No Recess/Art/PE/Music/Naps in Schools

[BirthaBlue4]

What do you all think about these new changes in public education? In my area, the county superintendent has made many changes that, for lack of a better word, suck. There was an article in the Washington Post about him taking away naps for preschool, and supposedly, there will not be any recess starting next year. Add to this the cuts in music, art and PE, and he increase in crucial high stakes testing, what is a kid to do?

His rationale is based upon some new research that says that children are capable of learning more and sooner. But this ONE research should not negate the DECADES of other research that shows that these subjects/activities are EXTREMELY beneficial and necessary to a child's growth and learning. Especially for very young children, who learn through PLAY.

Are these changes placing too much pressure on these children? Do the ends justify the means? Should teacher salaries be increased since we'll now have more work to do in the classroom? Thoughts?

[Honeykiss1974]

Goodness as overweight as many of today's kids are they should be EXTENDING P.E. and recess time, not taking it away.

[Eclipse]

This is wrong in my opinion. I do think the school day should be extended though, so that things like music, PE, art, etc are included. How do we expect our children to be well rounded?

What is ironic however, is that I am a corporate trainer and the big trend in Adult learning is Accelerated Learning which uses experiential exercises (in other words, play) and music to help adults learn and retain information.

[LB1914]

It kills me that they took recess out of elementary schools and then have the nerve to wonder why the kids are bouncing off the walls in class. Hell, kids need to go out and play just to get rid of some of that energy. After recess, half of us would be too tired to even act up when we got back to class.

P.E. is a joke these days. They used to make us run the mile and do other stuff like the Presidential Physical Fitness Test and play sports. Now you go into the gym and most of the class is sitting in the bleachers not even dressed out.

You all are not lying about these overweight children. A lot of us weren't chubby growing up, mainly because we played at recess and lunch as well as after school. Now all kids do is sit around eating and playing video games. We played video games as well, but afterwards we would put the controller down and play some ball.

[Senusret I]

Them kids need to suck it up and hit the books!



lol j/k

[TRSimon]

What about the research that links higher achievement in math and science with music education? Not to mention the fact that kids need their exercise... That's sad.

[AlphaFrog]

I babysit for four children ages 3-9, so I watch hours and hours of kids programming (I can't believe how much TV these kids watch, but that's another drama you can read about in another thread of mine) and what makes up these kid's shows???

1)Music...just about every one of these shows is musical: The Wiggles, Dora the Explorer, Bear in the Big Blue House, Out of the Box

2) Movement...these shows ask kids to get up and move with them, not just sit there and watch

3)Art...many of them have project ideas for kids

And WHY? Because this is what's interesting to children, and they're still learning, just as much if not more, because they're actually paying attention.

I know as a kid there's no way I would have been able to sit in a classroom all day with math, spelling, history, etc... Plus, so many studies have shown that kids involved in the arts do better in school in general.

I'm a music major in college...where would I be today without music in the schools???

That's why this makes me very

[sigtau305]

Originally posted by LB1914
It kills me that they took recess out of elementary schools and then have the nerve to wonder why the kids are bouncing off the walls in class. Hell, kids need to go out and play just to get rid of some of that energy. After recess, half of us would be too tired to even act up when we got back to class.

P.E. is a joke these days. They used to make us run the mile and do other stuff like the Presidential Physical Fitness Test and play sports. Now you go into the gym and most of the class is sitting in the bleachers not even dressed out.

You all are not lying about these overweight children. A lot of us weren't chubby growing up, mainly because we played at recess and lunch as well as after school. Now all kids do is sit around eating and playing video games. We played video games as well, but afterwards we would put the controller down and play some ball.

Co-Sign

[jojapeach]

Soror BB4, yes, teachers deserve a heck of a raise if they are expected to teach even longer which requires more planning, more grading, less breaks, etc.

I taught 3rd grade for eleven days (no shame - it wasn't for me, and the situation was not conducive for a non-education major), and it killed me and the kids to not take them to recess for at least 30 minutes. They need breaks from all of the information that they're getting. Just like when we get study breaks. Besides, the children may lose some of their social skills if they don't have the opportunity to socialize with the dozens of other children they'll encounter over the years.

They also need exposure to more than just academics. Knowing different languages and spouting off your times tables at age 6 does not make a leader. Now, being "it" at Hide & Seek, playing dodgeball, and mastering the monkey bars....now that develops skills and leadership!

Oh yeah - co-sign with LB1914.

[DZTUBAGIRL]

I am sorry if I am intruding on your board but I was just wondering where in md/va/dc you live? I live near annapolis md and I haven't heard anything like this. The school system here is pretty bad but I havne't heard anything drastic like this. It would be a horrible thing to do to the kids. Thank for the info!

Anne Marie

[BirthaBlue4]

Originally posted by DZTUBAGIRL
I am sorry if I am intruding on your board but I was just wondering where in md/va/dc you live? I live near annapolis md and I haven't heard anything like this. The school system here is pretty bad but I havne't heard anything drastic like this. It would be a horrible thing to do to the kids. Thank for the info!

Anne Marie

I live in PG, and this (recess) is information I heard from a teacher. I'm still in school about to go into student teaching, so it especially made me mad. The superintendent here is whack, there's no other word for it. But I haven'theard all of the details of the recess part, but i do know that naps were taken. And all the rest has been seriously cut. I know out there in Anne Arundel, they've started this new program system-wide called Opencourt where each and every class all over the county is doing the same thing at the same time, and that things are so strict that its scripted. And if the kids don't get it, then its an "oh well" type situation; they have to keep going. I don't kow how that's working out, but it sounds bad. What's the point in us getting all this training and degrees, etc, if we just have to read a script?

I'm having ahard time deciding where to teach LOL

[GammaButterfly]

What, no more recess?

So I guess we will medicate their energy away with Ritalin, Straterra, or some other drug.

[aephi alum]

That's nuts.

Kids that young need a break in their day - they can't just sit there every day for six straight hours doing the three R's. Programs like art and music allow the kids to do something creative and fun (and still educational!), plus it breaks up their day. P.E. and recess give them a chance to run around and burn off some energy, and interact with their classmates and work on social skills too.

That Opencourt thing also sounds like a disaster. Forcing everyone to move in lock-step isn't the answer; the brighter kids will be bored silly, while some of the slower kids might get left behind.

[BirthaBlue4]

Originally posted by aephi alum
That's nuts.

That Opencourt thing also sounds like a disaster. Forcing everyone to move in lock-step isn't the answer; the brighter kids will be bored silly, while some of the slower kids might get left behind.

Pretty much. When I found that out, that knocked that county off my list. I mean, it has its benefits, like if you move, you won't be lost when you start at your new school, and teachers can't be lazy and not keep up with the curriculum, but in all it doesn't make sense.

[DZTUBAGIRL]

These are alll reasons why I have pretty much not considered Maryland for when I start teaching. My brother is in middle school right now and they have this 4 period day thing. It is aweful. He only gets to go to extra-curricular classes 1 times a week. When I was there we had many classes to choose from and were able to go to each 2 or 3 times a week. I am a major supporter of the arts being taught in the schools and the way things are going we won't have them in the schools at all. It makes me mad because some people excell in these things and they make it seem like it is not important. Oh well....enough b****ing. I hope you have luck finding a school district that you like. Good luck!