When P.E. and 12 Other Activities Masquerade as Recess
As state legislatures make mandates claiming to secure recess in schools, it is important to nail down what they mean when they define recess.
There are a lot of canned activities and commercialized gimmicks parading as recess. It is important not to be duped into thinking your child is getting recess when they aren’t.
Look at your school district and ask whether your child’s school has recess. Then ask what it is they do when they call it recess.
Misconceptions about Recess
In Tennessee, Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville wants a complete repeal of last year’s amendment giving students three periods of 15 minutes (90 minutes per week) of unstructured time.
Dunn claims teachers “aren’t seeing kids engage in rigorous physical activity.”
He doesn’t understand what recess is about.
Children usually engage in active play during recess, but if a child chooses to sit on a swing and stare at the clouds, recess should give them the freedom to do so.
Recess isn’t P.E.
Part of Dunn’s problem is that he thinks recess is P.E. He understands children need When P.E. and 12 Other Activities Masquerade as Recess: