Anonymous wrote:I think recess should be included in middle school. Maybe it will set a foundation of staying active and health. It's not healthy tonsil at a desk all day.

+1 parents are always griping that they want their kids to be active. But, it doesn't surprise me, because at this age parents would rather their activity be organized over free play. I dint get it parents would push or force organized sports/activity, but free play, they won't.

I think recess should be included in middle school. Maybe it will set a foundation of staying active and health. It's not healthy tonsil at a desk all day.

Anonymous wrote:Why are people do against kids having recess in Middle School? They're kids and can benefit from it I think. So many adults laugh at the idea of these kids needing and wanting recess. I don't get it, recess ended for me in 5th grade and I was not ready for that.

Wow, my middle schooler has recess everyday and they actually have a sort of jungle gym play structure. The kids mostly sit on it but there are quite a few who use the facilities too while chatting, etc.. The kids love it. This is a private K-8.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DCPS Title 1 MS has recess and PE everyday. Recess is right after lunch and kids who finish eating can go outside and there's a field, picnic tables and basket ball courts.

My kids MCPS MS and HS allow this and I can’t imagine we’re special. I really don’t get how people think you can fit in all of the academics and also have recess beyond lunch. Even in ES, recess was half of the lunch period.

Recess might only be 10min but it's something. It's down time and it's outdoors. Even if they stand around and talk, it's a break from the classroom.

We are at a charter and middle school has recess

Anonymous wrote:Our DCPS Title 1 MS has recess and PE everyday. Recess is right after lunch and kids who finish eating can go outside and there's a field, picnic tables and basket ball courts.

My kids MCPS MS and HS allow this and I can’t imagine we’re special. I really don’t get how people think you can fit in all of the academics and also have recess beyond lunch. Even in ES, recess was half of the lunch period.

Those of you who think your kids have PE every day need to check with your kids. I’m the PP with a kid in private who has recess.
A friend of mine has a DD at Briggs Chaney MS in mcps and she says the PE is a joke. They can run a mile if they want to, but don’t have to, and when they’re done they just hang around until PE is over. There is no instruction or sports

We moved out of the DMV and to a different state, but in our public schools here, kids have PE daily in middle school still (they had PE plus recess daily in elementary), which I love maybe even more than recess bc it makes the kids get a little active during the school day and not be on their phone or just sitting. But one or the other seems necessary still in middle school IMO.

Our DCPS Title 1 MS has recess and PE everyday. Recess is right after lunch and kids who finish eating can go outside and there's a field, picnic tables and basket ball courts.

Anonymous wrote:Why are people do against kids having recess in Middle School? They're kids and can benefit from it I think. So many adults laugh at the idea of these kids needing and wanting recess. I don't get it, recess ended for me in 5th grade and I was not ready for that.

In middle school? They just stand around in stupid “friend groups” and talk or gossip. You aren’t allowed to mingle either.

And don’t get me started on 10am lunch/recesses. MS needs to get it together.

There are a number of great reasons to have middle school - and high school - recess. It is not possible to sit for 6 hours a day, indoors, and be able to concentrate effectively.

In the winter, if you don't go outside during the school day, you will not see the sun - that is bad for kids' mental health.

Many studies have shown that recess improves academic performance and student behavior.

PE is not a substitute for recess. More than half the time in PE is sitting - learning about health, learning the rules of games.

The risk that some children might misbehave during recess (or sit on their phones) is not a reason to deny all the children the right to recess. For some kids, recess is the only time they can socialize with other kids in a safe setting. Some kids live far from other kids - or in areas where it is too dangerous to casually meet up with other kids. It's necessary for kids to learn to interact with other kids.

There is plenty of evidence that recess should be a requirement for all children. Anyone who wants to know more should look at the Facebook group - More Recess for Virginians.

Anonymous wrote:I’m middle aged and still wish I had recess.

+1. Why are we mocking these kids? I know that I feel better on days when I can get away from my desk and move around, even better if it's outside. I don't get full-on workouts during the day but if I can take a meeting on my phone I'll do it outside.

My 8th grader's school doesn't call it recess but once they finish lunch they can go out on the soccer field and hang out, play soccer, whatever. Even if they don't get exercise, I'm a firm believer that the fresh air and sunshine is a good thing. One of the only good things about covid school was that our school ate lunch outside every day except in heavy rain or below freezing temps. The kids could eat and move around freely.

My kid really needs recess. He was in sixth grade last year and PE was last period so he was stuck sitting the entire day! He just has too much energy to just sit around all day. I think they’re changing the schedule this year to allow a small recess after lunch - I’m very happy about this. 🙂

I’m middle aged and still wish I had recess.

Our DCPS Title 1 middle has "recess"--if you finish lunch a few staff take a group outside to the field. (Also an opportunity to make up work.) No phones around so they really do just play (soccer, usually). DS grouses if it doesn't happen.