The Rebuild of Recess in Schools

The Issue

A Petition to the SCCPSS School Board and Beyond
By: Fletcher Gaddy, Ryan Jaillette, Kenny Kirkland, and Arif Gundez-Nunez


We, the Students, Parents, and Teachers of the United States of America, must address the Underlying issue of the Loss of Recess in Schools.


We are proposing that Schools in the Savannah Chatham County Public School System increase the amount of Recess in all schools in Savannah in hopes that it will increase Grades and focus in the Classroom, decrease ADHD, Depression and Social Disconnection, and help promote the Enjoyment of School.


On January 8, 2002 , the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was added as a newly implemented reform to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. With that act,


In 2013 in the state of Ohio, Dr. Robert Murray wrote a book called Pediatrics
which talked about how children need downtime and that they need recess to relax and do better in school. Which later a bunch of people protested about children needing recess which got the majority of the schools to have recess.


When Children are deprived of Recess, they can't do school work as well due to a lack of exercise, which causes a child to be hyperactive and unfocused, and eventually Obesity. The lack of Social Interaction can cause Depression and Anxiety, which in the long term may cause the Child to feel severed from the Social Web, and possibly cause Suicide.


We are going through an “epidemic” of ADHD and ADD in kids. This is partially caused by lack of recess. The no child left behind act is actually counterintuitive instead of increasing grades it increases hyperactivity. More and more children can't focus because they need some time for unstructured playing.

Research shows that children that have recess are less fidgety and more on task, Have improved memory and more focused attention, Learn negotiation skills, exercise leadership, teach games, take turns, and learn to resolve conflicts, and are more physically active before and after school.

We urge you, whether you are a Student, Parent, Teacher, Citizen, or School Board Member, to consider signing and helping implement this petition to rebuild and increase the amount of recess in SCCPSS Schools, and eventually all of the United States of America. Thank you.

Photo from: http://www.thebestschools.org/magazine/death-of-recess/


Citations
http://www.thebestschools.org/magazine/death-of-recess/
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/recess-makes-kids-smarter/

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Fletcher GaddyPetition Starter
Media inquiries
This petition had 1,314 supporters

The Issue

A Petition to the SCCPSS School Board and Beyond
By: Fletcher Gaddy, Ryan Jaillette, Kenny Kirkland, and Arif Gundez-Nunez


We, the Students, Parents, and Teachers of the United States of America, must address the Underlying issue of the Loss of Recess in Schools.


We are proposing that Schools in the Savannah Chatham County Public School System increase the amount of Recess in all schools in Savannah in hopes that it will increase Grades and focus in the Classroom, decrease ADHD, Depression and Social Disconnection, and help promote the Enjoyment of School.


On January 8, 2002 , the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was added as a newly implemented reform to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. With that act,


In 2013 in the state of Ohio, Dr. Robert Murray wrote a book called Pediatrics
which talked about how children need downtime and that they need recess to relax and do better in school. Which later a bunch of people protested about children needing recess which got the majority of the schools to have recess.


When Children are deprived of Recess, they can't do school work as well due to a lack of exercise, which causes a child to be hyperactive and unfocused, and eventually Obesity. The lack of Social Interaction can cause Depression and Anxiety, which in the long term may cause the Child to feel severed from the Social Web, and possibly cause Suicide.


We are going through an “epidemic” of ADHD and ADD in kids. This is partially caused by lack of recess. The no child left behind act is actually counterintuitive instead of increasing grades it increases hyperactivity. More and more children can't focus because they need some time for unstructured playing.

Research shows that children that have recess are less fidgety and more on task, Have improved memory and more focused attention, Learn negotiation skills, exercise leadership, teach games, take turns, and learn to resolve conflicts, and are more physically active before and after school.

We urge you, whether you are a Student, Parent, Teacher, Citizen, or School Board Member, to consider signing and helping implement this petition to rebuild and increase the amount of recess in SCCPSS Schools, and eventually all of the United States of America. Thank you.

