I just read about this blog randomly on the news and I am going to start following her. I certainly remember better options at school when I was younger. This is sad. And what is this nonsense about NO recess? No wonder our kids are being diagnosed with ADHD ad ADD hand over fist. These kids don't have mental issues, these kids have sitting on their butts and not getting out issues. I remember when I was little, VERY little time was spent inside, and it surely wasn't spent on video games, or in front of the TV or computer. It's funny, I remember if given the option I WANTED to go outside. Mom and I had a very small TV that certainly didn’t scream to be watched. If I was inside, I played house, or school or barbies, I talked to myself a lot when I played, or I talked to the imaginary people I was playing with, thus gaining some language and communication skills. On even better occasions a friend would come over, and we never watched TV. We played, interacted with each other, and had fun. School was the same way. Recess was our break during the day, it was the adult equivalent of lunch hour. It was also the place where you met all the other kids and made friends. How are kids supposed to make friends, if they have no time to meet the other kids? I am not a fan nor have I EVER been a fan of Gym class, but it was needed, get the blood going work out a little, even if it was only playing with the big parachute in the gym. I realize that not all schools have cut recess, but they are cutting back. Recess used to be at least 45 minutes or so (including lunch) now how long is it? Maybe 30?
As a parent I am scared to death about what is going on in school's these days. I have seen the kids in my neighborhood as they walk home with suitcases (and I mean that literally) on wheels. This is insane to me. Not only do we have our children up and out the door standing at the bus stop, sometimes as early as 6 am. Teachers then bog them down with HOURS of homework. And I have to ask myself "Is it helping? are our children getting smarter? are they learning more?" I realize that teachers aren't to blame (at least I hope not) I realize that it's the government telling them what to teach and how. But I love my kids, and I want to spend time with them, how am I going to do that, have them be active in some sort of athletic activity (which is apparently necessary with no recess and only one gym class a week) have them active in church and still get the grades Eric and I hope they get to get into a good school?
It does no good to "Wage a war on Obesity" if you offer kids pizza, and chicken nuggets and CRAP for lunch, and then give them no opportunity to work off those calories. Pay attention Michelle Obama. FIX this!! And I mean fix it now!! There is no reason to make kids FAT in school and then blame the child or parent.
http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/2010_03_14_archive.html
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I know exactly where you are coming from. The kids in my school are all below grade level and we keep passing them on because we're too afraid to retain them. Therefore, the kids aren't trying as hard because they know they'll be passed on. I have 8 kids in 4th Grade that don't know their ABC's and at least 5 are reading at a 2nd Grade Level or lower. How does a child get to 4th grade like this?? I don't know, but I am still responsible for getting them to pass a 4th Grade state exam at the end of April. Yes, a lot of my kids miss out on recess so they can be in lunch tutoring...but I try to make it fun, because I know they're missing out! I don't know all the answers, but I do think that we're putting too much on the kids. The system is broken and no one in office is capable of fixing it. They have their own agendas and do not listen to experienced teachers. It is a very different elementary school than the one you and I remember, and it's sad.
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