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  1. #1

    Default Kindy kids get gun licences

    Kindy kids get gun licences



    MICHELLE DUFF


    05:00 30/03/2011

    LAWRENCE SMITH
    SAFETY FIRST: Lucy Coup, 4, shows off the laminated gun licence she earned for learning the dangers of and rules about using guns. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them,'' she says.

    LAWRENCE SMITH CHILD'S PLAY: Lauchlan McGill and Lucy Coup fire at a target. Their kindy has a gun station and guns are stored in a gun rack.



    Four-year-old preschooler Lucy Coup has already earned her own gun licence.
    Like the other children at her Auckland kindergarten, and in childcare centres around New Zealand, the youngster hangs the laminated licence from a string around her neck when she plays with her toy gun – but she must shoot at the target.
    "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them," Lucy says firmly.
    Instead of banning gun play, many early education centres are adopting a policy that sees children earn a "gun licence" once they brush up on the dangers.
    In Wellington, Ngaio Kindergarten is among those who have adopted the practice.
    Lucy's grandmother, Dorothy Coup, was confused when she heard that her grandchild was the bearer of a gun licence.
    At first she thought Lucy must have picked up a discarded licence on the street – but when she was told her granddaughter had been given it at kindergarten, she thought it was a hoot.
    "When she came home with her gun licence, I thought it was a very good compromise.
    "If you've got little boys running around and shooting everyone and disturbing people's play ... then what a good idea."
    The licences were introduced at Te Atatu Village Kindergarten last month, after a group of rowdy boys pretended to shoot all the other children with their fingers.
    Early childhood teacher Louise Samuels said teachers decided to contain the gun play, making sure children understood the real-life implications of guns and putting strict rules in place.
    "What I noticed in my other workplace, when we banned it, was that the children would hide and shoot you – they get sneaky about it. The play would turn quite negative.
    "We teach them you don't leave [guns] lying on the floor, you don't shoot people, you make sure you ask to borrow someone else's gun."
    If a child "pretend" shoots another child, they have their gun licence revoked.
    All the guns are made by the children out of paper or cardboard, and must be stored in a gun rack between play sessions.
    Lucy's mum, Jules Coup, said it was good to teach children about the rights and wrongs, especially young boys, who would "make a gun out of a Marmite crust" if they could.
    "It has not been a negative thing in any way. I think the teachers have been incredibly clever in the way they have handled it.

    "When Lucy came home with her gun licence we all thought it was a bit of a joke, she gave it a go but found out it wasn't really for her."
    Central North Island Kindergarten Association general manager Jan Ballantyne said labelling gun play as "bad" and banning it sent a mixed message to children whose fathers were hunters, farmers or in the armed services.
    "For us to be making value judgments like that is quite wrong, but children need to know that there are rules. It's important for children to know, yes, there are guns, they can kill, and there are rules around that."
    The Wellington Kindergarten Association said it was aware of some kindergartens in the area introducing the policy.
    Ngaio Kindergarten head teacher Rebecca Cross said that, in the 18 months since gun licences had been introduced, they had made a positive impact.
    "Children will always make guns, whether it's in front of you or behind your back, so we thought it was better to teach them about safety."
    - The Dominion Post

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/educ...t-gun-licences
    "Guns are just tools, the way they're used reflects the society they're apart of, if you don't like guns, blame it on society" ~Chris Kyle

  2. #2

    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    What a brilliant, well thought out solution! Much better than going completely overboard and banning gun play!

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    And sanity prevails. Well done to the teachers.

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    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    well done, haha.
    wonder what the GFSA opinion on this is? or do they only bark when nobody is near....

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    Nah, I don't agree with this.

    Making licenses and teaching them proper safety rules: Brilliant.
    Having them shoot only at targets during this phase: Very nice.
    But never again playing cowboys & crooks: Taking away their basic human right to play.

    What next: speed limits for toy cars?

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    A wonderful initiative, that will save me hours of frustration, this is exactly what I am teaching my 3-4 year old, with the addition of doves and pigeons as targets(obviously). But he keeps on reverting back to the bad habits(play-shooting people and pets), because of the playground games.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    Nice, you guys with kids you send a copy to your schools....

    I don't think they taking away any rights, everybody here gets to play, as long as its according to the rules. The same way with an adult, you break the rules you loose your guns. I'm of those who beleive that their are certain types to people who shouldn't have guns at all....

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    Default Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    I like it.

  9. #9
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    Cool Re: Kindy kids get gun licences

    [QUOTE=FrankH;159574]Kindy kids get gun licences

    If all kids could get that kind of education, we will have less problems in this country re. children shooting children.

    I know, I did it with my son. His first time on the range, was before his 4th birthday, so his mother could set up for the party.

    He never touched a gun again with out asking me first.

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