What do we want? MORE RECESS!

[Rider]

[glow=red,2,300]When do we want it? NOW!

Yes, they were actually chanting that. Sounds like something from that Disney cartoon, "Recess."

Anyway, this elementary school in a nearby town is cutting its recess down from 20 minutes to 10, in order to try and raise its scores on that standardized test of d00m, the MCAS. This particular town has the one of the lowest average scores in the state of Massachusetts.

I think this is lunacy. These are 5 and 6 year old kids! They need recess like adults need coffee! Cutting recess in half probably won't help them too much more, right?[/glow]

[Tdyans]

Meh. It's an easy, symbolic way to say, "Hey look, we're doing something about the problem!" without actually doing anything that would require some real constructive, creative ideas or actual tough changes. What is a 10 minute recess? And what is 10 extra minutes of classroom time? It could be pointed out that while they're *supposedly* trying to fix one problem, they're contributing to another. Childhood obesity, anyone? Kids need exercise. They need interaction. They need playtime. I wouldn't be surprised if this actually makes their scores go down. But like I said, it's easier to come up with something easy to implement but ultimately stupid like this than a real answer.

[Nighthawk]

Give em their recess for Christ's sake. You are destroying their childhood. We're already stuck in a classroom for five an a half hours of the day, give them back something! It's ridiculous! How much do they REALLY think it will help? It will do more harm then help. People just have no sense nowadays.

[kittygirl]

Rider We live in the same state!

Now to something on topic

That is wrong. 10 minutes won't help! What they need to do is get better more focused teachers or get less sped kids(not actually a good idea but it maybe the cause of the problem). This is siply an adult way of saying We are fixing the probelm. With out doing anything, exept killing the kid. (not literally)

[Rider]

[glow=red,2,300]Ten minutes every day adds up to a lot. Butit won't make a bit of difference if the hyperactive kids are bouncing off the walls and it takes 20 minutes for the teachers to get them under control. And Tdyans is right about obeisity. [/glow]

[scrufflewhompus]

Five minutes is one thing, but ten minutes it another!

I miss elementary school, we'd have a whole hour to eat lunch and for about forty-five minutes of that we'd be playing outside. Aside from that, our individual classes would get to have recesses about every other day.

That was ages ago... -mourns-

[Nighthawk]

Blech. We have twenty six minutes of lunch a day, and no recess. Gym is twice every eight day cycle. >_< So i'll fight for the young one's recess any day!

[william]

We have a... 7hr 20mind day, with a 35 min morning break, 55 min lunch break.

[Rider]

[glow=red,2,300]My school has 30 nimutes for lunch, and about an hour's worth of Biology to goof off in. ;D[/glow]

[Ikkin]

My school has a 7 hr, 10 min day with 22 minutes for lunch, including the time to get to the cafeteria. It's insanity, and the bad kind, too.

As for Elementary School, taking away recess time won't help. Especially if the students know the reason for the cut (maybe not 5 yr olds, but I'm sure some smart 5th graders would decide to slack off on purpose, and get everyone else into it...). I doubt it solves any problems, and, as Tdyans said, it's contributing to the other.

Give the kids their recess; they'll lose it all to soon anyway.

*Grumbles about 22 min lunches and the insane 6 period (out of 7) per day schedule*
*Wants recess back...*

[Deleted]

10 minutes? That's not enough. I know I definatly need a break from all the school for at least 15. They could be nice and make it 15 minutes. That's what we have in Middle school. XP

[theunorthodox]

Man, I don't even know how I used to survive in class without breaks to think and breath.

College is like: 1-2 hours of class, 2 hour break after that, another hour of class, and you're done for the day!!!!

Yea, only ten minutes of recess is rediculous. The attention span of a child is only so long. They get bored of schoolwork and want to go play. If too much is thrown at them, they're going to get sick of it and have behavioral problems. Pleh, I hate lazy school systems that don't feel like thinking of a solid solution to problems. (Maybe they should hire better teachers!)

[Deleted]

The said:

(Maybe they should hire better teachers!)

AHA! I think she found the source of the problem. LAZY ARSE TEACHERS! XD

[Retired Blub]

Erika- said:

10 minutes? That's not enough. I know I definatly need a break from all the school for at least 15. They could be nice and make it 15 minutes. That's what we have in Middle school. XP

You guys still have recess in middle school? 0_o

Anywho, what a stupid idea. Come on, we kids are even smarter then them .

And I have a 40 minute luncg break, and two-classes of Music during the week to just go crazy in. XD

[Gail]

I don't think cutting recess will make much of a difference... Younger childred TEND ot have short attention spans and breaks may be good... even for older people, It also stinks for me in highschool with no recess and just a 30 minute lunch... which I have to power walk to get a good space in line to have enoguh time to eat and chat Ah, oh well. Here's what I heard... out of 27 indurstial nations the United States is 20th in maths.... really low in 10th grade and now that bad in 4th... but better in college... I guess a recess and not class every day helps in some way