Photo from: http://www.thebestschools.org/magazine/death-of-recess/


Citations
http://www.thebestschools.org/magazine/death-of-recess/
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/recess-makes-kids-smarter/

avatar of the starter
Fletcher GaddyPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Jolene Byrne
Jolene Byrne
Presedent of the Chatham County School Board, Savannah Chatam County Public School System
Responded
“Thank you all for reaching out about the importance of protecting recess for our students! As a mother, I have dried my own son’s tears when he didn’t want to go to kindergarten because he was losing recess for academic reasons for weeks at a time. As an educator, I know how much pressure teachers are under to maximize academic instruction time, which means that recess is all to often considered “optional” by administrators who are looking for every opportunity to show gains on standardized tests. In fact, a recent survey conducted by SCCPSS found that while 98% percent of parents 94% precent of teachers and administrators agree that students perform better in school with daily recess, only 79% of SCCPSS administrators believe that recess should be mandatory, and between 54%and 63% administrators believe recess should be taken away for disciplinary or academic reasons. Not only is this out of step with what most parents feel is best for their children, but it is entirely out of step with what research and common sense tells us: children learn better when they have an opportunity to play and socialize during the school day. As a school board member, I believe we have a responsibility to provide the type of leadership that empowers teachers and protects children. It is not enough for us to urge administrators to put aside the pressure to improve test scores at all costs, we must give them the tools they need to make student well-being their number one priority. Creating a policy that makes it clear that protecting recess is just as important as protecting lunch time and bathroom breaks will do just that. Below, you will find a policy that I intend to bring to the Board for a first read at our October 3 Board meeting. It is a policy that reflects the input of teachers, parents, Board members, administrators, local community leaders in the field of health, and decades of well established education research. While it makes providing 30 minutes of recess mandatory for elementary students, something current policy and regulations fails to do, it is flexible enough to give principals and teachers the freedom to make essential decisions about student safety, discipline, academics, and other day-to-day challenges. If we are going to succeed in adopting a policy that protects children’s right to recess, I need your help. In the past, when proposing these changes, the Board has either outright rejected making recess mandatory, or deferred the decision to avoid a vote. Over the past three and a half years, we have made no progress on this matter, despite the fact that thousands of parents have asked us to act. With only three months left in my term as School Board President, I vow to make protecting recess my number one priority. Michael Johnson, your District 7 representative, has voiced his support for this policy. Other Board members have either expressed uncertainty or opposition to this vital policy change. My hope is that the policy below will earn their support – much of the language was based on addressing their concerns. If you feel that protecting recess is as important as I do, please do all you can to let your democratically elected Board members know we have your support in making this vital change to Board policy. Sincerely, Jolene Byrne Board President Savannah-Chatham Public Schools jolene.byrne@sccpss.com Policy Descriptor Code: IEDA Unstructured Break Time (Recess) In keeping with best practices in education and overwhelming scientific evidence that supports the physical, psychological, and academic benefits of recess, all schools in the district that serve students in Pre-K through 5th grades will provide students with at least 30 minutes of recess daily on full school days. Schools that serve students in grades 6 through 8 are encouraged to provide students with at least 30 minutes of recess daily on full school days. The school principal is authorized to determine the length, frequency, timing, and location of recess at each school, provided that the total amount of recess time for students meets the minimum requirement of 30 minutes daily on full school days. Principals may delegate these decisions to teachers as they deem appropriate. Exceptions to the minimum requirement of 30 minutes of recess per full school day may be made out of consideration for student safety or for practical reasons such as field trips or inclement weather. Recess may be broken up into two or more sessions at the discretion of the principal. Principals are encouraged to avoid regularly scheduling recess as the last activity of the school day. In keeping with research that demonstrates structured activities do not provide the same physical, social-emotional, or academic benefits as unstructured recess, walking laps, physical education classes, and other structured activities may not replace recess. Time spent preparing for and walking to and from recess sites will not be included in the 30 minutes of recess required each day. Recess should take place outdoors as often as possible, however, indoor recess may be substituted when outdoor recess is not feasible. Students may not be excluded from participating in recess for unrelated disciplinary action. Physical activity, including walking laps instead of participating in recess, may not be used as a disciplinary measure. Recess may not be withheld for academic reasons without advanced parental notice and consent. Reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities will be made to ensure they are able to participate in recess. The Superintendent and/or principal shall issue directions concerning the responsibility for supervision of students to insure recess will be a safe experience. The Superintendent may provide guidance or regulations for other types of unstructured break activities based on his or her professional judgment. The procedures for recess will be communicated to students and parents through student handbooks, newsletters, and/or school websites. Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools Date Adopted: Pending”
Julie Wade
Julie Wade
District 1, Savannah Chatam County Public School System
Dionne Hoskins-Brown
Dionne Hoskins-Brown
District 2, Savannah Chatam County Public School System
Cornelia Hall
Cornelia Hall
District 3, Savannah Chatam County Public School System
Shawn Kachmar
Shawn Kachmar
District 4, Savannah Chatam County Public School System

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Petition created on February 22, 2017