Why is recess going away?

Question

I keep hearing that public schools, ostensibly becasue they need more time to reach new testing standards, are doing away with recess. Is this a good idea?

It seems like getting a break and running around would HELP higher test scores not hurt. The law of diminishing returns will kick in at some point... meaning the more you work them the less they are engaged.

This isn't Japan or Germany... where they take the kids who don't do well out of secondary school and make them learn a trade... in the american system I think you need to look to engage the kids that might not naturally be the hard workers/good testers.

Answer 1

Recess is going away precisely because of what you said: more time is perceived to be needed to teach standards and testing content. It is a HORRIBLE idea, not only because of the fresh air and "break" kids get during recess, but more importantly because they need motor development in elementary school. For the same reason, it is idiotic to keep a kid who is behaviorally challenged (or any kid) inside at recess as a punishment.
Sadly, what makes sense to parents and teachers seldom gets through the thick heads of administrators on up to the US government. You have touched upon only one of the many things way wrong with the US public ed system.

Answer 2

This is the craziest thing I ever heard of. Why would they take away recess time? It doesnt matter if they need more time to learn - stay longer if you hate to. But if recess is taken away how are the kids supposed to sit in a class and concentrate for such a long time? They will tune out anyway and nothing will be accomplished by the extra learning time!

I went to a private school (I'm talking about 1st -8th grade) where we learned from 8:45 till 4:15 (Jewish studies in the morning and English studies in the after noon). We had recess from 10:30 till 10:45 then lunch from 12:00 till 1:00 and recess again from 2:30 till 2:45. I think that was a great system!

Answer 3

My principal tells us we can't give "extra" recess for any reason because the children need to be learning all the time- to pass the tests so we make AYP. The students only get 30 minutes for lunch and recess combined. If the weather is bad, they go sit in an auditorium. They are frequently told to bring a book to read. I know that my son, who is in a different district got a morning and usually an afternoon recess when he was in elementary school. When I first started teaching, more than 25 years ago (Does that make me old?), we had a morning and afternoon recess. They started stopping them about 3 years ago. It makes the kids crazy. The one reward they want besides an out of uniform pass is extra recess time- even the 6-8th graders.

Answer 4

No. The kids need their exercize. Recess is a time for students to unwind and enjoy themselves. This is a reason that kids are getting fatter. They don't have time to exersize. There is none at school and when they get home all they have time for is chores, homework, babysitting, and when they get all that done it is too dark out for exercize. To sum it up, the schools can at least give the kids 10-15 minutes of recess each day. In Kindergarden now there is no time for play and to teach what really needs to be learned (sharing, good manners ext). My kid's teacher in 4th grade only gave them 5 minutes of recess 2 days a week. Not cool. NO IS MY FINAL ANSWER!

Answer 5

It is NOT a good idea, but it is the only part of school not regulated by state standards. Therefore, it is the one area where time can be taken away to increase instructional time.

As state standards, and NCLB, continues to raise the bar about EVERY child reaching "grade level" in reading and math (which is like taking everyone's average height and then demanding that all people be at least the average, or they don't get clothes).... schools are frantically trying to increase the amount of time spent in instruction.

Answer 6

eliminating recess would have some unsuspected consequences. it ought to reason the misbehaviour to amplify in the subsequent training scession because the baby would were constrained to an similar ecosystem with out chance to enable off steam so he ( or she) is pent up on the starting up of the subsequent scession. If the instructor has to supervise the punishment then he also is going back to artwork with out a damage. Recipe for disaster for my area except you're magnamious adequate to do a touch relaxing issues with the baby to advance the courting, which, for sure, ought to remedy the precedence. possibly you should enable the baby understand as he is going out for recess that you aren't to any extent further satisfied consisting of his behaviour and want that he can settle down at the same time as he comes back to class. if you're quite sensible, you'll see you praise him on the first suspicion of more suitable behaviour once available. for sure, the reason of his misbehaviour would nicely be more desirable extreme than straightforward cussidness. He would nicely be hungry, drained, dissatisfied till now college, unwell etc. back retention received't remedy those both. it type of feels to me you should make sure the reason and take suited action. that continuously starts with a sturdy speaking courting with the instructor. I sympathise with you and want you locate a conceivable answer. After having taken each and each of the above into interest,it ought to nicely be a couple of minutes off play will verify no destiny accurence. preserve your self and preserve him.

Answer 7

Taking away recess is only going to result in 1 of 2 things. more behavior problems or a teacher strangling the living sh** out of the student.

Answer 8

Yeah because it's taking away from learning ♥

Answer 9

Thanks to No Child Left Behind, all the children are getting fat behinds!