Oh to be a kid again, I remember elementary school like it was yesterday. Playing tag, four-square, hop scotch and tackle football. What…..a girl playing tackle football! I know, I know that is a little unorthodox, but I was the best defensive end St. Francis Cabrini had that year, way back in 1982. Things have changed since then, some games are no longer allowed to be played because of injuries, like tag or tackle football, and other games are considered bullying, like dodge ball. These are just a few of the reasons school districts across the United States are starting to weigh in on the idea that maybe recess should be eliminated altogether.
According to The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 it was put into place to ensure all children receive the same education regardless of economic background, to hold teachers responsible for how and what they teach and to spotlight poor test scores in math and reading. The National Association of Early Childhood Specialist in State Departments of Education (NAECS/SDE) states that nearly forty percent of the nation’s 16,000 school districts have either modified, deleted or are considering deleting recess. These school districts are even modifying building plans to build schools without playgrounds. The supporters believe that in order to follow the No Child Left Behind Act the elimination of recess is necessary in order to squeeze in as much learning as possible, concentrating on those areas where we lack the most.
Experts believe recess is important for our children, it helps them to develop social skills, teaches them to share, helps to decrease inappropriate behavior both inside and outside the classroom, helps to build muscle strength, improves self-esteem and confidence. In...
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...oscientists researching creativity, “People vary in terms of their level of creative drive according to the activity the dopamine pathways of the limbic system.” The more dopamine released the more creative we are. Next is a distraction, Harvard researcher Carson states “In other words, a distraction may provide the break you need to disengage from a fixation on the ineffective solution.” Dopamine plus a distraction can cause a relaxed state of mine. “A relaxed state of mind which is absolutely important to be creative,” says John Lehrer.
The choice is a clear one. We can continue to live in a dog-eat-dog world that believes there is only one way to get ahead and that is to work, work and work some more. As history has shown us when we put the greed of one before the concern of others we are left with many people who have sacrificed happiness, limb and life.
Finally, it’s all fun and games. The kids don’t mean to hurt each other and if they did, it doesn’t hurt that much. Plus I personally looked forward to playing dodgeball in middle school because it looked like such a fun game that tested you reflexes and agility. Even though there are other games similar to dodgeball none of them have the same feeling as the original game. On top of that, if they think dodgeball is inappropriate don’t ban a whole group of games such as tag and gymnastics, just ban dodgeball.
With an increasing demand for higher standardized testing scores, schools are finding themselves in a tough position. The huge question being asked is how do we create more time for students to learn common core. The simple answer is, we don’t! Incorporating more time for recess is the key to success for students everywhere. Many researchers and educators alike agree that participating in recess increases students’ cognitive, academic, and social skills. The amount of time allotted for recess should be increased for students of all ages. A child’s well-being encompasses more than just academia. Children spend almost eight hours a day at school, sometimes more. The school system and
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001’s main purpose was to enhance the education system and hold schools accountable in its attempt to bring equality in the fight against poverty for poor and minority groups. Once this Act was signed into law the American public expected an overhaul of the education system with only good outcomes. The public assumed our children would be receiving the best education available and the economic issues that plagued schools would no longer be a problem. In the beginning of its implementation No Child Left Behind was expected to bring America up to standards with other nations, this was something that America has struggled to do for many years. Our children were now being put first according to Act and the public and many political figures were ecstatic over the possibilities.
Some people might say that middle schoolers shouldn’t have recess, but, middle schooler don’t always have gym, and they don’t get enough exercise, so recess would be beneficial to middle schoolers.
Children can burn off bottled up energy at recess that they have accumulated while sitting through their teacher’s lessons. Lahey mentions that “studies have found that students who enjoy the benefit of recess are more attentive once they return to class”. This is helpful because the child will be focused on what they are learning instead of fidgeting in their chair. Also, providing breaks to students while they are learning can result in longer attention spans. Recess is a break that recharges the brain and allows elementary students to control their desire to adventure. Young children are easily distracted, so recess regulates this by providing them with their own free time. Students become more self-contained after they return from recess due to their tiredness. This is useful in class because children will be less hyperactive. The absence of recess would not permit students to learn self-control
Sindelar, R. (2004). Recess: Is it needed in the 21st Century? Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting, Vol. 18, Issue 1, 1-6.
