Comments on: Let’s fight for recess http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/ Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:24:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: brandy symons http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/#comment-31520 brandy symons Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:08:50 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=820#comment-31520 My name is Brandy Symons. I am fighting for recess in Lubbock Independent School District. i am really trying to rally parents for this issue. i have done news, radio, and newspaper interviews so you may have heard of me. i am heading up a letter writting campaign right now. i need parents like all of you and your friends. please email me at bringbackrecess.lisd@hotmail.com i will promptly respond with all of the information of where to send the letter and a template. brandy symons My name is Brandy Symons. I am fighting for recess in Lubbock Independent School District. i am really trying to rally parents for this issue. i have done news, radio, and newspaper interviews so you may have heard of me. i am heading up a letter writting campaign right now. i need parents like all of you and your friends. please email me at

bringbackrecess.lisd@hotmail.com

i will promptly respond with all of the information of where to send the letter and a template.

brandy symons

]]> By: Moving at the Speed of Creativity » 2006 » August » 30 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/#comment-12567 Moving at the Speed of Creativity » 2006 » August » 30 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 02:55:37 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=820#comment-12567 [...] Like Milton, my wife read the book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv, the same book that inspired him to write this new article. I have written on this topic myself several times, including the post “Let’s Fight for Recess.” I am putting this post in my “Luddite” blog category, because thoughts along these lines can be perceived as anti-technology. I don’t view this line of thinking as anti-technology per se, but more BALANCED in the approaches we take toward education, child development, and life in general. Milton seems to share this view. He writes: Fortunately, there are many organizations, including science centers and museums, zoos and aquaria, local, state, and national parks, environmental-education groups, and 4-H clubs, whose mission is to help children understand the world around them. Although Richard Louv doesn’t address it, the media and technology he blames for contributing to nature-deficit disorder can also be tools for learning about nature. Science and environmental educators have long promoted the use of student versions of the same tools scientists employ, such as temperature probes connected to laptops, global-positioning and geographic-information systems to track species, digital cameras and microscopes, and statistical software to analyze data. [...] [...] Like Milton, my wife read the book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv, the same book that inspired him to write this new article. I have written on this topic myself several times, including the post “Let’s Fight for Recess.” I am putting this post in my “Luddite” blog category, because thoughts along these lines can be perceived as anti-technology. I don’t view this line of thinking as anti-technology per se, but more BALANCED in the approaches we take toward education, child development, and life in general. Milton seems to share this view. He writes: Fortunately, there are many organizations, including science centers and museums, zoos and aquaria, local, state, and national parks, environmental-education groups, and 4-H clubs, whose mission is to help children understand the world around them. Although Richard Louv doesn’t address it, the media and technology he blames for contributing to nature-deficit disorder can also be tools for learning about nature. Science and environmental educators have long promoted the use of student versions of the same tools scientists employ, such as temperature probes connected to laptops, global-positioning and geographic-information systems to track species, digital cameras and microscopes, and statistical software to analyze data. [...]

]]> By: James Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/#comment-619 James Fryer Sat, 18 Mar 2006 01:21:45 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=820#comment-619 I am with you and all the commentators so far, recess is a great part of education. Developing minds (I like to think I am still in that category at 35) need varied stimuli to create new and dynamic connections in the brain. Pouring disconnected facts into children hour after hour in the confines of concrete boxes will not generate clever, insightful adults, but rather mindless automatons. I am with you and all the commentators so far, recess is a great part of education. Developing minds (I like to think I am still in that category at 35) need varied stimuli to create new and dynamic connections in the brain. Pouring disconnected facts into children hour after hour in the confines of concrete boxes will not generate clever, insightful adults, but rather mindless automatons.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/#comment-614 Kevin Fri, 17 Mar 2006 01:57:04 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=820#comment-614 I absolutely agree! Recess was a high point in my day during most of my education as well. Recess allows kids to get outdoors, burn off some energy, let their minds relax and it gives them a chance to work on important interpersonal skills that they will need to succeed in life. Not everything can be taught in a classroom and neither can it all be taught by the teacher. Some things, working out disagreements on the playground, for example, need to be learned through trial and error. Recess gives them the opportunity to do that. And, if the response isn't positive, an adult nearby who can intervene and provide the necessary guidance. Even in high school, though we didn't call it recess, we had an extended lunch period that allowed us to get out and refocus, visit with friends, develop social connecdtions and "blow off steam". Today, the kids in my school aren't even allowed outside during their 25 minute lunch period! I believe that it is imperative that kids get sunshine and fresh air and be allowed a little bit of "down" time during the day to recharge their batteries. And, I'm convinced that allowing it would minimize behavior problems in the classroom. Kids get restless and that leads to misbehavior. The problem, it seems, is that administrators are afraid to let kids -- especially teens -- roam free. They fear gang trouble, fights, and "lovebirds" getting into more than is permissible on a school campus. Those concerns are not without merit but are as managable today as they were 30 years ago when I was in school. But, it requires effort and involvement by teachers and principals who find it easier to avoid the problem than to manage it appropriately. I absolutely agree! Recess was a high point in my day during most of my education as well.

