ATLANTA -- A bill in the legislature would bring back recess to elementary schools in Georgia.
Recess still exists but only sporadically. As schools have become more rigorous and more test score and data driven, critics say recess has gotten squeezed out of the school day.
"A lot of the minutes of the day are totally focused on test scores and we’ve said over and over and over a child is more than a test score. And they need exercise and time to get out," said Dr. Sid Chapman, director of the Georgia Association of Educators, which represents public school teachers.
A bill in the legislature would restore thirty minutes of recess for public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade, “preferably outdoors,” the bill says. It also forbids teachers from using recess as punishment.
Lawmakers say the loss of recess time has been the result of decisions made at local schools and not the state. House education chairman Rep. Brooks Coleman says that is lamentable.
"Let me tell you something," said Coleman, a former school principal. "A little first second or third grader needs to be turned loose and allowed to run and scream and holler for awhile don’t you think so?"
The recess bill has bipartisan support among lawmakers. But Coleman, who is not among its cosponsors, cautions that it is also puts a squeeze on local school boards that already have a lot of challenges managing time during the school day.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I think this is a fantastic idea. My DD got punished by one teacher who withheld recess. I had to go to the principal to get them to understand that her behavior would improve if you would let her MOVE! Sure enough -- it did.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
Recess or P.E. needs to be a requirement at least up to 10th grade in my opinion.
Especially now with kids forgetting, or never knowing, what life was like without all the modern electronic distractions, Back when kids used to play outside after school, with other kids.
Recess has been pushed out over the years because of all the stuff that is required now.
All the testing for dollars has made it really hard to let kids play.
I'm wondering how it will be accomplished.
What lesson will be shortened or will the day be stretched another 30 minutes?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Have you guys spent the day in an elementary classroom lately? I'm often surprised by how much time is actually wasted that could easily be dedicated to recess.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
There should be recess thru HS. I would love to see someone do a study of ADHD kids in HS. Those who are sent OUTSIDE after lunch for 30 min and those who are not. And make them put their dang coats on and go outside, barring a monsoon. I would bet dollars for donuts that you would see a vast improvement in the behavior of children.
Have you guys spent the day in an elementary classroom lately? I'm often surprised by how much time is actually wasted that could easily be dedicated to recess.
No.
But there is a lot of wasted time.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I agree with this 100% I know three of my kids who benefited enormously from recess. and the other two also did too, but not as much as the three!! I am sure their teachers were thankful, it helped them concentrate better when in class.
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~~Four Wheels Move the Body~~ ~~ Two Wheels Move the Soul~~
In our schools the way it (law, policy, whatever) is written is the students should have 45 minutes of recess or something recess related. The schools interpreted this as a video of eating healthy and good nutrition, a brisk walk between classes add up to the 45 minutes (the schools determined it to 45 minutes in a week.).
