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Physical education and academic performance
Physical education and academic performance
Should schools have longer recess time
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Caralee Adams, reported to Scholastic.com, “About 11 percent of states and 57 percent of districts require elementary schools to provide students with regularly scheduled recess, a study by the Centers for Disease Controls, in 2006.” As far back as 1884, W.T. Harris, addressed students being overweight, could be reduced with physical needs, be saved by recess. On the other hand, those who do not think recess is beneficial, argue that recess is a waste of time in the school day. Recess should be allowed in all schools because physical health and concentration benefits to kids.
Having recess can help kids be more physically active. For example, The American Heart Association News, a news organization, stated that, ”Recess time has been championed as a way to help combat the nation’s childhood obesity problem. Studies also have shown that the
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For instance, Martha Young, associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Nevada, reported to fairtest.org, “.....the quantity-over-quality approach to instructional time. We’ve unfortunately bought into the idea that more is better, and that isn’t always going to be the case, particularly when you’re talking about elementary school students. In some cases you can have a 12-hour school day and not make any more progress than you would in six hours.” This quote shows that kids need time to recollect themselves with a break. By getting a break, it can help them refocus and get more done. Additionally, The American Heart News Association, a news organization stated, “After recess, for children or after a corresponding break time for adolescents, students are more attentive and better able to perform cognitively.” This quote proves that getting a break in between is better than not getting one because a break helps kids refocus, instead of them not paying attention and getting nothing done. You could more work done in a less amount of time with a
As I wearily sat in my seat, writing an essay on the importance of electricity in the modern world, I caught myself glancing repeatedly at the clock that was so carefully perched above the teacher’s desk. “Ten minutes, only ten more minutes left until school is over and I get to go home!” I told myself. In most schools, the average school day is about eight hours long. Eight hours of continuously sitting in a chair taking notes during lectures, doing classwork, projects, etc. During these eight hours of school, students deserve a short, outdoor break in which they can isolate themselves from the stress of working all day and just relax. Studies have shown that people who take short breaks throughout the day to do light, outdoor breaks are more productive than those who do not. A short, outdoor break will benefit students due to the fact that students will have time to relax; students will be able to focus more, concentrate, and be more productive; and teachers will have more time to prepare for the next class coming.
Some people might say that middle schoolers shouldn’t have recess, but, middle schooler don’t always have gym, and they don’t get enough exercise, so recess would be beneficial to middle schoolers.
These are just some key points I would touch when trying to promote recess to school administrators or a school board. Recess is very important to our children and I think taking it out of their day to day routine will hurt them in the end.
Children can burn off bottled up energy at recess that they have accumulated while sitting through their teacher’s lessons. Lahey mentions that “studies have found that students who enjoy the benefit of recess are more attentive once they return to class”. This is helpful because the child will be focused on what they are learning instead of fidgeting in their chair. Also, providing breaks to students while they are learning can result in longer attention spans. Recess is a break that recharges the brain and allows elementary students to control their desire to adventure. Young children are easily distracted, so recess regulates this by providing them with their own free time. Students become more self-contained after they return from recess due to their tiredness. This is useful in class because children will be less hyperactive. The absence of recess would not permit students to learn self-control
The brain is a complex organ. The brain can be overworked and overactive. In “Students Who Lose Recess Are the Ones Who Need It Most” and “Skipping School for Vacation: Good for Families, or Bad for Students” by Jessica Lahey. Breaks are healthy for students, but too much can be bad.
Do you like to go to school for seven hours a day straight with no breaks? Mr. Hale please consider having a short break. Having a break would benefit the students. It would acquiesce them to use the bathroom or socialize with friends. Also, you could finish any homework or study. It would also help students pay better attention in class.
being allowed less time for free, creative, child-driven play in order to spend more time focused
Adams, Jill U. "Physical Activity May Help Kids Do Better in School, Studies Say."Washington Post. The Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
Studies have shown that kids who didn't have recess, instead of being refreshed and ready to learn, were brain-drained, as they have lost out on the opportunity to regain the energy needed for focus. (Barros) Many people believe that recess was a waste of time and that it should be taken away in high school, but without it students become brain-drained and do not have focus towards school. This means that recess is not a waste of time, as it makes students have more energy towards school, but makes class a waste of time for teachers. Many students that I encounter before going to the last class of the day or any class say things like “My brain is done working for the day”, “I just need a break”, “ I just want to go play a game”, or “I am tired of sitting all day.” Rarely do students get to go outside and play a game or go for a walk during the day or class, but on the days that they do, after the time outside or playing a physically active game, the students were more focused throughout the
Have you ever wondered if recess is necessary, or if it just takes away learning time? Recess has been around since the beginning of school itself. It is a time when kids go outside, if the weather permits, for a bit of unstructured play. Children often bring a snack to eat, or a friend to play with. Many children might even say that their favorite subject is recess.
For the last several legislative sessions, groups of parents around the state have asked state legislators to pass new laws to mandate “unrestricted recess time” for elementary students. It was just a few years back that the state legislature passed laws that mandated “structured physical activity time” for every elementary student.
We Need Breaks! Let’s just take a minute and visualize Independence Middle School students getting breaks between classes. Mr.Hale please consider the very needed schedule change it would be very appreciated. I’m not talking about thirty minute breaks, I’m talking about fifteen minute breaks. I personally think this is a wonderful idea, because some students have friends in other classes, it would allow time for organization, and it would also allow time for kids who slack on getting their Accelerated Reader points.
However, despite the unquestionable link to a brighter future for the children who engage in it, less and less time is being allotted for play in the classrooms. As standards for what children are expected to know at younger and younger ages continues to rise along with the demand for standardized testing from the state, time for play is being sacrificed. Adults are choosing to get rid of time for unstructured play and recess to make time for this new testing interfering with the time allotted for children to learn independently through play. Cutting play and recess is a mistake, and here is why: “recess gives students time for social interactions: for students must be able to initiate, negotiate, cooperate, share, and build relationships with one another--skills that are highly valued in the adult world but that often are quite different from work or play under adult supervision and control” (Chang). Those skills learned through play, are often not the sole purpose of a classroom lesson and could potentially be the only place they learn those needed skills. Play is an affective measurement in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom and children can learn so much from it if only given the chance
One reason there needs to be longer recess in school is because recess gives students time to stretch their bodies allowing them to be fit and active, There is evidence to support this reason. If you consider the following quote "Wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to institute healthy active policies into school so that all children grow up with the habits that not only help them learn best but also help them become healthy, active adults?" (Rochman)
The modernized world has changed people’s perception on how they look at break time or playtime. Many people fail to give importance on break time or playtime in primary school. Thus, the duration given for playtime in primary school level has eventually reduced down the years. The NF (2014) states that ‘school breaktimes are getting shorter despite pupils and teachers recognizing them as an important opportunity for physical exercise and socializing’. Rochman (2012) mentioned that ‘playtime can be as important as class time for helping students perform their best’. If studying is claimed to be important and is the main focus at primary school level, playtime is equally important too as playtime is the duration where children gets the opportunity to develop various skills.