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NewsOctober 12, 1999

School recesses allow students an opportunity to socialize, release pent up energies, and engage in free play activities outside of structured classroom environments. However, the length and frequency of recesses are being cut down. School officials are trying to re-create the benefits of playtime in other situations while still meeting educational goals...

School recesses allow students an opportunity to socialize, release pent up energies, and engage in free play activities outside of structured classroom environments.

However, the length and frequency of recesses are being cut down. School officials are trying to re-create the benefits of playtime in other situations while still meeting educational goals.

"Our curriculum is very structured, and definitely, we need to spend the time at school teaching to the curriculum that's established," said Julie Davenport, principal at Franklin Elementary School.

North Elementary School principal David Gross still grants students the traditional three recess periods each day. Students are allowed 15-minute recess periods in the morning, after lunch, and during the afternoon.

While he recognizes that recesses can be designed "a thousand different ways", Gross said the system at his building works best for his students.

"I think just because it's been that way for several years it's really no problem," he said. "Kids need to run and get some of that energy out."

Nowadays, a period after lunch is in many cases the only time set aside for students to choose their own activities.

Principals said the change is related more to curriculum needs than to safety, supervision or other requirements. Students need more time in classrooms to meet educational goals, and the benefits met by providing recesses can be gained in other ways.

Blanchard Elementary School students, who currently are divided between Washington and May Greene schools, have two recess periods each day. In addition to the traditional 20-minute period before lunch, principal Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld said students also have a 20-minute period of physical activities called "mini-gym" each day.

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Carol Blanton, principal at Scott City Elementary School, allows his students to enjoy recess at lunch and in the afternoon. The later periods are designed to take advantage of peak teaching times, he said.

"The greatest opportunity for learning is in the morning when kids are fresh," said Blanton. "That's why we don't do morning recess."

The schedule is exactly opposite at Franklin Elementary School. Davenport said students in third through sixth grades can enjoy free time after they finish eating during their 40-minute lunch period. However, younger students also are permitted a 20-minute recess each morning.

"In the afternoon there's P.E., music and other classes for younger students, so they don't have an afternoon recess," she said. "We really don't have a lot of extra time to play, and we hope they get to do some of that after school."

Mark Cook, principal at Jefferson Elementary School, said student recesses are granted at the teachers' discretion. All students have free time after lunch, but by allowing teachers to determine when recesses are held, some of the more negative aspects related to recesses are avoided, he said.

"Each teacher is responsible for supervising her students," said Cook. Recess is "more unstructured than the classroom is," and sometimes free play can spark disagreements between students and actually inhibit socialization, he said.

While younger students at Clippard Elementary School take a morning recess in addition to their lunch period, principal Sydney Herbst allows teachers in fourth through sixth grades to determine if an extra recess outside of lunchtime is warranted. Many teachers use recess as an incentive for everyone completing homework or having good behavior and the like, she said.

Alma Schrader principal Frank Ellis said his teachers hold scheduled recesses, but are also permitted to grant a "sneak recess" when they believe students are deserving.

Ellis said the sneak recess periods are rare treats for the students and are similar to the short walks he sometimes allows himself.

"Even adults need periodic breaks throughout the day," he said. "Sometimes, if an adult has been working diligently at something all day it can become too much. If that happens to me, sometimes even I need a recess, which might simply be a short walk through the building to get some air."

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