Farewell to Recess?

School has started all over the country, and all over the country children, parents, and teachers are discovering there's less time -- or no time -- being allotted for recess. I was reading an article at floridatoday.com called "Recess takes a time out: Law to increase activity eliminates recess at some schools."

Anyone else see the contradiction in that title? If the goal is increased activity, why are they eliminating recess??

It seems there's a state law in Florida mandating 150 minutes of physical education each week for students in kindergarten through 5th grade -- more than four times the amount the average elementary student received last year. To fit that in, many schools see no choice but to reduce or eliminate recess.

Certainly it's commendable that lawmakers are intent upon "tackling childhood obesity and promoting active lifestyles among Florida's youth." And students should be getting 150 minutes a week of PE. But, like many of the laws policy makers put into place without fully educating themselves, this one has too many unintended consequences! Among them is what's happening to recess -- because children need both structured (PE) and unstructured physical activity in their lives! If the only opportunity children get to move is when they're being forced to walk or run laps around the school grounds (!), they will not pursue active lifestyles. In fact, physical activity could leave such a bad taste in their mouths that they purposely become couch potatoes.

Of course Florida isn't the only place where recess is going the way of the dinosaurs. According to some estimates, 40% of elementary schools had already eliminated recess. Some cities, like Atlanta, are building new elementary schools without playgrounds! The reason in most cases isn't the need to fit physical education into the curriculum; it's today's pervasive emphasis on academics, accountability, and standardized testing. The irony of that is that the research shows children learn better when given breaks. So educational policies that keep children at their desks for extended periods to maximize time spent on academics aren't based on scientific findings. In fact these policies are contrary to scientific data.

If you're a parent or a teacher (one desperate teacher e-mailed me the other day, pleading for help) who wants justification for recess -- whatever the reason a school has used to eliminate it -- there are two wonderful sources of information. The American Association for the Child's Right to Play is a tireless promoter of recess. Not only does their website offer research you can use; it can also help individuals become recess advocates themselves. Also, the Cartoon Network now sponsors Rescuing Recess.

As you may know, I'm a big believer in educating the "whole" -- thinking, feeling, moving -- child. Unfortunately, society continues to behave as though children consist of heads only, which are separate from and unrelated to bodies and emotions. If we can't ensure this misguided attitude doesn't prevail in the classroom, we can at least make sure our children experience daily recess -- because that truly is a time when the whole child is addressed!