Swing set shows why tort reform needed

I heard that schools are removing their swing sets because parents sued and won when their son broke his arm by jumping off the swing. Swings are apparently just too dangerous for today's child.

In fact, 25 years ago, when my oldest son was a tot, I realized that none of the playgrounds had merry-go-rounds or teeter-totters. They were simply too dangerous. I always thought they were fun. And when I broke my arm, my mom took me to the doctor and I had a cast (end of story).

A high school physics teacher told me that years ago students understood the concepts of levers, ramps and centrifugal force with very little explanation, while most of today's students are clueless. By removing all these great old-fashioned toys we are producing students who know less, not to mention are less physically fit.

Illinois need tort reform to protect the public from the lawyers and parents who want to profit from accidents. The cost to the public far exceeds the money these folks get.

Jan Shaw

Wheaton