Mr. Teacher

Other readers' comments on this article:

1. Dear God.  As the mother of a 3rd grader, I cannot imagine why anyone would do such a thing as cancel recess, especially for elementary school children.  We live in Boston and when it gets too cold for the kids to go outside (usually after Thanksgiving), we see an almost immediate reaction in my son's behavior.  This usually attentive and well-mannered child loses the ability to sit still, focus, wait his turn, etc.  My husband and I do as much as we can outside of school to provide him with outlets (weekend basketball leagues, etc.) for that boundless energy, but it's provides little relief for him or the teacher in the middle of the school week.  Thank God he's had terrific teachers who have worked with us to guide him through those rough months.  
    
   Let there be no doubt...there is a crystal clear correlation between the cessation of recess and his inability to focus in class.  We've seen it year after year after year.  It's even gotten to the point where I forewarn the teachers at the beginning of the year, who always tell me how well-mannered and considerate he is in class, that they should expect changes when winter arrives.  Together we start working on plans to see him through those winter months, until he can return to outdoor recess.
    
   I have heard from his teachers that other children experience the same inability to focus when not given an opportunity to expel their extra energy.  And when we're already cutting Physical Education back to once every other week, what are kids supposed to do?  To think that teachers will gain instruction time with children by cutting out recess is to avoid the fact that they are likely to spend those few regained minutes corraling a room full of children who need some time to let loose.
    
   I'd prefer the 100 SPF to that, any day.

   Posted by Kia on Sep 9, 2008 8:28 pm

2. Reedonkulous.  Banning recess is un-American.  Sounds to me like you need to pull a Scopes.  Take a stand, regardless of school policy, and give your kids the full hour or two or three outside everyday for active play.
   Besides how are our kids supposed to adapt, develop gills, super immunities, etc. to red ozone levels if they aren't out in it.  Did giraffes always have long necks?  No.  It wasn't until the Pliocene period.  I say let them run.  Let them skip.  Let them...play ball.  Now that's American.      

   Posted by Phineus on Sep 10, 2008 9:29 am

3. Kia, I completel agree.
    
   Phin, thanks for commenting.  Confusing as always.
    
   NGTU, thank you for providing such a convincing example of what happens to people when they don't get their recess.

   Posted by John Pearson on Sep 11, 2008 9:08 pm

4. I am so sorry your administrators don't know/belive that movement activity and squealing at the top of your lungs, such as what happens at every good recess is crucial to burning off of that high-carb lunch the kids just finished eating.  Hope you can keep 'em awake when the sugar crash hits. Maybe you all can find lots of things that really must be measured outside and need a lot of practice timing races and putting their times in order in order to effectively teach several standards well enough to meet the testing goals :-).

   Posted by Margaret on Sep 14, 2008 1:28 pm

5. I am beyond disgusted that this is really happening in a Dallas elementary school.  No Child Left Behind should be renamed "Childhood Left Behind."  These are children. They should LOVE learning - they have a lot more of it to do. If we lose them now by treating school like the drudgery that a middle manager on "The Office" might find then how can we expect them to stick with it?  Learning should be FUN - not an attempt to shuttle children like robots into little high-TAKS-test-scoring freaks.  How does one stick with public school in Dallas when there is a new low each day?  I am trying to figure that out - make it better or leave it behind????

   Posted by hardtobeinDISD on Sep 21, 2008 10:26 pm