14 September 2007

Struggling Ohio Schools Removing Recess

I have heard grumblings about how short recess is at my son's school, and now I see an article about the same issue throughout Ohio. Schools feel they need every minute of the school day to try to improve student scores.


MANSFIELD -- Newman Elementary School secretary Janice Henson said about 20 parents have withdrawn their children from the Central Avenue school since opening day Aug. 28.
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"On the first day of school, my son came home and said, 'Mom, we don't get any recess here,' " Osborne said. "When I asked why, Ryan said, 'The principal said we are too far behind.' "
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Osborne said the lack of recess was the only reason she withdrew her son. The News Journal talked to the parents of three other children who were withdrawn because of the recess issue.
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"In the rudest voice, Mrs. Hinson said, 'I got an e-mail this afternoon that said you wanted a response on recess. We are academically behind. Now what would you rather do -- be academically behind or have recess?' " Osborne said. "I asked her if she realized the kind of poor behaviors she was going to cause and she said, 'Well, we'll deal with that when it arises because I have zero tolerance for behavior issues.' "

Osborne said Hinson told her children at recess also must be allotted time for a drink and a bathroom break, taking away even more classroom time. According to Osborne, Hinson said time is better spent on instruction for a school in academic watch.
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"The principal came over the loudspeaker and said there will be no more recess forever," said James, 7.
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"She said until test scores improve, there would be no recess at Newman school."
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9 comments:

Ryan said...

Yep! And if you combine shorter recess with fewer kids walking or riding their bike to school what do you get? Fat kids!

Anonymous said...

What a very sad time it is in America when school leaders cancel recess for elementary school children for reasons other than poor weather conditions. If this is the kind of measures No Child Left Behind brings us I say the US Department of Education can stick NCLB where the sun don't shine.

I shiver just thinking how cold-hearted decisions like banning recess shape and mold our future citizens. What has happened to common sense lately?

Kevin LeMaster said...

What a terrible idea! Recess is crucial not only for health reasons, but also for socialization.

CityKin said...

The problem is the Principal knows she will loose her job if the scores stay low. Even at our highly rated public school they have cut it short so as to not lose teaching hours.

Bad idea though.

Someone said...

It will continue to get worse, until we get off this trip of "accountability" and "test scores."

Get rid of the tests. There is no other solution.

How did we make it all those years without government tests, anyway?

hellogerard said...

Recess is very important and should not be cut, but schools in underperforming areas do need more instructional time. Schools really need to consider longer days and/or year-round schooling. Then again, that requires more from teachers and/or more teachers.

During all these years without government tests, children were advanced without being ready. Or they were just forgotten about completely. NCLB aims to correct that, for better or worse.

Anonymous said...

Schools exist to educate youth and foster their development into society. Stop punishing the children by taking away their recess! Seems to me the principal of a school that bans recess so that she/he can retain their job needs to be let go, not retained. Banning recess is a prime example of flawed vision and failed educational leadership.

Where you find a troubled school, you will probably find a troubled community. Troubled schools are an easy target to attack, when the hard work is really getting a community to address its shortcomings.

CityKin said...

I think I support the testing. We haven't had much of it yet at our kids young age, but it did help us decide which school to attend.

Anonymous said...

children theses days need all the recess and physical activity they can get. it is very important for them to stay active especially the fact that they can get distracted and loose focus. they also need it for health isuues. children are rapidly gaing weight and come into the obesity lifestlye . staying in a classroom most of the day does not help them with their excersize to help make sure they dont get fat but to keep them active and have their intrest on key. i believe its a bad idea to take recess out. they need it as much as nap time is required.