Schools all over the country are considering, if not already applying, the removal of recess for elementary school students. Having recess has scientifically proven to play a substantial part in the social development of a child, their physical health, and the amount of attention they pay in the classroom. For example the Tennessee Board of Education says, "It is the position of the NASPE that all elementary school children should be provided with at least one daily period of recess of at least 20 minutes on length" (National Association for Sports and Physical Education). Keeping recess in schools could help lower the childhood obesity rate, help children to be more attentive in class, and assist in the development of their much needed social skills. These aspects are essential to academic healthiness and to your child succeeding academically. Removing recess could cause a dramatic decline in the graduation rate in the U.S.
Keeping recess in schools has both its pros and cons. Along with the positive things presented by keeping recess there are also the things that prove to be negatives. One problem presented by keeping recess is that class time is cut shorter. Instructors are pressed to teach the lessons in a shorter amount of time. "Schools began cutting back recess in the late 1980's to allow more instructional time" (Jarret). Shorter instruction time means less time for the teachers to reiterate what has been taught that day. Another problem with recess is that if not properly supervised children can injure themselves or one another. Also, some children get bullied while on the playground.
Even though these problems exist, recess still has its positive aspects. "A daily break of 15 minutes or more in the school...
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Web. The Web. The Web. 18 February 2014. Allen, William.
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.
I picked this article because it used a school that was actually allowing time for recess, but it was not being utilized by a large number of the students. These results help prove that an effort for inclusion still has to be made. Only providing soccer does not give everyone an equal opportunity to
... N.p., 12 Oct. 2012. Web. The Web. The Web. 05
In the “The Crucial Role of Recess in School” (2012) article it explains, many schools are beginning to replace physical activity, like recess, with more attention to academic subjects. What these schools are forgetting is that well-supervised recess also has benefits that surpass academics. They help make a well rounded student because recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits to the student when they are young that they carry with them into adulthood.
Sindelar, R. (2004). Recess: Is it needed in the 21st Century? Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting, Vol. 18, Issue 1, 1-6.
Students often are involved in after school activities which, between school and the activities they hardly have any time to do homework and study. The article “Highschool Pressure” by Rachel D. states “We result to quickly completing homework and we do not receive any educational value from it. Also, we may not have any time to study at all, which would result in a failing grade.” Second, students are pressured which can cause students to lose focus in class. The article “Highschool Pressure” also states “long school hours puts much pressure on students. We may tend to slack off which could be harmful for their education in the long run.” Third, since all classes usually take a while to start it would not harm the students learning by taking a couple of minutes off of each class. Another statement in “Highschool Pressure” is “by cutting time out of the school day, the students education level would not be hurt. The students would be able to retain the same information within an hour or half an hour.” A shortened school schedule would improve learning by giving them more time to study and complete
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
Web. The Web. The Web. 23 February 2007. Conrad, Joseph.
Web. The Web. The Web. Oct. 2009. Boulard, Garry.
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
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.
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