In the “The Crucial Role of Recess in School” (2012) article it explains, many schools are beginning to replace physical activity, like recess, with more attention to academic subjects. What these schools are forgetting is that well-supervised recess also has benefits that surpass academics. They help make a well rounded student because recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits to the student when they are young that they carry with them into adulthood.
In order to determine whether or not the No Child Left Behind Act is doing its job successfully and efficiently, one must first understand exactly what is involved in the act. This act is the most recent renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Similar to laws in the past, this particular act has been revised and added to numerous times to make sure it encompasses everything necessary for the education system and the students. The No Child Left B...
Recess has been one of the biggest debates of all time. Some wonder if their children are getting enough time on the playground, and others may think they are getting just enough. However, recess is crucial to a child’s development. Allowing for more time at recess in the schools is beneficial for the student’s well being. Students are more likely to have increased social skills, wellness, and focus. Not only is recess cognitively beneficial, but also physically beneficial. Exercise is healthy, and recess is the best time to go out and move around.
Children are taught many new concepts and ideas in a variety of different ways. It is every teachers dream to give each child a quality education. Children attending school deserves a quality education and should be inspired by a great teacher. With thousands of American schools labeled as “failing”, could the No Child Left Behind Act be a law that every school needs in order to be successful.
Schools all over the country are considering, if not already applying, the removal of recess for elementary school students. Receipts have been scientifically proven to play a substantial part in the social development of a child, their physical health, and the amount of attention they pay in the classroom. For example, the Tennessee Board of Education says, "It is the position of the NASPE that all elementary school children should be provided with at least one daily period of recess of at least 20 minutes in length" (National Association for Sports and Physical Education). Keeping recess in schools could help lower the childhood obesity rate, help children to be more attentive in class, and assist in the development of their much needed social skills. These aspects are essential to academic health and to your child succeeding academically.
Studies have shown that kids who didn't have recess, instead of being refreshed and ready to learn, were brain-drained, as they have lost out on the opportunity to regain the energy needed for focus. (Barros) Many people believe that recess was a waste of time and that it should be taken away in high school, but without it students become brain-drained and do not have focus towards school. This means that recess is not a waste of time, as it makes students have more energy towards school, but makes class a waste of time for teachers. Many students that I encounter before going to the last class of the day or any class say things like “My brain is done working for the day”, “I just need a break”, “ I just want to go play a game”, or “I am tired of sitting all day.” Rarely do students get to go outside and play a game or go for a walk during the day or class, but on the days that they do, after the time outside or playing a physically active game, the students were more focused throughout the
School systems need to stop focusing on communistic equality and start focusing on diversity and individuality. The No Child Left Behind program has many flaws. One of its biggest is the form of learning. In “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND” AFTER SIX YEARS: AN ESCALATING TRACK RECORD OF FAILURE, the team of Fairtest stated,
...n, B., (2012) Yay for Recess: Pediatricians Say It’s as Important as Math or Reading, Available at: http://healthland.time.com/2012/12/31/yay-for-recess-pediatricians-say-its-as-important-as-math-or-reading/, (accessed: 05/01/14)
Creativity can be caused by certain states of mind or situations. One state of mind that can promote creativity is happiness or a positive mood. As said by PBS, “Creativity is less likely to be present with negative emotions such as fear, anger, sadness and anxiety; it is positively associated with positive emotions such as joy, love, and curiosity” (Creativity). This shows that with a positive attitude you can promote creativity. Along with promoting creativity, this link can also make us interested in the world around us and create even more happiness. To create happiness, you must pursue what you 're interested in and have a passion in that subject. This is agreed-upon in a TED talk where the speaker said, “So I always say to people, forget it. Like, if you don 't have an obvious passion, forget about it. Follow your curiosity because passion is sort of a tower of flame that is not always accessible” (Where Does Creativity Come From?). So in summary if you pursue your passion you can create happiness which in turn can create