Recess allows kids to get outdoors, burn off some energy, let their minds relax and it gives them a chance to work on important interpersonal skills that they will need to succeed in life. Not everything can be taught in a classroom and neither can it all be taught by the teacher. Some things, working out disagreements on the playground, for example, need to be learned through trial and error. Recess gives them the opportunity to do that. And, if the response isn’t positive, an adult nearby who can intervene and provide the necessary guidance.

Even in high school, though we didn’t call it recess, we had an extended lunch period that allowed us to get out and refocus, visit with friends, develop social connecdtions and “blow off steam”. Today, the kids in my school aren’t even allowed outside during their 25 minute lunch period! I believe that it is imperative that kids get sunshine and fresh air and be allowed a little bit of “down” time during the day to recharge their batteries. And, I’m convinced that allowing it would minimize behavior problems in the classroom. Kids get restless and that leads to misbehavior.

The problem, it seems, is that administrators are afraid to let kids — especially teens — roam free. They fear gang trouble, fights, and “lovebirds” getting into more than is permissible on a school campus. Those concerns are not without merit but are as managable today as they were 30 years ago when I was in school. But, it requires effort and involvement by teachers and principals who find it easier to avoid the problem than to manage it appropriately.

]]> By: Clarence Fisher http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/#comment-613 Clarence Fisher Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:43:02 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=820#comment-613 I'm shocked. Probably the naive, small town Canadian in me. Living in a small town, I still "kick" my own kids outside and tell them to get some fresh air and go play in the yard, ride their bikes on the street (yes, on the street, about 5 cars an hour doesn't really constitute traffic!) I'm even quite surprised by Dean's comment above. I haven't heard of schools cancelling recess before. Don't adult need a break? So why wouldn't kids need one even more? Especially the kids that are trouble in the classroom, they absolutely need to get out and burn off some steam. Do we really think we are gaining 10 -15 minutes of "productivity" from kids by cancelling their brain down - time? We probably lose more then that by taking it away. I’m shocked. Probably the naive, small town Canadian in me. Living in a small town, I still “kick” my own kids outside and tell them to get some fresh air and go play in the yard, ride their bikes on the street (yes, on the street, about 5 cars an hour doesn’t really constitute traffic!)

I’m even quite surprised by Dean’s comment above. I haven’t heard of schools cancelling recess before. Don’t adult need a break? So why wouldn’t kids need one even more? Especially the kids that are trouble in the classroom, they absolutely need to get out and burn off some steam. Do we really think we are gaining 10 -15 minutes of “productivity” from kids by cancelling their brain down - time? We probably lose more then that by taking it away.

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/15/lets-fight-for-recess/#comment-612 Dean Shareski Thu, 16 Mar 2006 08:59:34 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=820#comment-612 I'm with you all the way on this but would add to your list of why schools have eliminated recess. We have had schools in Canada that have eliminated recess because of supervision and behaviour concerns. Principals say they spend too much time dealing with issues that occur during recess. This is certainly true and in some cases schools have tried to intervene and built more structure into recess. This would seem to contradict your premise about freedom and play. It seems sad we have to teach kids how to play but partly as a result of our structured society, kids have lots that ability. Getting it back is difficult. The days when mom could tell us to, "go in the yard and play" doesn't seem to be working anymore. You raise some interesting questions. I’m with you all the way on this but would add to your list of why schools have eliminated recess. We have had schools in Canada that have eliminated recess because of supervision and behaviour concerns. Principals say they spend too much time dealing with issues that occur during recess.

This is certainly true and in some cases schools have tried to intervene and built more structure into recess. This would seem to contradict your premise about freedom and play. It seems sad we have to teach kids how to play but partly as a result of our structured society, kids have lots that ability. Getting it back is difficult. The days when mom could tell us to, “go in the yard and play” doesn’t seem to be working anymore.

You raise some interesting questions.

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