A school in Washington, D.C. is standing up for their rights to continue recess for their elementary students. It is a fact that U.S. schools focus on getting the highest test scores and teaching to the standardized testing; but what about the free time children need called recess. Teachers, parents, and students have written letters to the government explaining their stance about taking away recess in the elementary schools.
When I first taught elementary school in Fair Lawn, NJ, to my surprise my third grade class, 8-year olds, did not have recess! I incorporated a 20 minute break each day into my class schedule because I felt a system that did not give children a time to rest their brains, is not a productive one.
Think of the corporate world and all the breaks employees take through out the day. Whether if it’s a cigarette break or a walking break; no matter what age we all need to stand up out of our chair and give our brain time to relax.
The same goes for children. Although at a young age, children’s minds are sponges and they do soak up information quickly, that doesn’t mean bombarding them for four hours straight with information is going to push the test scores higher.
The recess debate is in conjunction with the No Child Left Behind Act. Due to this lovely policy the government feels is the greatest plan alive; the reality is not true. It promotes social promotion of students and every student somehow can get NCLB accommodations. The learning disability accommodations and laws protecting the LD are great BUT students now have begun using their paperwork as an excuse to perform under their capabilities.
The push for test scores and passing students onto the next grade level is the reason why recess is being taken out of many of the elementary schools. Physical education twice a week for one hour does not replace 30 minutes of pure free time play. Children need to learn how to play and cooperate with peers and without recess, the children never learn this important skill for their future.