Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (Full Version)

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willfs -> Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 11:42:15 AM)

Michael Phelps had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I wonder if, instead of labeling these people as ill, we should look at how we try to force everyone into the same square peg. I used to substitute teach. The school that had the most well behaved young students was a private school that had three recesses. The boys (usually the ones with behavior problems) were just like other boys but they did a lot better in class. I would also say we are cramming boys into a peg that females fit into better. Guys are better with large muscle movements and females are better at small muscles movements. The school setting isn't fit for young males....... and they rebel against it - just spend a little time in an elementary school.

Not too mention the rise in obesity, childhood emotional problems, and other childhood issues which excercise has been known to help.



stellaluna -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 11:55:17 AM)

I think more recess wouldn't solve the problem, but it would certainly help. I know in schools here, if you get in trouble the first thing they do is take away your recess, when recess would probably have solved the problem in the first place.



GroupW -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 11:56:13 AM)

It's one reason for the idea of "work stations" in some elementary schools. Letting the little one's get up and physically move as they learn does seem to help attention spans and facilitate learning, particularly among boys. I don't think adding to recess is necessarily the answer, but I do think allowing for some degree of physical movement during instructional time could help.



earthless -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 12:33:07 PM)

The schools in the school system of my city no longer has any form of recess.



GroupW -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 12:57:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

The schools in the school system of my city no longer has any form of recess.


No kidding? That doesn't sound very healthy. The boys particularly have to be bouncing off the walls. I'm old and still can't sit in my office all day without getting up and doing something.



GroupW -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 12:58:57 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

The schools in the school system of my city no longer has any form of recess.


Was that part of Michael B's reforms or was it earlier?



cog41 -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 1:52:16 PM)

Recess is great but a return to phonics and old fashioned arithmetic would help.



garsyt -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 3:22:47 PM)

Recess does play a very important part in a child's day at school. If by chance my kids' school had to eliminate the noon time recesses - I could see SERIOUS issues developing rather quickly with ALL children - not just the boys.

Most of the time. especially in grades All day Kindergarten through 3rd grade, when the weather is decent, have 2 recesses a day, and unless the temp dips below 0 or it is raining (raining - NOT just misting) the kids grades k through 5 are ALWAYS outside for at least one recess.

I am also of the belief that allowing kids the privilege of moving around a bit (without disrupting the class) is a necessity and so far NONE of my children have been expected to sit still for hours on end in the classroom.

Something that would help with a lot of the ADD and attention span problems, as well as obesity, depression and whatever, too would be all parental, in the form of VERY strict limitations on screen time, and getting the kids outside and moving more. I do notice a change in my kids when I pull the plug and throw a major time limitation on screen time. We started two weeks ago with serious limitations in preparation for the school year that starts this week. And my kids thought the limitations were harsh before! [8D] [;)]

Blessings,

Garsy



Rockwall -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/18/2008 3:57:51 PM)

As Stella put it, more recess wouldn't solve the problem, but it would certainly help. That probably should be an alternative to Zoloft, Prozac or other drugs we are giving to our kids.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/19/2008 8:08:55 AM)

We had chores to burn our extra energies. The problem isn't enough playtime...its not enough activity, esspecially at home.

Little Johnny sitting in front of the tv playing video games for three hours, eating junk food...ain't gonna come to school in the best of moods.

I worked 7 days out of 14, a couple hours a day, since I was six and many farm kids did more than that. Summer and spring and fall we had other things like haying and plowing and harvesting to keep us busy.

Oh and I did sports too. Band. 4-H. Good average.

Kids don't need more play time..they need more work. A firm hand. Rules. Real parents...not buddies.



Zhi -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/19/2008 9:31:37 AM)

Kids need parental involvement and discipline, period.

My parents, my father a school board president and my mother a substitute teacher, can tell you precisely when the education system at the school I grew up in failed. It happened when the majority of the kids stopped being more scared of what their parents would do if they got in trouble, and started expecting their parents to take their side over the teacher no matter how seriously they misbehaved. While I think recess is an absolutely necessary break, the only thing that's really going to help the public school system is for the majority of parents to engage and ally with the teachers in getting their own children educated.



SteveSund -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/19/2008 11:19:50 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: willfs

Michael Phelps had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I wonder if, instead of labeling these people as ill, we should look at how we try to force everyone into the same square peg.


I'd say that Michael Phelps turned out pretty good, so maybe his treatment was ok.

Are you really suggesting that the only difference between public and private schools is the number of recesses? There are numerous other factors, so I think you are jumping to conclusions. If anything, I think schools todays are far more willing to work with kids with ADHD than they were in the past.

quote:

While I think recess is an absolutely necessary break, the only thing that's really going to help the public school system is for the majority of parents to engage and ally with the teachers in getting their own children educated.


