Parents back bill to require recess in Texas elementary schools

[babylonsister]

Bravo! :applause:

Parents back bill to require recess in Texas elementary schools

12:00 AM CDT on Friday, April 3, 2009

By BRAD WATSON WFAA-TV


A group of parents in Texas is pushing state lawmakers to give children a break by making recess mandatory in public schools.

These parents say the state should require public schools to give elementary students recess, where there's more at work than child's play.

Studies show that unstructured free play during recess – as opposed to structured PE class – allows children to use their imaginations and grow socially as well as physically.

So when Richardson ISD parent Rita McCrary learned two years ago that her third-grade daughter got 10 minutes of recess, she took action.

"In my mind it was important just because everybody needs a break," McCrary said. "We're all human. We're not making widgets in the school. We are teaching children."

more...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/DN-recessbill_03met.ART.State.Edition1.4ad25b6.html

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. In my day we had 20 minutes recess in the moring and the afternoon

the day was 9am til 4pm

children need breaks instead of sitting there hour after hour

[Catch22Dem]

2. When did recess go away?

Glad they did this though. Fortunately my kid had recess throughout elem. school. I'm pretty sure the schools around here still have it.

[ChazII]

3. For my school district it was a combination of some

parents filing lawsuits over injuries playing tag, soccer, etc.. and pressure to improve test scores.

[rpannier]

4. I read that Clark County in NV was dicussing eliminating recess because of

NCLB and the test scores

[rpannier]

5. I'm grateful I live in a country where the kids get a break after every class

In Elem school class is 40 minutes long followed by a ten minute break
Mid School 45:10
High School 50:10