Recess Patrol
April 27, 2010 by Kathy McManus
In school yards across the country, recess coaches are being hired to teach and cajole kids into playing organized games. The New York Times reports that the coaches — wielding whistles and playbooks — are sought by schools to “curb bullying and behavior problems, foster social skills and address concerns over obesity.”
In Newark, for example, Broadway Elementary School hired a recess coach “out of exasperation with students who, left to their own devices, used to run into one another, squabble over balls and jump-ropes or monopolize the blacktop while exiling their classmates to the sidelines.” Since the coach took control, recess disciplinary cases like bloody noses and “busted lips” have declined by 75 percent.
But critics say what may appear to be responsibly structured time in fact has a negative impact on kids, who “benefit most from recess when they are let alone to daydream, solve problems, (and) use their imagination to invent their own games.” According to Dr. Romina Barros, author of a well known study about the benefits of recess, structured play time merely moves classroom rules outside. “You still have to pay attention,” she said. “You still have to follow rules. You don’t have that time for your brain to relax.”
Should we let kids figure it out for themselves on the playground, or hire a coach to help?
Find More ///
Related ///
A Champion for Homeless Pets
The founder of The Best Friends Animal Society explains the origins of the “no kill movement” and his continued efforts to help homeless animals.
Talking About Bullying
Discovery Education explores how to get kids thinking about a difficult issue.
Have Pets, Will Travel
Faced with a cross-country move, a pet-loving couple has to figure out how to move their menagerie without ruffling feathers.
TED Talk: Sir Ken Robinson
A thought-provoking argument that schools need a new focus on nurturing creativity.
Europe Deems 2014 the Year Against Food Waste
Should we take waste stats more seriously?
8 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
May 4, 2010 by Alan
I think that this is an idea based on the situation of the playground. Most kids staying aside alone or with a small group of friends probably don't WANT to be with most other kids. Coaches will control recess and make it more safe, but telling those other kids to get up and play with others they don't enjoy being with is not a good thing to be had. It truly depends on the situation of the school, but most likely are good enough without coaches.
Reply
May 9, 2010 by Jeff Allen
I just think kids need to be kids, we obviously need people out there to keep some things from getting out of hand, like the fighting. But let them do what they want to do, the school would actually be hurting some of the kids that say are not the most physically fit so structured games like kickball and recess wide tag would not be their favorite. There is also a difference that kids seem to get out of different ways activities are structured, I find i get more fun if I am doing something like building the many snow forts when I was that age, than if it were to be a competition on who could build the best fort. As a college student myself (I saw these ads when trying to watch South Park) I have a lot of good memories on the playground, and unstructured all out fun play time is the best medicine.
Reply
May 13, 2010 by mom of 10
Here again parents are not teaching at home how to be polite to others and get along take turns say please and thank you that goes a long way in one on one and group situations. using good words and quiet voices usually helps to calm situations. parents also need to back up the teacher in situations showing respect to the teacher and the student will also try to do better. I know a boy that was put out of the tradional school for bad behavior. I think some kids need structure on the play ground because they don't get enough at home and because their brain moves in that way, but not all kids do. Kids that ge into trouble seem to need more than others. An old quote says: "Idle hands are the devils workshop" and "A child left to himself will bring embarassment and trouble to the parents". THis has sure proven true to me with the children i have and those i have come in contact with. My life has been mostly children (daycare in my home, school teacher, school bus driver and mother of 10) Parents teach your children respect for others and themselves by being a good example at ALL times. Remember good things do not come easy.
Reply
May 13, 2010 by mom
it has been my experience with the kids i have had of my own and in my daycare of 20 years in my home that some kids thrive on structured play time and others do not. Usually those having acting out problems are the ones that benefit most from structured activities as they ge bored easily. This teaches respect for the team members as well as adult authority as a second benefit. ON the other hand there ore those more calm and reserved that seem to get along very well with out this structure and do well on their own during free time and there are those that take suggestion for activity as well. Some need a mental chalenge for their free time also. So for me it don"t think it is a good idea to have ALL of the children forced into structured recess activity. there is diversity in the needs of the kids and good in every one if you can uncover the need there. So yes it can be a good thing if done correctly and a bad thing if done incorrectly.
Reply
October 12, 2010 by Revalee Campbell
My son was just tagged with the name of being a bully on the play ground,just because he was playing with a group of children and yes they were pushing.poking,kicking , name calling,.This is the first time that i have been made aware that their was a problem. When the school notified me on the phone the school counsler said your son was being a bully on the play ground, In reply i told her i would be right there and get this problem taken care of. When i arrived at the school, the counsler was busy and could not talk so the principal and i sat down, she started to explain what was going on, about the way my son was acting on the play ground and she came right out and told me that again your son is a bully because this is what we have found out by taking a servy in the classroom because the teacher wanted to find out why her class was the last to lunch.so through the paper work that the children handed in the principal thought it was ok to tell me that he is a bully. They could have called and said anything else and i wdould not have been angry but the school chose totake it upon them selves to open that bag of worms, should i be angry for them tagging my son befor they should??
Reply
October 21, 2011 by Glenda
You were angry right away that they dare tag your son as a bully. This in itself shows that you went there ready to disprove them. If they were taking one child's word against another it might be different. I have worked with elementary children for years and if a group in the same class room point to your child as the bully well take my word it is in most cases the truth. Believe me the last thing the school wants to do is face an angry parent! you said this was the first you have heard of it but, I believe for the staff to call you on this there is a lot more to this story....
Reply
October 26, 2010 by Damari
When you have a person like Jeff Ursino, as a member of the board of trustee in Pajaro Valley Unified School District, you compromise that district. Google his name so you can understand what a bully he was towards my family and pray for the children of PVUSD. He is not the best choice for the kids and the only reason he is getting this post is because no one opposed him, so now they are stuck with him. He is heartless, fired me 12 days before Christmas, via UPS and for no good reason, breaking California labor codes and more, while I was ill and with a workers comp case pending, goodluck to all he makes choices for . All I was trying to do was be there for my daughter but he didnt care, oh and I was ill, he had the doctors note stating I would not be back until the 16th and he fired me on the 13th, but I didnt know until the 15th, what a guy...This really saids a lot about the way he treats people and what is important, once a bully always a bully, especially when you bully as an adult and enjoy doing it.And yet the bank never fired him but my tax dollars bailed them out, where is the justice
Reply
November 18, 2011 by BullyEpert
If Bullying gets out of hand, Get a copy of Words Hit Hard as a Fist, With 18 Tips on How to STOP being Bullied. Balboa Press and Amazon. With over 20 years experience working with kids as well as adults on life skills and being a team builder. I have put my years of experience in a book so everyone will understand what to do. Remember, Bullying is a three part equation. There is the bully, bullied and the bystander.
Reply
Tell us what you think.
Let the world know what you think, but please do so responsibly. Comments are moderated and we will not post personal attacks, obscene language or inappropriate material, comments with links, or comments from people under the age of 18. If you have a question, check out our Comment Submission Guidelines.