Have the schools in your area eliminated recess?

[pstokely]

they did in the Atlanta public schools over five years ago, they built new schools without playgrounds

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. I never had recess.

Catholic school in Chicago.

[Spangle]

2. And they wonder why kids are fatter

Here in Florida, the kids have 1 recess. Don't always get it.

[pstokely]

4. how long is it?

we had two 15 minute periods of recess each day, that was 10 years ago

[mopinko]

3. it's rare for my kids

although they have nice grounds, they are in a huge school. so it is only occasionally.
but my older daughter, now 29, was in a magnet school. the bus ride made for a short day, and they had virtually no recess or free time. 20 min lunch, that's it.

[HockeyMom]

5. Yes

I am a TA on Long Island and also work in the before and after school programs. Yes, they get recess unless it is under 32 degrees, raining, or snow on the ground. Under those conditions, they have recess in the classrooms to do quiet play.

[Mirwib]

6. No, my kids don't get recess every day

Not only do my kids not get recess everyday, when they do get recess it is often "structured". The kids do not get enough "down time" in schools.

[grilled onions]

7. Is it a cost factor?

As I remember school back in the fifties we had recess. In the city(Chicago) boys played on one side and girls on the other. In a smaller town the teachers had to bare the elements and sort of watch over the kids. It wasn't structured play but everyone knew not to overstep the line. In bad weather we had "quiet" games inside. For some recess was the best "class" of the day! Sad to think so many do not get to enjoy it now.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. I feel sorry for kids today

We had a lot of fun walking to school in groups, were allowed to celebrate Halloween, and had two fifteen-minute recess periods each schoolday. We were not over-scheduled, and after school, we mostly played. Despite that, I think we were better educated than the kids now.

This was brought home to me when I was tutoring in a program for street kids and saw what high school textbooks and Scholastic Magazine look like now, as opposed to what they looked like in the 1960s. The print is larger, the concepts are simpler, and the study questions require more regurgitation of facts and less thought and analysis.