You may recall efforts by parents across the state of Florida to have recess mandated for all elementary school students. The measure passed nearly unanimously in the Florida House of Representatives. But one Senator blocked it, refusing to allow it to be heard in the Senate. He was the Chair of the Education Committee, and had the power to kill the bill. And it died.
Parents are already focused on the next legislative session and expect success this time around. The Senator who blocked the bill will not be in the legislature. And legislators from across the state are lining up to support the bill. Now that they have had the opportunity to return to their districts and hear directly from parents, they realize what a serious problem this is and are pledging to help do something about it, as school districts refuse to lead on this issue.
That does not help the children in Duval County now. Any new legislation that passed would not be effective until the 2017-2018 school year. So parents are coming together to focus locally on securing recess for elementary school students here in Jacksonville.
Daily recess is a necessary break from the rigor and curriculum of the classroom. Students learn leadership skills, social skills, use their imaginations, explore their interests, and when a recess period has taken place, research shows they return to the classroom better able to focus on the task at hand. Brain imaging has recently been able to show that when children are given a break to have unstructured free play, they return to the classroom better able to focus on instruction.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and countless early childhood development specialists recognize this. It is maddening it has even become an issue that requires attention. States across the country are making more time for recess – and reaping the benefits – while here in Duval many students receive none.
Our children need unstructured play time during the 6.5-hour school day. And to be clear, recess and Physical Education are different, not interchangeable. Each provides unique benefits, and both are an integral part of our children’s education. The differences between recess and physical education are well-researched and well-settled.
Physical education is a class, led by an educated, trained, and certified teacher. It includes an instruction component and a requirement that children follow directions, pay attention, learn concepts and put those concepts into practice via action, the success or failure of which is often measured via an end-of-course exam. There are Florida Standards attached to the Physical Education curriculum and children are expected to show learning gains.
Physical education is NOT a break from the school day. And kids can’t be expected to sit at a desk and work all day long. They need unstructured free-play time separate and apart from P.E. It’s crucial at this age to preserve a child’s attention and focus and encourage that love of learning that is so incredibly important in elementary school.
No more! Our children deserve recess. And parents should expect the school district to provide it. This will help our children with the important task of learning the skills valued by our school system as well as contribute to cognitive development (especially the ability to self-regulate — which fosters learning in a classroom) and social and emotional development (also long been known by developmental psychologists to contribute in vital ways to academic success). Children make great advances in all of these areas of development during middle childhood, precisely the years they are in elementary school and facing increasing academic and social demands.
I have written Superintendent Vitti and the School Board an Open Letter. I have pointed out the flaws in their argument as they attempt to make us just go away. I have started a Facebook group and launched a Change.org petition.
Ask your children if they have daily recess. Many parents have shared that they had NO IDEA about the lack of age appropriate breaks in the day at their schools. We want our kids to have a little time to BE kids during the day. And even if your children are getting recess, you can still help–because so many aren’t. We all need to come together to ensure every elementary student receives recess. Join our mission!
Recess. In every school. In every classroom. For every elementary student. Every day.
About the Author
Elizabeth grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She moved to Jacksonville in 2012 after visiting during winter and falling in love with the climate, people and laid-back atmosphere. She never plans to leave! She lives in Mandarin with her Jacksonville native husband, their daughter, three cats, a dog, a purple fish and a fire-bellied toad. Elizabeth enjoys working from home as a freelance writer and family photographer. She has written for “The Huffington Post,” “What To Expect” and been featured on top parenting sites across the web. Her photography appears in the National Geographic book, “Getting Your Shot: Stunning Photos, How-To Tips and Endless Inspiration From The Pros.” Efloraross.com
