Recess is nothing to play around with

Writer: Leigh Neely

Recess was once an important part of the school day. Now it has become an issue that has pitted parents against schools. As always, though, there are two sides to every argument.

In the early part of this new century, there was a trend to move away from recess in schools. Research indicates this began with the implementation of “No Child Left Behind” in 2001. Children are covering difficult subjects earlier, and there’s a need for the teacher to have more classroom time. There are those who argue that the physical education class now available in most schools fulfills the need for movement and creativity outside the classroom. However, many believe this organized, restrictive exercise meets all the needs.

There was a time when climbing on the jungle gym, swinging, and kids chasing one another was a regular part of the school day. Psychologists say there’s a definite link between carefree playing and improved skills in the classroom, and there’s been research done recently that says playing with blocks aids language development.

Though legislation to ensure students get to play at some point during the school day failed in 2016, it has once again been introduced by state Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami). This 20 minutes of playtime will be in addition to the required 150 minutes of physical education (PE) class each week for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. If it is approved, it will take effect in August with the opening of the new school year.

Cindy Christidis is principal at Treadway Elementary School, and she says her teachers provide a minimum of 60 minutes a week for recess and sometimes more. It is not a scheduled time to allow the teacher to find what works best for the class. There are also daily PE classes.

“Our faculty, staff, and parents support the implementation of recess at Treadway,” Cindy says. “The Treadway community has been very supportive in this process, and I am not aware of any issues at this time with recess. We have a very involved and engaged [School Advisory Council] that is mindful of our students’ academic and social growth.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agreed that PE and recess do promote activity and a healthy lifestyle, but recess gives children the opportunity to play creatively. For this reason, the AAP believes it should be part of the daily school routine.

This is supported by a study done by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which says recess offers one of the “most powerful opportunities to strengthen schools, foster healthy child development, and boost learning.” According to the foundation more than $800 billion dollars is spent on education, and yet one of the best tools is being dismissed.

Most of the arguments against recess dealt with these issues:
• Teachers need more classroom time
• Outdoor play can lead to injuries and lawsuits
• Possible access to strangers on a playground
• More incidents of bullying

Missing recess has also been a typical form of punishment, giving teachers some leverage with children with behavioral problems. However, there has been nothing definitive in any of the research that says it is better to have children spend the day at school without recess time.

In a press release from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Joan Almon says, “The Common Core Standards were created to help graduates enter the workplace and college. A recent IBM Institute study asked 1,500 CEOs around the world what they sought most in employees. The answer was simple: creativity. There is no better way to foster creativity than to keep it alive in early childhood when it is naturally strong and expresses itself through play.”