My DD 6th grade teacher used to make them run laps outdoors, but not as a punishment! The kids always had their regular recess, and she would take them out an extra time or sometimes twice more for 10 minutes so they could get their energy out. She would make them run a couple of laps and them play for a few minutes. I though it was great. My DD loved that it was only a couple of laps and she had extra recess. The laps just guarantee they move and get the energy out. But I agree, this should not be part of their regular recess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Former Teacher: I don't like running laps as punishment. But, sometimes kids just walk around at recess--which is okay--but they really need to get some exercise. So, sometimes, I would start recess by saying run around the edge of the playground before you play. Nothing wrong with that. Kind of a game. Some would run around more than once.

I don't need the teacher to ensure my kid gets some exercise. All kids go to gym class for that and my kid works out several times per week with a sports team (since kindergarten).

Kudos to the principal poster above. To the poster ho called me a helicopter parent- I will always stick up for my kid. I don't nitpick tchers at all but this is inappropriate punishment.

Since you don’t agree with what the teacher or principal doing, why don’t you consider home school your kids yourself. When I put my kids to the school, I need to believe and respect the teacher instead of challenge them. Actually I can imagine your DC is just like you and learn from you by challenging and not respectful to the teacher.

I saw some kids especially girls just standing under the shade in a group and chatting during recess. You only listen to the one side story from your DC and don’t get a picture what’s really happening?

PP here. Teachers are human. Some are great, some are not. They make mistakes just like everyone else. A teacher that has to make kids run laps doesn't know effective methods to control their classroom. I won't have my child running laps for unrelated classroom behavior.

I won't be sending my kids to private as I am not interested in that environment for them right now. I''ll continue to send my kids to public school, thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Former Teacher: I don't like running laps as punishment. But, sometimes kids just walk around at recess--which is okay--but they really need to get some exercise. So, sometimes, I would start recess by saying run around the edge of the playground before you play. Nothing wrong with that. Kind of a game. Some would run around more than once.

I don't need the teacher to ensure my kid gets some exercise. All kids go to gym class for that and my kid works out several times per week with a sports team (since kindergarten).

Kudos to the principal poster above. To the poster ho called me a helicopter parent- I will always stick up for my kid. I don't nitpick tchers at all but this is inappropriate punishment.

Since you don’t agree with what the teacher or principal doing, why don’t you consider home school your kids yourself. When I put my kids to the school, I need to believe and respect the teacher instead of challenge them. Actually I can imagine your DC is just like you and learn from you by challenging and not respectful to the teacher.

I saw some kids especially girls just standing under the shade in a group and chatting during recess. You only listen to the one side story from your DC and don’t get a picture what’s really happening?

DP. You need to believe and respect the teacher without question if you choose not to home school? Luckily that's not the rule. If FCPS regulations say a teacher isn't allowed to take away recess and the teacher does it because she, unlike most other teachers, can't control the kids, then I don't need to blindly believe or respect the teacher. Also, what is wrong with kids standing in a group chatting during recess? It's supposed to be unstructured time for kids to do what they choose. Some teachers are incompetent, some are amazing and the majority are in between. Parents are free to question the teacher if there is a concern. All doctors, lawyers, dentists...aren't equally qualified, why would teachers all be wonderful-- they are humans. I had a doctor recommend surgery for my child and I decided to get a second opinion because I didn't feel confident in her based on our interactions. I got a second opinion and that doctor was able to properly diagnose the issue, which by the way as different than what the first doctor had concluded, and DC was treated without the needs for surgery. Imagine if I'd just believed and respected the first doctor because of her years in school and being employed by a major hospital. I don't think you nitpick at small issues, but you definitely don't ignore bigger ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Former Teacher: I don't like running laps as punishment. But, sometimes kids just walk around at recess--which is okay--but they really need to get some exercise. So, sometimes, I would start recess by saying run around the edge of the playground before you play. Nothing wrong with that. Kind of a game. Some would run around more than once.

I don't need the teacher to ensure my kid gets some exercise. All kids go to gym class for that and my kid works out several times per week with a sports team (since kindergarten).

Kudos to the principal poster above. To the poster ho called me a helicopter parent- I will always stick up for my kid. I don't nitpick tchers at all but this is inappropriate punishment.

Since you don’t agree with what the teacher or principal doing, why don’t you consider home school your kids yourself. When I put my kids to the school, I need to believe and respect the teacher instead of challenge them. Actually I can imagine your DC is just like you and learn from you by challenging and not respectful to the teacher.

I saw some kids especially girls just standing under the shade in a group and chatting during recess. You only listen to the one side story from your DC and don’t get a picture what’s really happening?

Op you describe my child’s class last year. I moved her to private after years of this nonsense.

I meant *who, not ho.

Anonymous wrote:

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Former Teacher: I don't like running laps as punishment. But, sometimes kids just walk around at recess--which is okay--but they really need to get some exercise. So, sometimes, I would start recess by saying run around the edge of the playground before you play. Nothing wrong with that. Kind of a game. Some would run around more than once.

I don't need the teacher to ensure my kid gets some exercise. All kids go to gym class for that and my kid works out several times per week with a sports team (since kindergarten).

Kudos to the principal poster above. To the poster ho called me a helicopter parent- I will always stick up for my kid. I don't nitpick tchers at all but this is inappropriate punishment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I would have a huge problem with the teacher making them run laps at recess. I would be emailing the teacher ASAP and escalate to the principal if it did not stop.

All of our school's K teachers use laps as a punishment. They don't make them run, they have to walk around the perimeter of the playground 2 times before they can play. It's a small playground.

Inappropriate and hs nothing to do with the infraction. Glad our school doesn't do this.

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Former Teacher: I don't like running laps as punishment. But, sometimes kids just walk around at recess--which is okay--but they really need to get some exercise. So, sometimes, I would start recess by saying run around the edge of the playground before you play. Nothing wrong with that. Kind of a game. Some would run around more than once.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I would have a huge problem with the teacher making them run laps at recess. I would be emailing the teacher ASAP and escalate to the principal if it did not stop.

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Hell yes there is something wrong with making kids run laps as a punishment. They're told what to do all day. Recess is critical for that time to make choices for unstructured play. I'm pretty sure you would not be okay with your boss making you walk up and down the stairs when you're whispering too much with your colleague in a meeting.

The new FCPS regulation specifically says that taking away recess to manage behavior is not appropriate. The principal needs to know so that he/she can support the teacher in classroom management and appropriate responses to misbehavior.

--signed an ES principal who knows "helicopter parenting" very well and does not see this as even close to being an example of it

Anonymous wrote: I would have a huge problem with the teacher making them run laps at recess. I would be emailing the teacher ASAP and escalate to the principal if it did not stop.

I see nothing wrong with making the kids run laps. Escalating this makes you become "that parent". In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to get worked up about. Save it for something serious. Let the teacher do her job and stop being a helicopter parent.

Don’t go to the principal first! Give the teacher a chance before throwing her under the bus! Remember this is a child(I presume young elementary)relaying info to you....How about you ask to meet with teacher or ask for a phone conference and approach it with a positive, open mind going into it. Then if things don’t change and are unbearable for your child move up the admin chain