Image Credit: CMCSS Focus / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
After a new law was passed this year increasing recess times for elementary students, a group known as Say Yes to Recess is saying physical activity requirements are being ignored in several middle schools.
Thanks to the advocacy from Say Yes To Recess, HB0085/SB0158 was signed by the Governor in May, increasing recess and physical activity times for elementary students from 15 minutes to a mandatory 40 minutes per day. The group has now turned their attention to middle schools, claiming many are not following state law requiring physical activity.
“A lot of these kids go from elementary school where now, thankfully, they’re getting 40 minutes of recess into a middle school where they’re not even getting PE every week,” Say Yes to Recess mom Morgan Garner said. “So, they’re going from a decent amount of physical activity, PE two, three times a week and recess to nothing.”
Reportedly, several parents in the Clarksville Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) have raised concerns that their child’s middle school is counting walking to and from classes as part of the 90-minute activity requirement for the week, contrary to state law.
Several Say Yes to Recess moms addressed the CMCSS board at their Oct. 21 meeting, thanking them for their support of the elementary increases and making their case about the middle school standards being properly upheld.
“We have the opportunity to take another step up by giving middle school students unstructured break time during the day. In many ways, no age needs this more, middle school is a time of major transition. Physically, emotionally, socially, students are adjusting to new expectations, yet despite that, they have less time than ever to move, decompress, and just be kids. They need a break,” said Rachel Bush, a Say Yes to Recess organizer.
“We have labor laws that protect adults from going all day without a break, yet we offer middle schoolers nothing more than five minutes between classes, and in some cases not even that… What message are we sending, and what outcomes are we expecting, and how did we get to a place where asking for a break for middle schoolers feels so radical?”
Bush pointed to two middle schools in the area which do offer recess, one daily and the second every other day. She reasoned that if recess can work for those schools, it should for other six in the district. So far, Say Yes to Recess has said district officials have been receptive to their petitions and hopes to work together to bring all middle schools into compliance.
CMCCS officials issued a statement expressing their intent to take the Recess Moms’ concerns and suggestions to heart, saying they have begun discussions with middle school principals on how to work towards refining their physical activity standards.
“Ultimately, ‘recess”’ at the middle-school level may not be the norm nationally, but we acknowledge the research and benefits presented by the Recess Moms. On the most recently released state data, our middle schools made historic academic gains, with nearly 90% meeting and exceeding state expectations and half earning the highest score possible. We will continue refining our learning environments to support student growth, and Dr. Luna-Vedder, Director of Schools, has set the expectation that we continue to be an innovative district. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Recess Moms, and we will be sharing information about how unstructured activity time will be implemented district-wide in middle schools at a future Board meeting,” the statement read.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
