Because Muscogee county schools have a recess twice a week policy, I will be posting various articles that discuss the lack of recess in elementary schools and it's affect on children and education. Here's the first one from FamilyEducation.com.
Banning School Recess - FamilyEducation.com
In the article it refers to a study done by Olga S. Jarret. Here is a link to that study:
http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-2/recess.html
At the end of the study by Olga Jarret, she cites various references and studies done that are extremely helpful in this discussion.
DANGERS OF THE MUSCOGEE COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTE TO A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND FUTURE DEPENDANCE ON OTHERS
*No choosing where you sit at lunch
*No speaking during lunch
*Teachers taking food from children whom they think “have too much”
*No choosing what books you can read-must choose from a specific list
*No choosing where you play on the playground
*No free time-only designated places or activities
THE FOLLOWING TEACHES CHILDREN TO ONLY PERFORM FOR REWARDS:
*Threatening children with “losing a point” if they misbehave
*Bribing children with “good behavior parties”
*Bribing children with treats
THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTE TO FATIGUE AND LACK OF ATTENTIVENESS IN CLASS:
*No recesses except for twice a week
*Only playing in designated areas of the playground
-usually just the field or “walking the fence”
*Showing movies instead of letting them play outside
*No free time given when weather prohibits outside play
THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTE TO A PHYSICALLY UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT:
*No bathroom breaks except once or twice a day-this can cause UTI’s and bladder dysfunction. It also teaches the children that they cannot even think for themselves about normal bodily functions.
*Rewards for children who come to school sick by throwing “100% attendance parties”
*Punishment for children who stay home for being sick if they don’t have a Dr’s note even when they just have a cold, but are unable to perform in school.
* Very little if any exercise because of recess only twice a week
THE FOLLOWING SHOW IMPROPER RESPECT TO PARENTS
*No prior notification to parents about field trips-children can be taken on field trips at any time without notice to parents
*The showing of PG movies in class for free time without prior Parental consent
*Children being allowed to “search” the internet in computer classes-thus opening up the possibilities to find inappropriate content.. (The schools may have filters on them, but many computers in children’s homes do not, and many parents may not want their children “searching” the internet this young)
*No choosing where you sit at lunch
*No speaking during lunch
*Teachers taking food from children whom they think “have too much”
*No choosing what books you can read-must choose from a specific list
*No choosing where you play on the playground
*No free time-only designated places or activities
THE FOLLOWING TEACHES CHILDREN TO ONLY PERFORM FOR REWARDS:
*Threatening children with “losing a point” if they misbehave
*Bribing children with “good behavior parties”
*Bribing children with treats
THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTE TO FATIGUE AND LACK OF ATTENTIVENESS IN CLASS:
*No recesses except for twice a week
*Only playing in designated areas of the playground
-usually just the field or “walking the fence”
*Showing movies instead of letting them play outside
*No free time given when weather prohibits outside play
THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTE TO A PHYSICALLY UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT:
*No bathroom breaks except once or twice a day-this can cause UTI’s and bladder dysfunction. It also teaches the children that they cannot even think for themselves about normal bodily functions.
*Rewards for children who come to school sick by throwing “100% attendance parties”
*Punishment for children who stay home for being sick if they don’t have a Dr’s note even when they just have a cold, but are unable to perform in school.
* Very little if any exercise because of recess only twice a week
THE FOLLOWING SHOW IMPROPER RESPECT TO PARENTS
*No prior notification to parents about field trips-children can be taken on field trips at any time without notice to parents
*The showing of PG movies in class for free time without prior Parental consent
*Children being allowed to “search” the internet in computer classes-thus opening up the possibilities to find inappropriate content.. (The schools may have filters on them, but many computers in children’s homes do not, and many parents may not want their children “searching” the internet this young)
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