FACT: There is a 30 minute block allowed for RECESS in Cyfair, but principals with the support of our district are shortening actual playtime on our elementary campuses.  Some campuses have 10 minutes of actual PLAYGROUND time(according to a document released by the district this week).

FACT:  Some principals are choosing to use the additional minutes for MORE READING TIME, sometimes called DEAR, Silent reading, etc. 

FACT:  The rationale for this decision, it takes too much time to bring students back into the classroom and get them refocused for instructional time.

Understanding that the purpose of our educational system is academic in nature, it has been proven, scientifically, physiologically and emotionally that when given MORE time, not LESS time at RECESS, kids focus for longer periods of time, and are more productive when it comes to academics.  Teachers continually report that a shortened recess is proving to be disturbing at other times of the day when the children are restless and not focused. 

RECESS is being challenged across this country as TOO important an issue to let those elected in office and paid with our tax dollars to make decions that are NOT in the best interest of our children. Childhood obesity, Nature Deficit Disorder, ADD/ADHD, Vit D disorders are at nearly an epidemic level and we should be doing all we can to encourage PLAY and ACTIVITY at RECESS.

If you agree with any of this, please let your voice be heard.  One voice will not garnish the change we are after, the RETURN of what RECESS should be for OUR kids.  But together we will have to be heard.