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Home : 2004 : December : 1

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By Stacia

I think as educators, we have to be very careful when we make that kind of a statement - if it works, do it. There are alot of awful things that will work - but I don't think that's an excuse to do something. We need to
choose carefully what works based on knowledge of child development, looking at what we want to see in the future, and what we know about that kid today. As far as the 'real world' stuff debate, I want to treat my students as I would like the real world to be. A respectful place where they are valued, loved, guided, and where there are clear expectations, a powerful community, and consistent

responses from adults.

I think that if the majority of children were not obses, if they were eating healthy food, if they got exercise after school, if they had other social time to interact during the day, if they ate family meals together then taking recess away would not be a big deal. However, unfortunately, there is no other time to interact, to organize child initiated game, to work on social and play skills, to engage in language mediated play, and to engage in physical outlets. That's what I see as the problem. If these things were addressed throughout the day, then I don't think I'd care much whether or not you took a child's recess away.