taking away recess for punishment?

[Anonymous]

My child's new school has the policy that, if kids are talking in the hallway on the way to recess, the entire class loses recess. They go outside and "walk the perimeter". My child is really upset about this. Apparently it happens a lot -- even if just one or two children are talking, the whole class must lose recess.

It seems excessive to me, not to mention, if it happens often, then it doesn't seem to be a deterrant to the offending behavior (talking in the halls).

Does this happen at your child's school?

[Anonymous]

That seems totally excesive. To punish the whole class is just wrong. I'd call the school administration and ask about this policy. I wonder if it's school wide or just this teacher.

[Anonymous]

Woah, what school? Sounds terribly punitive--and counterproductive, too!

[Anonymous]

No, this absolutely does not happen at our school. The only time they don't go outside to play is if the weather is inclimate. And, when that happens, they have game time in the school cafeteria. That being said, recess isn't that long - maybe 30 minutes.

[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?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a prison.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely complain!

Recess is the crucial time for developing creative skills, independence from adults, and physical form.
Research has shown recess improves focus during class, because kids (especially the really active ones) have let off steam and can stay still better afterwards.
Walking the prison perimeter does not provide the same benefits.

Would you mind disclosing which school hires such brain-addled teachers, so that I can avoid it for my child?

[Anonymous]

Forgot to add, if kids talk on their way to recess, sounds like they really need to exercise...

[Anonymous]

I actually remember this happening to me when I was in elementary school (this was the late 80's). We had a handfull of bad kids in my class and we were often punished as a class by missing recess and having to put our heads on our desks. I think one month went by where we only had recess 4 days. It sucked. I don't know why none of our parents said anything about it (but it makes me want to give my mom a call...). With all of the information out there about childhood obesity and development, I'm really surprised this type of thing goes on nowadays.

[Anonymous]

policies like this are part of the reason we left Shepherd Elementary School.

Also a place where no talking during lunch, if your kid didn't finish homework, minutes of recess by the fence. . .

Take a squirmy little kid and make him be quiet during recess as punishment for squirming. . . .how's that going to work out?

[Anonymous]

I think making the kids walk around the playground is a response to the requirement that kids get at least 15 to 30 minutes of outside recess a day, weather permitting. Schools can't take away recess if it is a requirement -- but they can take away the fun part of recess (the free play) because the fun part isn't actually required.

[Anonymous]

That is extremely excessive.

As an educator, some things I was taught:
1. Kids need recess, they need to be able to run around. A lot of times if kids are acting up, it's because they need time to play, to run, to get all that excess energy out. So if, as a teacher, you take recess away you are only complicating the situation.

2. Punishing the whole class for the actions of one is unfair and wrong. Some teachers advocate that it makes the child who is acting out to feel pressured to do the right thing but instead it creates a climate of competition and it pits the kids up against each other. It can also lead to the other kids in the class disliking, bullying, and misconstruing the child causing the problem as a 'bad kid.' Usually there are better ways to solve the problem.

3. By taking away recess (or other things like books, or by making them read a book or giving extra homework) can send kids a message that it's bad or not fun. That's kind of the opposite of what you want?

Sounds like the teachers at your child's school needs a re-education/training. I would say something.

[Anonymous]

Group punishment does sound excessive--
However, there are times when a teacher does need to quiet a group. Think Code Red, or 9/11 -- the teacher needs a calm, quiet group to give quick instructions to that are followed. Rather than immediately run in screaming, why don't you try to understand the teacher and school's perspective (not necessarily agree/but try to at least analyze it from the other angle). Then ask if this occurs all the time, or rarely. Ask if this occurs when only one person is talking (easy to pinpoint) or when most of the group is talking (much harder to single out the 'culprits'). Inquire into the school's overall behavior management--usually when individual teachers are forced into these desperate remedies for crowd control, there is not a safe-proactive-from the top school-wide disciplinary system at work. I taught at a school where we were ordered that the children be absolutely silent in the halls (ridiculous, and they never were) and yet no school-wide frameworks to encourage and teach basic, respectful school behaviors were in place. I much more enjoy my current school which has an overall positive disciplinary framework, and the children can chat quietly while walking through the hall and the vast majority do not abuse the privilige. Still, when I give a signal for silence I expect it from the majority of the group--I don't give the signal for meaningless reasons, and at time safety may be involved. So we practice responding when it is not given. Sounds like your school could use some responsive classroom or other approach that teaches management routines that are meaningful to the child and community. I would not be so quick to blame the individual teacher though-- These desperate, draconian measures simply do not happen in schools with overall coherent discipline. In the meantime, the teacher may be using the only means at his or her hands to maintain a modicum of order and safety--THAT is what should worry you. This is something for which the administration should be out in the forefront, creating coherent behavior management policy that supports teaching and learning....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is extremely excessive.

As an educator, some things I was taught:
1. Kids need recess, they need to be able to run around. A lot of times if kids are acting up, it's because they need time to play, to run, to get all that excess energy out. So if, as a teacher, you take recess away you are only complicating the situation.

2. Punishing the whole class for the actions of one is unfair and wrong. Some teachers advocate that it makes the child who is acting out to feel pressured to do the right thing but instead it creates a climate of competition and it pits the kids up against each other. It can also lead to the other kids in the class disliking, bullying, and misconstruing the child causing the problem as a 'bad kid.' Usually there are better ways to solve the problem.

3. By taking away recess (or other things like books, or by making them read a book or giving extra homework) can send kids a message that it's bad or not fun. That's kind of the opposite of what you want?

Sounds like the teachers at your child's school needs a re-education/training. I would say something.[/quote

Yes, and not to mention a time to develop crucial social skills. I bet the kids who are missing recess aren't learning much. I mean, what's the point? What are the kids learning while sitting inside? Besides being bored and developing distrust and dislike and creating more behavior problems.

As a teacher your supposed to have a classroom of mutual respect, the kids respect you because your the teacher, not because they're afraid of you.

[Anonymous]

Strange. OP, you should talk to some of the other parents and complain as a group or individually.