I agree. The things we see in schools is just a symptom of a larger societal problem.



stellaluna -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/19/2008 11:30:53 AM)

I agree with more activity as well. My sibs and I all had two chores before school, two after school and we weren't allowed to watch TV or play video games until chores and homework were finished. In the summers, we were required to play outside about 12 hours a day. My mom would literally push us out the door and lock it while she cleaned house. She and my grandmother also turned off the air conditioner during the day so being inside wouldn't be that appealing to us. I know a lot of parents now that would rather die than have their kids out of sight--even in their own backyard. It's silly. And they'd rather have them in the living room playing video games where they can easily watch them than go outside with them.

And I know several parents who fight against discipline in schools. I nearly lost a friend once whose little boy got in trouble for lying. She took his side against the teacher, even though his lying was a problem at home. She just didn't want anyone else disciplining her child because that was her job. I disagreed and he's turned into a holy terror in the years since. I don't even like being around him. Now she complains that none of his friends' parents want him to come over to play. [8|]



willfs -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/21/2008 10:41:06 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SteveSund
Are you really suggesting that the only difference between public and private schools is the number of recesses?



No



buckifn -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/21/2008 8:14:16 PM)

No, I don't think it would solve a lot of problems...but I do think it would counteract one of the major ones in young children today...obesity. I think an hour of PE every day is totally healthy and cannot believe how many schools are eliminating gym class altogether.



garsyt -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/21/2008 10:51:02 PM)

Here, thankfully the schools are not eliminating either! We still have recess for the elementary aged kiddos along with gym at least twice a week (two 45 minute sessions) for them. At the middle school level 6th and 7th graders have 6 weeks of PE then 6 weeks of an elective, followed by 6 weeks of PE and then so on throughout the entire year AND in 8th grade the kids are required to take one semester of PE. PE starts falling off in high school - but they are still required to take two semesters in order to graduate. Daily is asking for a lot really, especially with the academic demands that are put on kids nowdays. I mean with all the demands of NCLB and state testing and funding depending upon consistent improvement of test scores. Without cutting out something else of equal importance to a child's education or extending the day, I'm afraid we won't get daily PE. In our school it would be a scheduling nightmare at the elementary level!

Blessings,

Garsy



SovereignIsHe -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/21/2008 11:32:02 PM)

My "ADD" was taking care of by my mother explaining to me the ramifications of my father having to give up a days work to sit with me in the classroom.... When I didn't show any signs of pain from being whacked on the back of the hand by the Spaghetti Spoon I was in big trouble... It wasn't my fault the 98 pound Nun couldn't hit me hard enough and I thought it was funny that I offered the palm of my hand...

John



SonInMe1 -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/22/2008 7:43:50 AM)

Its a funny thing.....

excersize is the new craize and guess what also has risen in conjunction with it? Orthopedic operations. Yep, knee operations and back operations and foot operations...and from what? Yep, you betcha...excersize.

The bible is...once again correct. In ALL things, moderation.



mapachito13 -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/22/2008 8:07:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zhi

Kids need parental involvement and discipline, period.

My parents, my father a school board president and my mother a substitute teacher, can tell you precisely when the education system at the school I grew up in failed. It happened when the majority of the kids stopped being more scared of what their parents would do if they got in trouble, and started expecting their parents to take their side over the teacher no matter how seriously they misbehaved. While I think recess is an absolutely necessary break, the only thing that's really going to help the public school system is for the majority of parents to engage and ally with the teachers in getting their own children educated.


What you said is very true but you forgot to mention that administration needs to be on the teacher's side as well.

My wife has been caught in the middle at the HS she teaches at when she has ruined some honor student's GPA by giving them a B (the grade they deserved) instead of an A like all the other teachers who were bullied by the kid's counselors gave them. She then produces the kid's tests and homework as proof and shuts them both up.

In my wife's classroom the honor students act up worse than the students who are failing. They feel that they are "entitled" to an A. They (and their parents) have arrogant "my son/daughter can do no wrong" attitudes that make the teacher-parent relationship adversarial in nature. I am sure this attitude will get worse this year as she takes over the AP classes.



willfs -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/24/2008 2:33:21 PM)

I have been in quite a few elementary schools. I see too many kids who are asked not to be kids but live dull lives stuck behind a desk. From pictures of past generations, I see very few overwieght individuals. I know that obesity, ADD, and ADHD have been on the rise for the past few decades. The posts that point out that more excercise is not the ONE answer are probably correct. But I think more excercise is one of the answers. Schools are feeling the heat to perform for standardized tests. None of them measure physical health. So most elementary kids are limited to 20 minutes of physical activity a day at school and once or twice with a P.E. teacher a week. Is this really enough?



garsyt -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/24/2008 9:22:09 PM)

But is it REALLY the schools responsibility to get kids off their behinds more then they already do? For some schools, sure. But there's only so much schools can do. IF kids are not competing academically it puts a damper on school funding and parents get feed up and frustrated.

I personally think PARENTS need to get more involved in their kid's lives. The schools can't and SHOULDN'T be responsible for all the exercise and nutritional decent food a child gets. PARENTS need to take some responsibility for this as well. IF parents can't get the kids off the couches and away from the TV, computers and video games - WHY should schools be blamed for the fact that the child is overweight or has trouble with ADD or ADHD.

