Rescuing Recess
"We've got to make noises in greater amounts. So open your mouth, lad, for every voice counts." - Horton Hears a Who
Schools are cutting back recess time and forcing kids to sit at their desks all day. And we wonder why students are bringing weapons to school? Eight hours of arithmetic and grammar without blowing off steam is enough to send anyone over the edge. Children need time each day to run and play. Exercise also helps them focus more during assignments.
Please take a moment and print out a letter to your State School Superintendent or Commissioner of Education. Your children can help you write it and learn early about self-advocacy.
posted by kate @ 7:33 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I think that this relentless push on test scores is pretty much an unstoppable force- everyone who has any power seems to like it. Granted the recess thing is absurd, but if our test scores drop this year they may very well get rid of band and art.
"...learn early about self-advocacy." Good point, particularly since recess is such an important venue for kids to do just that. I believe in accountability, and yes even testing, if the tests are good and aligned with curriculum. However, when "reforms" are touted as a way to prepare kids to enter the 21st century work force then eliminate all opportunities for them to learn how to get along with peers, and negotiate ambiguous situations, we can only expect them all to get fired from their first jobs. Teacher, I mean manager, is not going to have time to resolve little playground-like spats between highly tested kids who've never had to share space on the playground without a referee.
Good post, good points.
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