Like most people living on a planet called Earth, recess was my favorite part of elementary school, and where I grew up, that included 6th grade. The tire swing held especially risky delights, as I possessed an iron stomach back then, and loved daring my best friend to do that tippy-toe ballerina twirl thing from the inside. She’d try to make us dizzy enough to puke. Many a youngster succumbed, but not me. (Today, I wouldn’t last 30 seconds.)
I don’t remember much about 5th grade, though I did love Mr. Hilpert’s class. But one thing I recall with crystalline clarity is the day my friend Melissa and I were almost suspended for passing notes about how to coordinate a joint class sneak-out. The Mission: practice our gymnastics on the monkey bars.
Think of the energy, yes, but also the emotional release of recess! At last, you could talk to your friends at leisure, even (especially?) when that occurred in the midst of a kickball game. You could catch up on the gossip whilst playing jump rope, hop scotch, four square, tether ball.
Just ten states ban school personnel from taking away recess as a form of discipline. And less than 10 percent of states mandate any kind of recess for high school students.
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When I taught middle school, I thought even 13 & 14-year olds would benefit from some unstructured time outdoors. Then I taught high school, and felt exactly the same.
Research backs this gut instinct up. The human brain needs real breaks from sustained thinking.
And while the lack of recess in middle and high school is regrettable, the number of elementary schools that restrict or police recess is downright alarming.
As of now, only eight (!) states require recess during the school day. That means in the remaining and rather unfortunate 42 states, schools could choose to snatch that “luxury” away at any moment. Just ten states ban school personnel from taking away recess as a form of discipline. And less than 10 percent of states mandate any kind of recess for high school students.
Enter the Society of Health and Physical Educators America (SHAPE America). In partnership with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), SHAPE America has been advocating for greater protections for recess. Below are the answers to a few questions I asked Michelle Carter, the Senior Project Manager of SHAPE America and a former Health and Physical Education teacher, as well as information for interested parents and school communities who want to join SHAPE America’s efforts.
1. What successes are you seeing in getting schools to implement mandatory recess?
SHAPE America’s Strategies in Recess document was released last month (January 2017) and since then Arizona has passed legislation mandating daily recess for 50 minutes and Florida has passed legislation mandating daily recess for 20 minutes. The mandated recess is in addition to physical education. This is wonderful news, but just the beginning; we hope that many other states will follow their lead and mandate, at minimum, 20 minutes of daily recess in addition to PE. Here is a case study of a school in NC that implemented many of the strategies we recommend that has had tremendous success: http://portal.shapeamerica.org/uploads/pdfs/recess/Thomasville_CaseStudy.pdf.
2. Are there any suggestions you have to make recess for older students – middle and high school – active and enjoyable for all?
Allowing older students to choose how they participate in physical activity is important. There are many ways older students can enjoy physical activity, for example:
- Fitness clubs in school
- Technology related active gaming- X-Box Kinect, Wii, Dance Dance Revolution, Just Dance
- Open gym
- Open use of weight lifting or fitness facilities
- Open use of the track
- Building in a period of time where all students are active similar to a study hall or advisory period
- Physical activity clubs- ultimate Frisbee, walking, running
- Setting up areas for physical activity
- Lunchtime intramurals
- Exploratory programs
Recess can be implemented in middle and high school in similar ways as elementary school. I taught at a middle school that had recess in a similar fashion as elementary schools typically do. I think administrators and leaders should be open-minded about recess at the secondary level. Sitting for long periods of time is considered an unhealthy practice – in fact, it’s been called “the new smoking.” It is recommended that adolescents get up and take frequent breaks to move.
It is unreasonable to expect students to be sedentary for long periods of time. I think it is critical for older students to have time for physical activity in the school day outside of PE to instill the value of taking care of one’s health and making time to be active. As we get older, it gets harder to be physically active. One of the roles of physical education is to help students become physically literate, providing the tools and incentive to be physically active for life.
3. What are some typical roadblocks recess advocates can expect to encounter, and do you have any tips on dealing with those?
Recess advocates can be expected to hear that there isn’t enough time in the school day to fit more recess in. Advocates should share data on how physical activity improves academic success and make the connection that making time for more recess will actually improve academic performance as well as decrease behavior problems. It may seem risky to administrators, but the “risk” is well worth it in the long term. It should also be noted that recess should never be taken away from students as a form of punishment and physical activity should never be used a form of punishment either. We want children to have as many positive experiences as possible around being physically active.
4. What resources are available to parents if a particular school and/or district refuses to allow their child recess?
Parents and recess advocates can share our Strategies for Recess documents (created with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as well as visit SHAPE America’s State Advocacy Toolkit. The State Advocacy Toolkit provides advocates with data specific to their state related to physical activity and physical education. The Shape of the Nation report also provides state-specific information. Our Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)- which is the new replacement for No Child Left Behind – homepage provides a great deal of information about ESSA, downloadable infographics that can be shared, PowerPoint templates to use when making presentations and even more resources to assist with advocacy needs.
5. Are there state-based organizations parents can partner with to lobby legislators to institute a legal requirement for recess?
SHAPE America has state affiliates or associations that do advocacy work as well. Parents can contact their state association by looking on the State Advocacy Toolkit and selecting their state. When they select their state, they should find a link to the state association website.