It used to be that elementary school recess was as routine as lunch. Of course, time was provided every day. Kids need exercise. Anyone not know that?
Well, whatever we knew has been long forgotten when it comes to daily recess. In some school districts, such as Pinellas, students get it twice weekly. In some districts, such as Pasco, it’s left up to individual schools whether to squeeze it in or not. Hillsborough allows 150 minutes per week of physical exercise. Unstructured playtime, as it turns out, can get in the way of other educational priorities, including overtesting and all its subplots.
But there is hope. A proposal (SB 78/HB 67) for mandatory recess is back in the legislature for the second consecutive year. Last year’s version came close. Here’s hoping this time another small-government legislator doesn’t get caught up in comparing this to some other top-down mandates that were ultimately neither student-nor-teacher-friendly.
This is about time reserved for kids to be kids. Enough of the uber-organized, a trophy-for-everybody team experiences. Enough of helicoptering parents. And enough of the computerized down time that robs children of kid time. Recess has never been more necessary.