Bill 159 has been filed into the Texas House mandating elementary schools to have at least 20 minutes of recess daily in addition to 135 minutes of P.E time weekly. Parents and others are debating whether this bill should be passed. Some are saying reducing recess time gives educators more time to teach the children and increase test scores. Others are arguing that children need a break just like an athlete needs a break from practice, too much practice can result in injuries.
Recess should be mandated in elementary public schools for it helps develop social, cognitive and emotional coordinations. Recess is a great way for kids to take a break from their everyday studies and use their imagination. It also gives them the opportunity to blow off steam, run around and stay active throughout the school day. If they stay in a classroom learning the same subject twice as long, their going to get bored and agitated. Recess is a great way for them to burn off energy and stay physical. One child quoted “Well, when we don't have recess, I feel like screaming. When we do have recess, I do scream.” One mother debated that recess and taking a break helps children become more ready to learn and process information more effectively giving them the advantage to learn more.
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Re: Mandating recess in Texas public schools
ReplyDeleteBecause the topic is simple, there isn't much to dissect. This argument was concise and well done. Danielle's argument for mandating recess in Texas public schools is simple yet logical. I'd have to say I agree completely. Requiring schools to include at least twenty minutes of recreation into the school day should not be questioned. Like Danielle said, recess is an important component to a child's development of social skills; if children are confined indoors, always in the, this would greatly decrease opportunities for social interaction with fellow classmates. Yes, even if recess were eliminated from the school day, young students would still be able to interact with classmates.... but recess allows a merge of all students from other classes, allowing children to explore larger groups of peers. Children bore easily, recess is an alleviation of their boredom, a chance to release the energy gathered from sitting down all day.
Danielle makes a fine argument on why public schools should allow for a mandatory 20 minute recess period. She relates children's needs to those of adults by saying that even adults need breaks too. I like how she throws in a quote from a child's perspective about the issue. Danielle pretty much hits on every important reason why recess should be mandatory. Anyone against Bill 159 must not remember what it was like to be a child, or is some kind of adult robot that needs no breaks ever!. Being active is an import part of a child's development. Physical activity is required to stimulate a child's mind and help build social bonds with other classmates. Also 20 minutes is not that time really. What can you teach a kid in 20 minutes if they are bored out of their minds and under stimulated? Bill 159 is a no-brainer and should be passed.
ReplyDeletewhat about the kids that have problems like ADD who have a harder time completing their work during the allotted time? I have been fighting my boys school over this for some time now. Both of my boys are very well behaved and get E's in conduct. My oldest boy even makes nearly straight A's. The problem though is that he has a very hard time staying focused for long periods of time. Because of this he is forces to not only miss recess time, but PE, Music and even his full lunch time.
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