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Recess Becoming Obsolete

Schools Are Cutting Recess Time

May 24, 2006

With more and more emphasis on testing and "scores", more and more schools are reducing recess time. For students in only third grade, this could be detrimental.

Children are active and they need play. More and more schools, under pressure to improve math and reading scores, are cutting recess time to allow for more reading and math time. Not only is this depriving children of exercise and social time, students that lean toward ADHD, particularly active little boys, absolutely need the break from sitting. Recess is their safety valve. When do they get to blow off some steam?

Recess Cutbacks

Each year more and more schools cut recess completely in elementary schools. 7% of schools have no recess for students as young as 2nd grade and 13% of schools have no recess for students in 6th grade. When do students get to run, explore, and "practice" life which is what play is?

Rescue Recess

The majority of schools still have recess but the trend in inching upward to cut more and more non-academic time. The National PTA and the Cartoon Network have launded a campaign called, "Rescuing Recess." Kids are writing letters asking to have recess. The Cartoon Network has pledged $1.3 million to save recess for elementary children.

Nationwide, approximately half of schools offer physical education classes only once or twice a week. There are some schools that offer recess 5 days a week for 30 minutes and the academics are high. These schools have not lost their academic edge. Recess is not the cause of poor academic achievement.

The concerns that recess is being cut are not isolated to any region of the country. These concerns are coming from major cities all over the country.

Obesity Rate

With the obestity rate creeping upward every year, one would think that recess and physical education would be encouraged more and not less.

Learn more about this at Rescuing Recess

Related articles: Moving Classrooms and Kiss Mountain Dew Goodbye!

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

The copyright of the article Recess Becoming Obsolete in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish Recess Becoming Obsolete in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Kids Need Recess

Schools Are Adding Reading & Math Time

Kids Need To Blow Off Steam

Comments

May 24, 2006 10:25 AM

ReneeBlixt :

Is it really any wonder why so many parents hear, "I HATE school!" Learning should be happening all the time...it should be enjoyable, not torture. Hence, one of the reasons our family decided to homeschool.

BTW, I LOVED your series on bullying! Thanks for the information.

May 24, 2006 12:13 PM

Barbara Pytel :

Renee,
Our school has very high academics and is one of those to eliminate morning recess. However, they have added 30 minutes of PE every morning--5 days out of 5, noon lunch/recess from 11:30-12:20 and a daily afternoon recess. Many schools cut recess but don't add PE. I'd rather see a longer school day than cutting morning recess.

May 25, 2006 6:29 AM

Lynn Byrne :

I think if the school my son attended eliminated recess (they have 3 recess periods a day on top of daily PE) someone would be pushing me to put my kiddo on drugs to supress his natural tendency towards hyperactivity. Thankfully, we're not in a traditional school and the administration is VERY cognizant of the value of recess/PE--especially for younger children.

3 Comments