Recess moving into recession
Published on April 21st, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - It's fun. It's fit. It's popular with kids, and best of all, it's free! It's probably hard to guess what fits that description because most of us take it for granted. Have you figured it out yet? It's recess!
You remember recess -- the time of day you longed for as a kid sitting at your desk awaiting the shrill ring of the bell that would carry you out to a school yard full of fun. Recess is where you learned to play kickball by the rules, perfected your jump roping, learned the fine art of telling secrets, crafted paper cootie catchers, and where the sing-song rhythm of "Tag, you're it" wafted through the surrounding neighborhood.
Many parents don't give much thought to recess except to occasionally reminisce about their own school days. Many don't think of it because it's a given - a normal part of their child's day, just like Social Studies and Spelling lessons. Or is it?
Unfortunately, many recess periods are being eliminated these days in favor of so-called progress in the education system. Other factors such as budget cuts and time constraints have also endangered the recess period.
According to a November Newsweek article, many school districts have increasingly felt pressure to show greater academic achievement and burgeoning test scores. To achieve this, instructional time has been expanded. With only so many hours in a day, activities not mandated by state or federal requirements are first to fall victim to the chopping block. Recess is one such vulnerable area.
Elimination of recess has not happened in Stoneham and is not likely to judging from the way Stoneham elementary principals speak of its importance, and the push by some parents to ensure its availability to Stoneham children.
"I think that given the high intensity of instruction and the higher expectations of performance...it's very healthy," said Central School Principal Kathleen Windisch. Her teachers support recess as well. "They know students need a break... It helps everybody."
"I think it's important," South School Principal Nick Leonardos agreed. "Professionals in every field need a break."
Yet, despite the principals' contention that recess is valuable, Stoneham has seen the time allotted for recess scaled back since the mid 1990's. According to School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly, the Education Reform Act of 1992 brought many changes to the educational system including time-on-learning requirements. The legislation mandated that elementary students have 900 hours of direct classroom learning per school year. This excludes time spent in recess, lunch periods, and moving between classes. For most Stoneham elementary students, that translated to elimination of a morning recess period, leaving one after-lunch break during their 6-hour day. The recess policy is the responsibility of each building principal and varies slightly from school to school.
South School offers a 20 minute recess following lunch. Central School students enjoy about 15 minutes after a half hour lunch. At Colonial Park, students in grades 1-3 get a 10-minute morning recess, and all grades have an approximately 10-15 minute recess following lunch. Robin Hood School allows a 15 minute morning recess for students through grade 4, and all get a 10-15 minute after-lunch recess. But it is the nation's trend of allowing for less and less recess time, as well as for the low status it holds in the curriculum and the fact that nothing protects recess from being cut, that has Stoneham's Tom and Erin Barry worried. The Valley Road residents and parents of seven know first-hand the benefits of giving kids a break from structure and getting them out in the fresh air whenever possible. In fact, they are so much in favor of ensuring that recess is a daily priority for school children, they have drafted a bill requesting the state to mandate such.
"It's that important to us."
The Barrys understand all that teachers have on their plate, from increased pressure of state and federal program demands to the social issues that schools are increasingly expected to address, such as character building, bullying, and stranger danger. But to do all of that at the expense of recess is wrong.
"Teachers are trying hard to get to everything they're required to on a daily basis, but they can't ignore a child's basic needs. We still believe that children have a right to a break," Erin Barry said.
The recess bill has been submitted to State Representative Paul Casey and proposes a statewide mandate as follows: "Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, all school districts in the Commonwealth shall designate a period of no less than twenty minutes for students in elementary schools for the purpose of outdoor and/or physical activity. Said activity shall be required in addition to physical education courses established in existing Department of Education curricula."
Michigan and Virginia are two states that already require school systems to offer daily recess.
"Right now we're very interested in the issue," said Mike Auerbach, Casey's Chief of Staff. Casey has spoken passionately on the issue of childhood obesity
"Obesity rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents since 1980!...This epidemic takes just as heavy a toll on the local, state, and federal economies as it does on its victims," Casey wrote in his weekly Independent column on February 4.
Physical activity is necessary for healthy growth and development of children. The Centers of Disease Control has stated that although type II diabetes in children and adolescents was pretty much a no issue ten years ago, it now accounts for almost 50 percent of new cases of diabetes in some communities. High blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also on the rise in kids. Recess has many other benefits as well and the ramifications to do without are tremendous. According to the American Association for the Child's Right to Play, "If we eliminate recess then we ignore the fact that for many students the opportunity to play with friends is an important part of coming to school."
Students who do not get a recess break are deprived of the chance to learn other skills such as social interaction and learning from peers. Traditional recess games, such as jump rope and hopscotch encourage kids to take turns, share, play cooperatively, understand rules, and problem solve. Unstructured play enhances creativity. In general, students who do not have recess are more fidgety in class, making its elimination counter-productive.
Olga S. Jarret, Assistant Professor at Georgia State University, co-authored a research study on the effects of physical education and recess on children. One young girl who took part in the study helped sum up the study's findings that recess is crucial to physical, social and emotional health.
"Well, when we don't have recess, I feel like screaming. When we do have recess, I do scream!"
South School parent Jennifer Gear praised South School for the way it handles recess. The school makes it a priority to plow the play area and gets kids outside at every opportunity.
"I think it's important to teach kids now...that exercise is a priority...Kids should be encouraged to run, jump, climb and play. For whatever reason, that does not seem to be a priority everywhere...It's sad that this is even a subject of discussion."
Erin Barry pointed out that during MCAS exams, schools are urged to give students breaks. This is great advice, she agrees, but not only for the times when students are being tested and ranked. Recess should be given a high priority because of its impact on the curriculum and on the kids themselves. Parents in local PTO groups, she said, agree that a physical change in their children takes place when they don't get an outdoor break from school work. Recess provides time for kids to let it all out. And let's not forget that recess is not just for kids. Judges call for a recess when people are tired or have trouble focusing. Congress calls for recesses too. The U.S. Army grants 10 minute breaks every hour during training sessions. Labor unions have fought for breaks as a safety measure. And just try to take away the average working man or woman's daily coffee break. But support of a state mandate for recess is mixed among principals. Windisch said she would likely be in favor of such a mandate, as long as principals retain flexibility in enforcing some aspects such as when recess is indoors. Colonial Park School Principal Maureen Burke encourages her professional staff to use its judgment as to where and when to give students a break. At some points during the school year, such as when sore throats and colds run rampant, a teacher may decide to bring students outside for additional fresh air. She fears a law might restrict that use of judgment.
"Teachers really are in the best position to see what the students' needs are which can vary season to season, or even day to day," she said.
"I feel that the issue of recess can be handled on a lower level than a state-wide law," Leonardos said. South School is not adverse to bringing the students in a few minutes early from recess if it is unusually cold, or let them enjoy a few extra minutes on a particularly nice day.
"How do you micromanage recess state-wide? Some things just can't be mandated. Common sense has to come into play."
Connelly said that if the state mandates an additional five or ten minutes to the existing recess periods, the school day might need to be extended in order to stay compliant with time-on-learning. While there certainly are a number of other crucial matters to address across the nation and even around town, the issue of recess should not be looked at as merely child's play. For Stoneham to continue and even enhance its focus on recess, would be to invest in a student's overall education, health and well being. Just think about that over your coffee tomorrow.
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