The Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) feels school recess is not just playtime--it is a golden opportunity to boost children's fitness and social development. The board approved a recess policy at its board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, that states elementary students will get a recess every day in addition to a recess lunch period.
“I clearly support best practices in reading and math, but do not believe that narrowing the focus and eliminating other education activities is the best way to engage children. Broader engagement of students in areas such as arts, music, physical activities and career and technical education is essential, and they are directly beneficial to efforts to improve student performance,” said Superintendent Art Jarvis, Ed.D.
Jarvis believes that the recess issue is part of the question of how to best help students achieve higher standards. The concept of a daily recess in addition to the lunch recess is important. He said the actual scheduling should be left to the building administrators and teachers, and clear expectations can be established such that the intent to have recess is not in question.
School Board Director Kim Golding supports the recess policy. "The recess policy clearly sets an expectation that elementary students will be given breaks and playtime that they need and deserve. Knowing this will positively impact the well being of our students, you can only feel good about a policy like this,” said Golding. I fully expect it to enhance student learning.”
The district policy reflects the view that a break from the daily routine contributes to alertness in people of all ages, particularly young children. District Policy No. 2146 states:
Providing respite is highly compatible with brain research and attention span in children. Analysis of research findings also consistently concludes that physical activity supports learning.
School recess activities also develop social skills and social interactions of children. The most obvious characteristic of recess is that it constitutes a break from the day's routine. For people of all ages and in all fields, breaks are considered essential for satisfaction and alertness. Clearly, breaks are helpful, both for attention and for classroom management, whether or not the breaks are in the form of recess.
The Center on Education Policy, which has been tracking the effect of No Child Left Behind on various aspects of schooling, reported in 2007 that 44 percent of school districts had increased time for English/language arts and math in elementary schools and 20 percent decreased time for recess. Those schools cut recess by an average of 144 minutes a week or 29 minutes a day.
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