This is alarming.

[Kaz]

Frank I think you are exactly right - you too Ria, about the freedom we had that children now don't

[Kaz]

Control the news and you can control how angry or not people get.

Definitely

[JoM]

At secondary school we had PE twice a week up until the last two years, once we started studying for O Levels we only had one lesson but it was all practical (Ria, I loved basketball too, we could choose what we did in PE and I always chose that - my friend and I were the only girls in a class of boys - and keep fit). When I say that Tom did PE at school, I probably should've said that a lot of that was theory work.
Their PE department is pretty poor. They have a gym which at one time they could use during the lunch hour but as time's gone on the equipment has started to break down and it never gets fixed. Obviously it can't be used for lessons either which is a shame, Joe's not very sporty but he could do what needed to be done in there. Same with the swimming pool. That's been out of use for two years now. There's simply not the money there to get it repaired.

Yes, we definitely had more freedom when we were young. As well as a lack of safe places to play, I wonder if the fact that most mothers are working has anything to do with it too? A lot of children go to after school clubs or childminders and are more likely to be doing 'safe' activities indoors. Then by the time they get home it's too late to play.