grow communities through the social interaction they facilitate.

So, when the call comes, as it inevitably will, from the humourless, the colourless, the compliance-driven ("frightened of their own shadow") bureaucrats, then we need to be prepared to not be a swinging voter, but make a stand, to save our swings.

-Peter Garelja is a former Northland school principal