Indoor Recess

[Anonymous]

To 17:40, you must not teach in Montgomery County bc the teachers here do not do Pinchot recess with their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 17:40, you must not teach in Montgomery County bc the teachers here do not do Pinchot recess with their kids.

What's a Pinchot recess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At every school I know (and I'm a teacher who has friends at many elementary schools), the classroom teacher is responsible for recess supervision. We get 30 mins guaranteed for a duty free lunch but we are responsible for recess.

Is this in Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

17:40: By contract, MCPS teachers do not go outside at recess. There are lunch/recess aides responsible for that time. And the numbers of staff are minimal -- 2 aides at recess per 100 kids, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At every school I know (and I'm a teacher who has friends at many elementary schools), the classroom teacher is responsible for recess supervision. We get 30 mins guaranteed for a duty free lunch but we are responsible for recess.

Is this in Montgomery County?

Nope. Baltimore County. Never heard of a recess aide. We only have lunch aides. We get 30 mins of a duty free lunch. Teachers are responsible for supervising recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes - it is my one gripe so far with Kindergarten - not so much the indoor part - they seem to exercise good judgment on when to go out, but that once inside, there is no play- they always watch Between the Lions. I think it's partly a matter of not having enough space, but it's annoying.

My DS is still in preschool, but I've heard this - videos at indoor recess and I find it horrifying! Not only are the kids stuck inside, they're planted in front of a video?? Who does that benefit?

Can a parent volunteer once or twice a week to take the kids out (if there is no aide available) or is that a liability issue? I work part-time, but could swing one day a week, if allowed.

[Anonymous]

Most schools have a policy about the temperature it needs to be before kids can go outside for recess. Check with your school. If it is colder than the temp, the kids will be inside no matter who is available to take them out.

[Anonymous]

That's the problem, the temperature that they set for indoor recess is crazy. 30 degrees! If the kids are outside running around they are fine. Staying inside watching videos day after day because it is "TOO COLD" is terrible for the kids. They need to be active and outdoors. But this region is notorious for not being able to handle the weather. And its a small wonder, the attitude toward winter is being set in school.

[Anonymous]

BTW- The teachers at my son's school say that it really isn't the temperature that keeps them inside but the ice and snow covering the playground, sidewalks, etc. One kid slips and hurts himself, that would end recess altogether if there was anything on the ground. As it is, the kids aren't allowed on the playground structure (wet) or in the grass (mud) if there is any snow, rain or ice on the ground. The kids kind of just stand there.

[Anonymous]

We've got 353 signatures on the recess petition. But we NEED MORE! If you haven't done so already, sign the petition and post it to your school listserv and any other local parent listservs in your area.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/MCPS-Parents-Support-Outdoor-Recess/

Tx!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW- The teachers at my son's school say that it really isn't the temperature that keeps them inside but the ice and snow covering the playground, sidewalks, etc. One kid slips and hurts himself, that would end recess altogether if there was anything on the ground. As it is, the kids aren't allowed on the playground structure (wet) or in the grass (mud) if there is any snow, rain or ice on the ground. The kids kind of just stand there.

Problem with this policy is that this year we have had VERY LITTLE stuff on the ground. There have been many days that the kids COULD go outside and it was purely due to temperatures. Kids get hurt regardless of weather. My DS ended up with stitches when it was 90 degrees outside while playing during recess. So if the policy is that kids will hurt themselves because of snow or ice does that now mean that kids can't go outside in the heat or spring because they could slip and hurt themselves? My son's accident was just that and thankfully that didn't stop recess for others as a result.

We worry about obesity as a nation when one of the best ways we can avoid this is to install good exercise habits in children, starting with recess. And even if they aren't allowed on the fields or structures because of wet or ice - its not that hard to engage a child in a game of tag regardless of location. Personally I think we can do better for our children by allowing them outdoors all year round.

[Anonymous]

You are preaching to the choir PP but I am just telling you how school systems think. Ice and snow is slippery which equals accidents which could possible lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW- The teachers at my son's school say that it really isn't the temperature that keeps them inside but the ice and snow covering the playground, sidewalks, etc. One kid slips and hurts himself, that would end recess altogether if there was anything on the ground. As it is, the kids aren't allowed on the playground structure (wet) or in the grass (mud) if there is any snow, rain or ice on the ground. The kids kind of just stand there.

Oh and let's not forget that they aren't allowed to run around a play tag even when it's beautiful out. Somebodies self esteem might be damaged.