Recess is not bad

[Backroads]

So when I read this article the other day I thought, "well, duh. Does not every study done on recess confirm this?" I also wondered where these schools were as I had never seen, attended, or taught at a school that had less than three recesses. However, when someone linked the article on a teacher forum I attend I found that many schools really do go without recess, or give fifteen minutes a week (actual teacher report) or something like that. Further study found me a poll that says the western U.S. (my area) tends to give the most recess while the southern states are more likely to go without recess.

 

Those of you with school-aged kids now or whenever, how much recess do they get if any? And, for crying out loud, what's the rationale behind no recess for youngsters when I've yet to a see a study backing it up?

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

I'm a huge fan of recess, music and art as part of education :)

But I homeschool so I don't know what the situation is in my local schools.

[EarlJibbs]

I'm in Houston, moved from UT and let me tell you it's a huge difference with recess. I will have to check with the wife, but I think they only get lunch recess. Often my son comes home upset because they punish the entire class with no recess all the time. They already get less holidays, no half day Fridays,  and less recess as it is. 

[zil]

Here's another (potential) reason to have recess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwQzTKHIkb4
 

[Backroads]

zil, that's fascinating!

[prisonchaplain]

Our kids just exited their elementary school years.  However, in our district two recesses is pretty common, and three will sometimes be offered to the younger grades (either just Kindergarten, or K-2).  Anything less than 2 is inhumane at the younger levels.  3+ is a sign of being civilized.  So, yeah...I'm agreeing with the OP.

 

Shout out to Literate Parakeet--Fine arts should be basic. I'll double down by saying Social Studies should be mandatory.  It used to be that U.S. History was taught in 5th, 7th and 11th grades.  Now, it is often not taught at all.  After all, it's not on the SAT/ACT, and I doubt much of it appears on the state standardized tests either.  Then we wonder why so many students at elite universities are actually lobbying to rescind the First Amendment.

[Guest]

Florida here.

 

No recess.

 

There's a Power Hour... which is a lunch break and "free time"... with free meaning they can choose whatever subject they are going to work on from their 8 classes - that includes PE.  Most kids use this time to do homework or do make-up tests or schedule teacher conferences.  My kid in arts school use this time to bang his heart out on the piano.  My kid in engineering school use this time to build stuff on TinkerCAD.

 

The problem with Power Hour is you still have to be quiet.

 

This is the big difference between Philippine Schools and American Schools.  In the Philippines, the school is only quiet during class hours.  There's 30 minutes recess in the morning, 1 hour lunch break, and another 30 minutes recess in the afternoon (school starts at 7:30 and lets out at 4:30).  If you walk into the school grounds during recess, it's like a wave of sound blows you away.  Kids are running around the school grounds, jumping off stairwells, all sports equipment are in use, kids chasing each other in the hallways... it's a zoo.  Then the bell rings and it's like the mute button just got pressed.  Kids walk back into class all sweaty, out of breath, some bloody, and ready to sit still for another 2 hours.

 

In my kids' American School, you're not allowed to raise the noise level... not even during lunch break.  It's like a museum in there.  It took me a while to get used to it.

 

I see the advantages in both systems.  I also see the disadvantages.  Personally, I think the Filipino system is better for boys while the American system is better for girls.  But then, that's considered sexist these days...

[Crypto]

I'd have never made it through elementary school without recess. You can talk to any of my teachers, including sunday school and youth leaders.

Edited January 12, 2016 by Crypto

[NightSG]

I'm even in favor of recess between Sacrament meeting and Sunday school. That basketball goal needs to get some use.

[EarlJibbs]

I'd had never made it through elementary school without recess. You can talk to any of my teachers, including sunday school and youth leaders.

I certainly would have been in the principles office more often if we didn't have recess. :) 

[Backroads]

I'm even in favor of recess between Sacrament meeting and Sunday school. That basketball goal needs to get some use.

My church is remodeling the chapel, so we meet in the gym, er, cultural hall. The other day my toddler spent half the meeting demanding to play basketball.

[Backroads]

I hate to sound selfish, but at these no recess schools when does a teacher ger to use the bathroom?

[Guest]

I hate to sound selfish, but at these no recess schools when does a teacher ger to use the bathroom?

 

At period bell.

 

The American Middle and High Schools we've been to are designed so that teachers stay in a classroom while the students transfer classrooms each period.  So there's 5 minutes allotted for kids to go from one classroom to the next which the teacher can use for potty breaks.

 

The Elementary School is designed such that teachers and students stay together in the same classroom all day long except for lunch.  But then there's a bathroom attached to the classroom.

 

The Filipino School - Elementary through High School is designed such that students stay in one classroom and the teachers go classroom to classroom except for classes that require laboratory equipment or field equipment or machinery or special tools - like Science, Drafting, PE, etc.  Teachers usually stop by the restrooms on the way to another classroom if they need to.  Teachers get recess too - you'll see teachers playing ball or running around hallways with the kids.  The old geezers (hah hah, that's what we called them) sit in the faculty room gossiping about wayward children.  Hah hah.

Edited January 12, 2016 by anatess