taking away recess for punishment?

[Anonymous]

"Do kids ever have to stay in for recess if they didn't do their homework, or didn't complete classwork?

That is, they use recess time to finish their work, either inside the classroom or outside, at a table or something?"


16:03 here. Our school does keep kids in for recess if they don't finish their classwork or if they get sent to the principal's office for behavioral issues. That being said, in our school, it is rare for kids to be sent to the principal's office. And, if a kid is having problems finishing their work on a regular basis, the school will work with the kid to figure out why they aren't getting their work done and set up accommodations or services.

[Anonymous]

OP, we are just about to start a new school and you have me worried. If you aren't comfortable naming the school could you hint at the area it is in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, we are just about to start a new school and you have me worried. If you aren't comfortable naming the school could you hint at the area it is in?

I'd prefer not to. I don't know yet if I am getting the complete picture -- just reporting what my child told me. However, if you are about to start a new school I suggest you ask what I realize now it never occured to me to ask:

What are your recess policies?
Can recess ever be taken away as punishment, and if so, for what infractions, and how often does that typically occur, say, in one month? Does "walking around the playground silently" count as "recess"?
Is recess ever taken away so kids can finish work -- either homework or classwork? And if so is this routine, or exceptional?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, we are just about to start a new school and you have me worried. If you aren't comfortable naming the school could you hint at the area it is in?

I'd prefer not to. I don't know yet if I am getting the complete picture -- just reporting what my child told me. However, if you are about to start a new school I suggest you ask what I realize now it never occured to me to ask:

What are your recess policies?
Can recess ever be taken away as punishment, and if so, for what infractions, and how often does that typically occur, say, in one month? Does "walking around the playground silently" count as "recess"?
Is recess ever taken away so kids can finish work -- either homework or classwork? And if so is this routine, or exceptional?

Thank you for seeking the complete picture; also, thank you for taking this to the administration not to 'tattle' on the teacher, but to ask what the school-wide policies they set are. Again, teachers may have individual strategies in the class, but policies like walking silently in the hall or walking around the field at recess are usually meta-disciplinary and school-wide. I also would ask you to ask your child to be quiet in line if that is a school expectation (at least until you succeed in changing it). Undermining it will only undermine the cohesion to any system of expectations the school maintains, that generally are there to keep children in a safe and orderly environment. Support what policies are in place when it comes to talking with your child, and work to change them if you disagree by working with through the admin. So many parents encourage their children to 'revolt' without knowing all the facts, and without realizing that they are endangering what basic safeties are in place.