Rediscovering Recess

I know in school recess was savior for me. Even though I was often picked last (Played a lot of right field) my self esteem remained intact and my determination to be a better athlete grew. More importantly as someone who could not sit still in the classroom I know it calmed me down. I always did better in the subject immediately after recess. It was heartening to watch the PBS News Hour http://www.pbs.org/newshour/newshour_index.html Friday night July 24 feature on recess. It is amazing to me how narrow and backward in their thinking the decision makers in education have become. On this piece they even figured out that recess was a good place for conflict resolution – well da! Frankly what bothered me about this piece was that the play had to be initiated and led by adults. At least it is a start. In another piece on News Hour, Arne Duncan the Secretary of education actually mentioned art, theater and of all things physical education, what a step forward. We need more recess; we need mandatory physical education K through 12. Look around and you will see why. Teachers know this but they are judged not on what the kids learn but on how they perform on standardized tests. We are turning out a generation of dolts who can’t think, are slothful and unhealthy. The solutions are simple, but require administrators and teachers to get out of their comfort zone and push for the change that is needed. Recess and physical education will go a long way toward solving the health care crisis. Right now it is not health care it is disease care, lets teach good health habits when they can be taught, that would be an inexpensive positive start.