Blessings,

Garsy



blessedinnyc -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/24/2008 10:06:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: willfs

I have been in quite a few elementary schools. I see too many kids who are asked not to be kids but live dull lives stuck behind a desk. From pictures of past generations, I see very few overwieght individuals. I know that obesity, ADD, and ADHD have been on the rise for the past few decades. The posts that point out that more excercise is not the ONE answer are probably correct. But I think more excercise is one of the answers. Schools are feeling the heat to perform for standardized tests. None of them measure physical health. So most elementary kids are limited to 20 minutes of physical activity a day at school and once or twice with a P.E. teacher a week. Is this really enough?

Does anyone under the age of ~30-35 remember the presidential fitness test? What was that designed to measure?

Perhaps that should also be included in standardized testing?



PaleHawkWoman -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/24/2008 11:05:52 PM)

Studies have shown that boys do better when they have Phys Ed first thing in the morning at school followed by a recess after lunch. Girls, on the other hand, do better with Phys Ed in the afternoon, and recess mid-morning. All kids need physical activity, but they need both structured(phys ed and sports) and unstructured(recess/play) to let off steam in a healthy way. Younger children especially need unstructured playtime to refocus.

I do agree that children need to be more physically active at home as well, but many parents are afraid to let their children outside because of child molesters, random viloence from criminal activity, bullies, and accidents. More parentsthan ever are having to work longer hours and extra jobs to make ends meet and simply are not home to ensure that their children are getting exercise. Of course, they could get rid of the tv and video games, or at least lock these up so as to control usage.



garsyt -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/25/2008 12:01:26 AM)

quote:

More parentsthan ever are having to work longer hours and extra jobs to make ends meet and simply are not home to ensure that their children are getting exercise. Of course, they could get rid of the tv and video games, or at least lock these up so as to control usage.


Then parents need to make sure that the people that ARE there for their children are encouraging more physical activity. I do understand both parents working - but I don't know too many elementary aged children that are left home alone for extended periods of time with NO supervision whatsoever. I am of the FIRM belief that parents and guardians of children can be and SHOULD be the first line of defense when it comes to the primary health and well-being of their children. Parents often abdicate lots of their responsibilities when a child heads of to school - and unfortunately many do even before that time.

Sure many parents work long hours, and extra jobs, and whatever. I'm just not completely convinced that this is a need in ALL cases. Who are the parents relying on to raise their children if they are not? Schools and their teaching staff? Poor teachers I say if that's the case!

The way I see it, IF there became a requirement for daily PE in elementary schools and more PE in middle and high schools, schools would have to add more teachers (and forget about getting the funding for that from the state or through property taxes because folks are going to fight that to the death) and add hours to the school day just to accommodate space wise and schedule wise. I know some highschools have a couple gyms that they can use for classes, but I don't know a single elementary in my county and the surrounding counties that has the space to accommodate more then one gym class at a time. As it is at my kid's school there were times when the gym teacher took on two first grade classes at the same time, with the help of a student teacher, just so ALL the classes could fit into the schedule. 40 kids for one teacher to handle is to many, and with budget cuts many schools are facing, well I don't see many schools hiring more teachers, building more gyms, or extending school days. AND I'm sorry but I DON'T want my kids in school any longer then they already are. It's hard enough to get time for activities, family meals, homework and play time between the hours of 4 PM when my little guys get off the bus in the afternoons and 8:30 PM.

Okay I'm done rambiling,

Off to bed. 6 AM comes awfully early!

Blessings,

Garsy



PaleHawkWoman -> RE: Do you think that giving more recess time at school would solve a lot of problems? (8/25/2008 3:09:12 AM)

I've always thought that the school day should be extended to 8 hrs. As far as recess- that's usually handled by the classroom teachers rather than athletic staff. PE does require athletic staff, but with a longer school day(and keep in mind teachers are salaried, not hourly employees so their pay would not increase for additional hours), the staff should be able to get to all of the students. Most athletic staff also teach other subjects, so its not exactly like doubling the staff to meet the demand.

A longer school day would also cut down on kids home alone after school. Homework clubs, staffed by PTO members, could be set up at school for kids to attend while waiting to be picked up by parents if they do not ride the bus. My son attends an academic magnet school(#24 in the nation BTW) and there are no school buses for it- the students are either brought to/picked up from school by car or ride the MTA. Since the downtown library is up the block, some students wait there for their parents after school and use the time to study. There used to be Girls and Boys clubs in many communities which had after-school programs ranging from tutoring to sports practice. The kids were supervised in a safe environment at a nominal fee to the parents. It would seem to be an idea in need of resurrection. Some churches likewise have or have had similar programs.

As far as paying a bit more in property taxes to cover the school costs... you get what you pay for. If you don't want to pay for improving the educational system to better serve our children and communities, then ask yourself why not. If you think the schools are poorly managed, get involved with the PTO or the school board. Talk to your city councilman- frequently. Get together with other parents and be the change you seek by starting programs in the schools and raise funds to run them properly and independently. Get the community involved in it by engendering a sense of pride and responsibility in community youth.

It all boils down to what you're willing to do.



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