Middle School Recess coming to FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should just extend the time between two classes to 15 minutes every day and call it a break. The kids don’t actually need to go outside where there is nothing to do. This is ridiculous.

That’s exactly what they already do now. The problem is, most of these posters don’t actually have kids in middle school. They have a 15 min break every day. Look for yourself below. Every other day, they have a full block of mandatory study hall that’s basically a break. They can’t go outside for that but the parents worried about missing class for the bathroom should feel better. They can go outside for lunch every day if they want to. https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/about/bell-schedule

Most middle schools do not have outside space for lunch. Kilmer is the exception. In the study hall, my child is not allowed to speak to other children. She has to sit quietly and either study or play on her phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and I also have a daughter who has her period. She asks a teacher to use the bathroom during class when needed.

She misses class time and potentially important information. She is at a disadvantage to the boys who don't need to leave the classroom to use the bathroom on a regular basis.

I teach middle school. In my experience, the boys leave the room to use the bathroom or fill their water bottles at least three times more often than the girls.

That is their choice to miss school. Girls don't have a choice - they have to go. Why is this controversial? It's basic hygiene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should just extend the time between two classes to 15 minutes every day and call it a break. The kids don’t actually need to go outside where there is nothing to do. This is ridiculous.

That’s exactly what they already do now. The problem is, most of these posters don’t actually have kids in middle school. They have a 15 min break every day. Look for yourself below. Every other day, they have a full block of mandatory study hall that’s basically a break. They can’t go outside for that but the parents worried about missing class for the bathroom should feel better. They can go outside for lunch every day if they want to. https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/about/bell-schedule

My daughter gets 5 minutes between classes. 30 minutes for lunch - if she wants to eat, she needs to get in line which can take 20 minutes to get through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and I also have a daughter who has her period. She asks a teacher to use the bathroom during class when needed.

She misses class time and potentially important information. She is at a disadvantage to the boys who don't need to leave the classroom to use the bathroom on a regular basis.

I teach middle school. In my experience, the boys leave the room to use the bathroom or fill their water bottles at least three times more often than the girls.

That is their choice to miss school. Girls don't have a choice - they have to go. Why is this controversial? It's basic hygiene.

Girls are choosing to leave class too. Getting out of class isn't a hardhsip. Not sure what your point is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s another MS. Same thing but their break is next to lunch. Are there any that didn’t already do this? I think this is all elementary parents worrying over nothing. https://jacksonms.fcps.edu/about/bell-schedule

Jackson's bell schedule was amended to give that 15 minute break due to parent lobbying before the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should just extend the time between two classes to 15 minutes every day and call it a break. The kids don’t actually need to go outside where there is nothing to do. This is ridiculous.

That’s exactly what they already do now. The problem is, most of these posters don’t actually have kids in middle school. They have a 15 min break every day. Look for yourself below. Every other day, they have a full block of mandatory study hall that’s basically a break. They can’t go outside for that but the parents worried about missing class for the bathroom should feel better. They can go outside for lunch every day if they want to. https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/about/bell-schedule

Most middle schools do not have outside space for lunch. Kilmer is the exception. In the study hall, my child is not allowed to speak to other children. She has to sit quietly and either study or play on her phone.

Robinson kids go outside for lunch and have a 15 minute break and also regularly go outside for PE. THe study hall you usually get a ticket to go to a class you want to catch up work on --lots of kids go to an elective if they don't need extra help--this is a big social area for my kid too (I wish he would actually use the study hall to study)

[Anonymous]

I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

Same. What are you afraid will happen if kids get 15 minutes of unstructured time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

Same. What are you afraid will happen if kids get 15 minutes of unstructured time?

Nothing. We are trying to tell you it’s already happening in many schools and called break. Others are telling you that not every school had a lot of outdoor space. The only people who seem to be concerned are parents of little kids who aren’t in middle school yet.

[Anonymous]

Middle school kids aren't that old. The Green space issue I can understand, but that's just adults still telling these kids that they don't need recess. I wonder if it's the kids themselves that don't wavt recess or adults telling them that they don't want or need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

Because middle schools do not have playgrounds and many lack decent space for this. Our school purchased jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, etc, and it made it a little better, but 90% of students stand around on their phones in the middle of a small patch of grass biding time until they can go back inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle school kids aren't that old. The Green space issue I can understand, but that's just adults still telling these kids that they don't need recess. I wonder if it's the kids themselves that don't wavt recess or adults telling them that they don't want or need it.

Judging from the number of kids who beg to stay inside, most dont want it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

Same. What are you afraid will happen if kids get 15 minutes of unstructured time?

Bullying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

Because middle schools do not have playgrounds and many lack decent space for this. Our school purchased jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, etc, and it made it a little better, but 90% of students stand around on their phones in the middle of a small patch of grass biding time until they can go back inside.

Okay. Staring at your phone outside is healthier than staring at your phone indoors.

Banning phones would be even healthier. How do I advocate for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time understand why ppl don't want the kids to just have recess? What could possibly be bad about that?

Because middle schools do not have playgrounds and many lack decent space for this. Our school purchased jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, etc, and it made it a little better, but 90% of students stand around on their phones in the middle of a small patch of grass biding time until they can go back inside.

Okay. Staring at your phone outside is healthier than staring at your phone indoors.

Banning phones would be even healthier. How do I advocate for that?

They already are in middle school with “off and away.” You need to ban school laptops and wifi since they are connected to the internet.