Is it illegal for an elementary school teacher to deny her class their recess?

Question

Isn't recess a right just like our breaks at work are?

You be the Judge. Read this person's question. Was she being too harsh in her punishment?
Did I punish my class too harshly?
I don't know about other schools, but ours has a problem with vermin (roaches, snakes, mice, spiders, etc). So naturally I am very strict about being neat with food in the classroom.

At our school the kids eat breakfast in the classroom. Today I found a juice carton in the coat closet cubby, opening. HALF the juice had spilled all in the cubby.

I was angry because not only will this attract more bugs to our room, but whoever did it should have either told me or cleaned it up, not just left it there.

I don't know who did it, so I told the whole class they have no recess.

I also told them I know who did it (i really don't) and if that person doesn't confess, they're going to get into even more trouble.

Answer 1

Your decision to not have recess was okay, but you went too far to tell them that you knew who did it and if the person didn't confess, there would be more consequences. That put you in trouble because a)you really don't know and b) you have no way of following up what you said. You should have just left it at no recess for that particular day.

It is possible that the person wasn't looking and accidentally kicked the juice container, spilling it without realizing it.

I think you would do better to tell the children that you were overly tired that day and that the recess consequence was enough for that day. You should tell them that you want them to be much more careful about food and drink in the classroom. Make it one of your rules that you post, and emphasize this is a school rule. You can also put four kids in charge of helping to keep certain areas in the classroom clean and give them points for doing that. Get a routine going where every hour or so you stop to put some books or papers away and check under the desks, etc.

It is your room-- and you can help the students learn to keep their area neat and clean.

In the future, instead of missing the whole recess (who does that actually punish-- you or them??),
maybe make them wait one minute for each scrap of garbage left on the floor. That is a concrete thing they can relate to and it will give them the message and keep the area clean-- especially if you have four helpers who are getting points on their participation grade for helping to maintain cleanliness as a value for the class.

Hugs to you... Take a break and enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Also, find a veteran teacher whose classroom you like and whose teaching style you respect who works in the same building. That person will let you know what how far the administration will back you up and where they might draw the line.

Be careful, too, of making consequences when you are angry-- especially of consequences you can't enforce.

They must respect your authority (which is there ultimately in order that they can become the most successful learners possible) and agree to follow your class rules-- but don't demand perfection from them about everything. Steadily praise improvement and find ways to encourage them.

Love,

A fellow teacher

Answer 2

It should be illegal but it's not. When I was in first grade I was forced to do school work out on the play ground because I had not finished it. The problem was I had done the work when I had chickenpox the week before. We were in a legal battle with the school over the treatment of my autistic brother. So the school system did not like us and treated us unfairly. They also deny bathroom breaks and getting a drink of water from the fountain in the classroom at the school here. They tell the kids that they should have gone to the bathroom or gotten a drink during recess. And yes I think recess should be mandatory because it is not go for kids that young to sit at a desk for eight hours a day. Won't most of them get enough of that later in life anyway?

Answer 3

First, how old are they? Do you think your punishment effected their behaviors in the future or will it merely show that when you have power you can use it to express your emotions?

Kids do a lot of stupid stuff, that's why they pay adults to hang around the kids. Kids don't think fully, and they don't pay attention to all the elements, especially when they're unchecked. If a kid forgot their juice in the cubby today, they can easily forget it just the same tomorrow, and what will you do then? A missed recess will only effect an intentional behavior, not an absent mind.

So really, whether it's legal or not, you still have an interesting justification to make to who ever might challenge you on this. First, was this an act of reckless behavior on the student's part or a lack of supervision on the teacher's part? and Second, how will the consequences have beneficial effects on these behaviors in the future?

I'd imagine that you're answers might fall short. Justifying why your angry doesn't make it ok to punish people to subside that anger. We get paid to be around them, and that subsides the anger, we punish as behavior modifiers, and only when they work to modify future behaviors.

Answer 4

Recess is a needed break for both student and teacher. Recess is a privilege that can be taken away, but did anyone see the irony in this? The teacher who denies her class recess is punished in that she doesn't get a break during that period of time.

On the subject of if children should be held accountable for actions that effect the whole, well if kids learn honesty and accountability in elementary school maybe they just might grow up to be honest and accountable people.

Answer 5

I'm sure it is not illegal, but I don't see where this would be a deterrent for kids that are misbehaving. It seems that kids become disruptive after being made to sit in a classroom for hours on end, and get penalized for sometimes the slightest infraction. Kids in elementary, at least the lower grades, have very little self-control, school is about learning this and socialization, along with getting an education. So for a teacher to deny recess really turns it around and kicks herself in the butt, because the kids are not allowed to get out their pent-up energy. Double-edged sword...silly, silly teacher.

Let me add that when I was in elementary, we had a morning recess, an afternoon recess, and after we ate lunch, we had the rest of the 35 minute block for an additional break. My kids's school had one recess which for the most part was in the late afternoon (what's the point?) and had to go to the lunchroom single file, quiet, eat, then file back to the classroom. Compare the use of recesses and breaks to the proliferation of kids with ADHD and medicated with Ritalin and Adderall. Connection...I think so.

I don't agree with her method of solving the problem. She let her emotions rule..."I was angry"...instead of solving it logically.

Answer 6

Being a teacher, I don't see how she could get into trouble. Recess is a reward, not a requirement. That said, taking it away won't get you popular with the students, but she shouldn't allow herself to get walked all over either. She probably shouldn't let the whole class suffer for one student's mistake, especially since the student was probably afraid to approach her with the spilt juice. She definitely won't get in trouble, she didn't do anything illegal; kids have good memories though, and I wouldn't be surprised if they held onto this one for a while. Perhaps she could "make it up to them" by allowing extra time in the classroom after recess to do a small fun project, and if a student does come clean, not to yell at them. I understand the infestation is a problem, but little kids try their best and usually don't like dissappointing people they look up to. If the student who did this didn't look up to her and wasn't afraid of dissappointing her, there's a chance he/she really likes her. She should try her best to maintain that ツ Kids are very forgiving. If she just makes it up to them (without making it known to them that that is what she's trying to do) all should be forgiven ツ Happy teaching :o)

Answer 7

In North Carolina, you can take recess away from kids as a punishment for misbehavior. However, i don't recommend it unless you want everyone in the entire free world on your case. Plus, both you and the child(ren) need a break.

PE, on the other hand, is completely off limits. It is considered a subject such as reading and math and is not to be tampered with.

Hope this helps!!

Have an AWESOME day!!

CosmicKelly :)

Answer 8

No the only right is a free education. I remember lots of times the class was denied breaks. She does have to let them go to the bathroom though.

An education is purely for personal benefits. That's why it's not required. But most teachers only deny it on rare occassions because they know kids do better when they have a break.

Answer 9

I don't know of any state that mandates it by "law." Some schools have even done away with it. It may be a district policy, but no, it is not "illegal."

Some schools have recognized that taking away the time for physical release only makes behavior worse, so they have set limits on how much time can be taken away or other policies.

Answer 10

Difficult to see how the whole class could misbehave and have a recess denied. If it were my kids I'd be talking to the Principle.