School Recess Cutbacks Overstated, Report Says
Posted on 13. Mar, 2009 by Admin in Charter, District, Law, News, Private Schools
by Dani McClain (9/11/08)
We all remember the thrill of recess when we were kids. With ever-increasing federal guidelines and requirements, many schools are cutting back and even eliminating recess. But is that really a wise move?
“The report summarized recent data from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics and drew the following conclusions:
• 14% of elementary schools with an enrollment of at least half students of color schedule no recess for first-graders, compared with 2% of schools with less than 6% minority enrollment.
• 18% of elementary schools where more than three-fourths of the student body receives a reduced-price lunch have no recess for first-graders, compared with 4% of schools where less than half the student body comes from impoverished families.
• 14% of urban elementary schools schedule no recess for first-graders, compared with 6% of suburban schools and 3% of rural schools.”
According to the data, recess may actually help encourage student achievement.
That said, we all know that there is no universal “one size fits all” model, method, or approach that works all of the time in education. It’s unfortunate that certain types of students (i.e., minority, poor, and urban students) miss out on recess more often than their counterparts in more affluent parts of the nation. That trend should change.
It is the opinion of UEC that recess plays an important part in children’s development at school. Although it should be used reasonably and responsibly, the data suggests that school leaders should reevaluate and support recess in school.
That said, all decisions should be made based on local factors and conditions. But, generally speaking, recess needs to remain an important part of our nation’s education system.
Read the article here.
What do you think?