Recess (It’s not just for Congressmen.)

“I am so happy!” my son declared recently as he got off the school bus. What made him so happy that day? In a word:  recess. His class had gone outside to play.

So much is working against recess these days – with one major factor being the high stakes testing that came with No Child Left Behind. Feeling the pressure to raise test scores, schools everywhere have opted to eliminate recess. Even younger grades feel the pressure – with less and less time for unstructured play. When high-stakes tests are administered to older elementary students, the K-2 children are often held indoors so as not to distract the students taking the tests. In Massachusetts some communities have offered  a test prep Boot Camp for elementary students during the week of February vacation. I once heard a local politician announce to a group of 4th graders who had just finished their “vacation” in this program.  “Congratulations,” he told them.  “You’ve done a great job. Now go on and enjoy the 72 hours you have left of vacation!” He didn’t realize how utterly absurd his words sounded. Around the country, time for free play in the afternoons or Saturdays has been turned over to similar test prep programs.

I am hoping that Michelle Obama’s new focus on childhood obesity, “Let’s Move“,  might bring back recess – though surprisingly (or not) it isn’t yet part of her plan. The physical activity portion of her plan focuses on the time before and after school.  These include finding safe routes for walking or biking to and from school, building community playgrounds, reducing screen-time, playing together as a family, and other worthwhile pursuits.

Why is recess not  included in her plan? Why the obvious oversight? A recent press release from the Alliance for Childhood provides compelling evidence that recess is beneficial, including fighting obesity and the strong positive effect recess has on learning. This evidence is clear, so the fact that Michelle Obama did not include it leads me to wonder. Is it that the new Race to the Top federal funding program doesn’t leave room for recess?

The childhood obesity epidemic is real – and her efforts are noble and necessary.  But she’s missing a key element of the problem: recess during the school day.  It’s vital.

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