Cut Recess and Get Sued?

09/01/2004

"A straight path never leads anywhere except to the objective." - André Gide in Journals

Cut Recess and Get Sued?

One of Rich Scofield's big campaigns was to get children more physically active. Here is an excerpt from Rich's editorial in the January 2003 issue of School-Age Notes:

"Over the past several months USA Today and other media have reported extensively on the dramatic increases in childhood obesity including the contributing factors of lack of physical activity and exercise. Nowhere in this discussion of increasing obesity in children and adults and the lack of physical activity...has one of the major contributors been acknowledged. It's our culture of academic extremism -- learning to read and write at all costs, including the cost of diminished physical activity.

"Recess, physical education and play have all been reduced or eliminated while the length of the school day has been increased. Half-day kindergarten has been increased to full-day, and six-hour school days to seven, while the amount of homework in elementary school has also been increased. After-school programs that used to allow letting off of steam and developmentally normal play such as kickball games are now pressured to make sure homework is done and activities are related to learning that will increase standardized test scores.

"School systems control the physical activity of our children five days a week, nine months a year. Undeniably parents have a great deal of control over what their children eat which can contribute to obesity. However, parents have no control over how much exercise their children are allowed in school or after-school programs. Our current education system has emphasized measureable academic data and standards. Height and weight measurements taken at the beginning of the school year and at the end can be compared to growth curve norms. School systems that have data showing increases above the norms should be held accountable.

"For thousands of years, physical activity in children was a built-in developmental drive that the environment usually allowed for. Perhaps when school systems realize they are exposed to lawsuits by parents of overweight children....for denying the developmental necessity of physical activity, schools will make the changes needed for allowing physical movement and active play."

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