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| Yes | 93% | 187 votes | Total: 202 votes | |
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Not all important aspects of life are learned from books, computer programs, or video lessons. Quite the contrary. The largest portion of your attitudes and characteristics are formed by social observations and contact.
These learning processes continue throughout your life, and the best place for them to begin is in daycare programs or Pre-K where some children are socializing with other children for the first time. They start to hone skills at that time for their future. They are exposed to challenges in interaction that will contribute to the foundation of their self-esteem for years to come.
This socializing should be continued throughout their primary school years. During recess they learn to cope with problems they will later have to face as adults. Learning how to handle themselves in adverse situations such as being bullied, realizing they are not always the first chosen in team sports, being ignored or teased, or the painful frustrations of shyness. The lessons learned at recess may be harsh at first, but eventually the child will find solutions to the problems. That is, if he is given the chance to meet the problem head-on and develop his own methods of coping.
This is not to say that the bullies should be allowed to terrorize and victimize the other students. The teachers monitoring recess should be observant enough to know who the bullies are, and their actions should be reported to the principal. However, this should never be done in the presence of the victim in a way that would make the bully want to seek reprisal against said victim. Instead, the monitor should keep a close eye on the bully, letting him know that he is being observed, and thereby preventing the event from occurring in the first place.
Children need to learn at an early age that they have limitations. Accepting them will not be pleasant, but they will learn to cope with the fact. If they are the last person chosen for a team project, a teacher noting this can help by encouraging them to take part in other activities. Finding their special skill or talent elsewhere can overcome their disappointment of not being athletic.
The child who is ignored by his classmates can develop a very low self-esteem, even more so than the child who is teased. That feeling of not belonging can be very frustrating. If he is teased, at least he is being noticed.
Once again, the teacher on monitor duty can come to the rescue by suggesting a group activity back in the classroom that will include that child and a few other more self-assured children. Dividing the class into groups for an art project or a play might give that child a chance to introduce one of his talents to the rest of the class. Teachers monitoring the playground during recess have so many opportunities to help mold the future of their students outside the realm of the classroom's rigid schedule.
Children of primary school age are usually very energetic. Sitting in a classroom for several hours without an outlet for that energy can lead to a very unhappy child, a very nervous child, a very impatient child. They need to get outside the classroom and expend that energy in one form or another. This break in the class routine can be very beneficial to the student and the teacher as well. It gives them a chance to get a breath of fresh air, clear any frustrations from their mind, and give them a boost in their attention span.
Education by the book is just one part of a child's education. In order to expand their minds, they need to be able to interact, to observe, to participate in day-to-day experiences. They need to realize at an early age that they will never be proficient at everything and they will have limitations. They need to develop skills at handling disappointment and rejection. They need to learn that the world will not fall at their feet when they become adults, but that they will have to rely on their own ingenuity and determination to make it their own place in life. The playground during recess is a great place to start learning this facet of their of education.
Learn more about this author, Shirley Love.
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No
In school lingo, one can define recess roughly as a play break for pupils. This typically lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. In most cases, this period of play immediately follows lunch. It should also be noted that recess in most U.S. states applies only to children attending elementary school. Once a student reaches middle school, this "play break" ceases to exist.
Those who argue that recess is an important part of the learning process stress that children need a break from the monotony of the classroom, and I couldn't agree more. So why have I chosen the "No" side to this debate? Elementary school children; as well as those in higher grade levels, already get this break. It's called lunch! Moreover,here's something that perhaps few will take into consideration, but it's not a good idea to have children running around a playground following a meal. This greatly increases the chances for upset stomachs and cramping, which in turn could lead to diarrhea and/or vomiting. Case in point: There is a reason that swimming is discouraged after eating.
As mentioned, recess lasts 30 minutes to an hour. Children attend school approximately 180 days in a year. Even if you take the shorter recesses of a half hour per day into account, this equates to 90 hours a year. This is 90 unproductive hours that the school has to remain open. This increases overhead costs as well as payroll for teachers and other employees. While that doesn't sound like much, it nevertheless increases budgets and thus raises taxes. In the private sector, it also contributes to increased tuition costs. When you stop to think about it, having recess in school could be compared to employers being required to either add 2.25 weeks to everyone's paid time off, having paid lunch breaks, or doubling the length of those breaks!
While it's true that even the majority of inmates incarcerated in correctional institutions get recreational breaks, there is a difference, for they are imprisoned behind bars and electric fences 24/7 for however long their sentence may be. Contrary to what many kids may believe, school is a far cry from prison!
Finally, children have plenty of time to play after school hours; especially at the elementary level. The school day typically ends around 2:30 or 3:00 PM, which leaves many hours to spend having fun. Teachers at this level typically don't assign very much homework; if any at all. To conclude, there are those who believe this nation's education falls short of our counterparts overseas. Eliminating recess would result in greater productivity and would be a far better alternative to lengthening the school year.
Recess and learning? They are two different things altogether.
Learn more about this author, Patrick Sills.
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