Dr. Anthony Pelligrini is a notable scholar of recess and the education system. According to him, recess is disappearing because school administrators are more concerned with increasing instructional time and claim that recess promotes bullying and aggressive behaviors.
The argument that recess is not as developmentally important as instructional time is not well founded. We know from extensive research, that children who are asked to perform a school task are significantly more attentive after recess than when they are deprived of a break. (See our previous posts, A breath of fresh air and More than just a walk in the park)
Moreover, the argument that recess promotes negative interactions between children is also not supported. In a cross-cultural study, conducted by Pelligrini, they found that less than 2% of behaviors observed on playgrounds are physically or verbally aggressive. Additionally, with adequate adult supervision, this rate becomes even lower. We also know that children who are bullied are also bullied at lunch, on buses, in bathrooms, just about anywhere where children are not well monitored by adults. In actuality, lack of adult supervision may more likely be the culprit in creating opportunities for children to be aggressive.
How much time does your school district allot for recess or free play periods? Are your children monitored well during recess? What do you think of this argument? Do you think children are bullied more on the playground than any other setting at school?
May 26th, 2010 at 9:49 am
I teach Kindergarten. My school allows for only 20 minutes of recess and no nap time. Neither of these practices are appropriate for the students. Administration sights No Child Left Behind demands on Time on Task issues for this policy. My students have never learned a single thing after 1:00 pm. They are 5, there is only so much a tired mind indoors can really grasp. Anything they learn to do at 2:00, I know I will have to reteach tomorrow because it won’t stick.
further, I have more disciplinary problems on days when the students do not go outside than on days they do. If you are a parent, organize and DEMAND at least 40 minutes of recess every day- you child and your child’s teacher will appreciate you- and your child will learn more.
Give the kids more recess, a rest time and a more dependable schedule- and I promise you, they will learn MORE in less time with less effort at a lower cost with fewer disciplinary problems.
June 17th, 2010 at 11:26 am
I completely agree with you. My school district doesn’t even know what recess is. They say the teacher can take the students outside for 10 minutes if they want to. That’s not recess! The teachers end up having behavior problems all day, every day because the students act up and argue and fight with each other. They never get a chance to learn how to solve their own problems within their peer group and they are not allowed to during class time (of course) so the teachers are frustrated and the kids don’t learn to read and etc. etc. All they need to pass their tests is recess and a rest time for the younger students.