The Education Wonks report on a Waco mom’s aggravation about her nine-year old son’s teacher cancelling recess.
Principal John Campbell told us if the teacher does not feel the students are far enough along in studies, then recess can be cancelled.
Physical Education classes are scheduled every other day, but according to research, it might not be enough.
“We need that recess,” says Baylor Professor of Physical Education, Doctor Karen Fredenburg. “We need that break or that freedom from what they have to do, that structure all day long.”
Experts say recess actually helps promote learning, by giving an outlet to digest all the information.
And Dr. Fredenburg says further studies show P.E.is a class like math or reading. The structure format doesn’t allow children the freedom to make choices that recess does.
Since we started working on this story, Lina Abad’s son and the rest of his fourth grade class have started working in recess every other day.
Hats off to mom Lina Abad for speaking out on behalf of her nine-year old son, who she says needs recess to work off some of his hyperactivity…You go! But recess every other day? Good grief.
Dr. Helen passes along this article in the Boston Globe concerning parents suing the school district under the Equal Rights Amendment:
Among Anglin’s allegations: Girls face fewer restrictions from teachers, like being able to wander the hallways without passes, and girls are rewarded for abiding by the rules, while boys’ more rebellious ways are punished.
Grading on homework, which sometimes includes points for decorating a notebook, also favor girls, according to Anglin’s complaint, filed last month with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
”The system is designed to the disadvantage of males,” Anglin said. ”From the elementary level, they establish a philosophy that if you sit down, follow orders, and listen to what they say, you’ll do well and get good grades. Men naturally rebel against this.”
I hope they get somewhere, though I wish it didn’t have to be via a lawsuit, which will be prolonged and costly for everyone.
As to the “decorating a notebook” allegation, I can attest to this. Sticks has had some truly bizarre assignments which just left him completely flummoxed. Decorating a notebook was one of them. As he said at the time, “What does it matter if it’s pretty as long as it’s right?”
Amen, Sticks. And extra credit points? Until last year, Sticks’ handwriting was less than stellar. Legible, but not “neat”. That’s function of his slower-developing fine motor skills, which have always been a challenge. As good as the large motor skills are was how weak the fine motor skills were. So give our boys a break and let them learn their way without the cutesy notebook decorations.
Is it easier to grade how it looks than what it contains?
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