Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 11:37     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
The AAP recommends against withholding recess as punishment:

http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Considers-Recess-a-Necessary-Break.aspx
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 10:18     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Making a child run laps as punishment is illegal in Virginia, and most other states . If your child's teacher does this, contact the principal immediately.


I don't actually know the law so I'm going to assume you're correct and it is illegal, in which case obviously any school doing this should stop. But I'm curious as to why. As I said in a previous post on this thread, this is a technique we sometimes use at home, generally quite effectively, and I would have no objection to it being used in school. I read on this board all the time how parents say their kid can't meet the school's behavior expectations because the child is not getting enough exercise and time during the day to be active but then when the consequence for bad behavior is exercise parents are upset? This does not make sense. If lack of exercise is a significant contributor to bad behavior, then requiring a bit more exercise as a consequence of poor choices isn't even a bad punishment it's just B

Both, of course.

Physical activity is good for behavior, but it needs to be incorporated into the day in a positive way or it will backfire - fun gym classes, more recess with games encouraged by recess monitors who are active in the recess by encouraging kids to be active. If physical activity is associated with punishment and humiliation for a child, I see no better way to create a life-long couch potato. If a kid is acting out and getting squarely, a good teacher will recognize the need for movement and find a way to get that child or the whole class moving without making it a punishment.

Also, for many kids gym class is humiliation -- to make it also a humiliating punishment is over the top. Remember that all kids are not like your kids. Also, some kids are not physically able to handle laps for medical reasons, so then you have uneven punishment administration by teachers. This child gets a time out, but that child has to run laps for the same behavior.

That's just the tip of the iceberg of why this is a bad idea and why it is now illegal.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 09:59     Subject: Re:Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Just curious: What do you think the teacher should do for kids who do not finish their work or misbehave?
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 21:41     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Anonymous wrote:Making a child run laps as punishment is illegal in Virginia, and most other states . If your child's teacher does this, contact the principal immediately.


I don't actually know the law so I'm going to assume you're correct and it is illegal, in which case obviously any school doing this should stop. But I'm curious as to why. As I said in a previous post on this thread, this is a technique we sometimes use at home, generally quite effectively, and I would have no objection to it being used in school. I read on this board all the time how parents say their kid can't meet the school's behavior expectations because the child is not getting enough exercise and time during the day to be active but then when the consequence for bad behavior is exercise parents are upset? This does not make sense. If lack of exercise is a significant contributor to bad behavior, then requiring a bit more exercise as a consequence of poor choices isn't even a bad punishment it's just consequences that will fix the problem. So which is it - do kids need exercise to behave well and be successful in school or is exercise some sort of illegal cruel and unusual punishment?
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 21:09     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Making a child run laps as punishment is illegal in Virginia, and most other states . If your child's teacher does this, contact the principal immediately.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 11:53     Subject: Re:Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
I think it depends on the child. My Mom is an Elementary school teacher, has been for...I don't know how long and very very rarely does withhold recess for particular students. If those students need it. This year she has a child in first grade with a very troubled family background who does not at all belong in a classroom yet - but she has to deal with him. She sometimes uses no recess for him to spend one on one time with that child only, to teach him things he doesn't learn with 25 other kids in the class. She doesn't really use it as a punishment - more as an educational tool that allows her 20 minutes of one on one time she otherwise never gets with him. And he is benefiting immensely from it.

So...IMO teachers should never withhold recess for the whole class. Teachers should never withhold recess as a punishment. But in certain cases it may be useful for a teacher to stay in the classroom with one particular student...as long as done with an educational approach and not just to punish the student.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 09:34     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
With holding recess is not okay. Ever. Kids need to move.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 09:34     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher. I only withhold recess if a child is intentionally and repeatedly hurting other children.


That makes total sense and seems like a reasonable response. Supervision is much less and more difficult at recess than in the classroom, so if a child cannot make safe choices in a classroom situation when closely supervised by the regular teacher, they are also likely to have difficulty playing safely at recess.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 07:36     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
I am a teacher. I only withhold recess if a child is intentionally and repeatedly hurting other children.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 05:05     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
"Anonymous
OP thinks her kid doesn't have to do homework and shouldn't suffer the consequences. This is everything wrong with everything today."

I don't think you read my follow-ups. Dd always does HW normally and I would be ok with some type of consequence from the teacher even for this one time infraction. My question was whether withholding recess was an appropriate consequence. I fully expect that if the teacher is required to stop doing that then she will come up with a different consequence given what I know of her so far.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 00:28     Subject: Re:Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
OP thinks her kid doesn't have to do homework and shouldn't suffer the consequences. This is everything wrong with everything today.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 23:44     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Anonymous wrote:It is not a normal or good practice, no. And it doesn't work to help kids behave better.


+1,000
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 21:18     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
In our school in K bad behavior = no recess.

I just think teachers can hardly manage kids.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 20:10     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You cannot do this in FCPS. Contact the VP.

Yes you can my Kinder last year had it happen a few times for not listening, not finishing work, talking to much.


It may have happened but it is against FCPS policy. Whether recess is indoors or outdoors, children are to have the recess period to engage in physical activity. Upon occasion, there will be a teacher or substitute who doesn't understand or remember the policy. My kids know to inform me when this happens. When I've contacted the school, they have acted quickly to address the issue with the teacher. If the kids have negative behaviors, they may be told to walk (not run) laps instead of playing and I'm fine with that. The school s ystems around here have understood for a very long time that it helps no one when opportunities to move are withheld from kids.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 18:11     Subject: Withholding recess in 1st grade - ?
Nope it is neither of the schools PP mentioned.

"My wife works in MCPS and she said that it is against policy under Starr to cancel / withhold recess for any reason."

Anywhere I can find this in writing?
- OP