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January29

the big recess rip-off

So, I’m back from my duel with the principal.

As expected, it was sort of anti-climactic. The principal was perfectly nice (no surprise) and I was probably too agreeable. While I think she can see where I’m coming from it’s clear that we have different goals/values. And yes, mine are better than hers.

Her focus is physical activity. My focus is free-time. I think physical activity is GREAT, don’t get me wrong. But that’s also why we have GYM CLASS.

She is concerned that kids are sitting in chairs far too much. Yes, they are. The answer? Rip off their recess and turn it into outside gym class? Well, her goal is MOVEMENT. It’s all part of a health and wellness initiative. No matter that in the meantime, they’re taking away the only breaks these kids get by insisting they play games and play on the play structures. Thing is – not all the kids WANT to play these games and/or play on the structures. This is where I have a problem. It’s recess. A break. Let them have a fucking break! The bonus? A lot of times they WILL play the games and on the structures. It’s really pretty win/win. Recess – the concept – is pretty ingenious. Give them structures, give them space, give them balls and they will usually get some physical activity. So I don’t really get it.

There was a lot of semantics talk. Kids can play chase games IF they aren’t called chase games and are instead referred to as imaginative play games. Teachers must also be in the know if kids are going to play said imaginative games so they know nothing chaotic (gasp!) is happening.

I got her to come around a little on talking to kids about their perception of recess. Remember my last post about this and how they want to change the perception of recess away from FUN and toward TOTALLY LAME? Well, those words are from some dude named Curt Hinson (PhD!) who came up with this program and seriously – this guy has got to be one step away from Howard-Hughes-urinating-in-jars. He absolutely HAS to have OCD, he is SO RIGID.

HIS WORDS:
• The perception of recess (what it is and its value) is generally not correct.
• Children need to be taught what to play and do at recess.
• Children generally need ideas given to them about what to play.

Well, she largely disagrees with that and who wouldn’t? It’s total bullshit! I told her that it would benefit the kids to tell them they can still do what they want as long as they operate within safe guidelines. Let them play tag and if someone gets hurt because of bullying or violent behavior, then it’s time for those kids and a teacher to sit down and refigure that tag game until they can find a way to play safely – the KIDS doing the refiguring. She agreed. Will it change? Will they be able to play tag? Hell no. But, at least she agreed with the perception change part. At least I think she did.

One of the things Mr. OCD deems unacceptable at recess is “not participating”. So, if you’re the kind of kid that likes to lay in the grass and watch the clouds as a way of decompressing from your stressful and structured school day, GOOD LUCK! None of that, Lazy McLazerton! They don’t care if you decompress by laying around looking at clouds (as every kid should learn to do – it’s divine), they want you moving! MOVE – you can look at clouds while you walk. Plus, it’s not like this is free-time, because you don’t get any of that.

Sigh.

I walked out of there feeling SLIGHTLY better, but still pissy. My next step, I suppose, is to figure out how this effing program got approved (6 years ago!) and how other parents feel about it. I don’t ever expect most parents in the ‘burbs to fall in line with my way of thinking – I’m a bit of an outsider. We’re the weird people at the bottom of the hill.

Still, it’s worth a try.

photo credit: flickr user clover_1

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January27

Free-Range Kids and ME

Yesterday I emailed Lenore from Free-Range Kids (total friend crush on this one – she started the Free-Range Kids movement) and asked her if she had any tips for my upcoming meeting with the authoriTAY at school on Friday.

She did. And even better, she wrote a blog post about all of this malarkey.

If you are not familiar with Lenore or the Free-Range Kids movement, I suggest you check out her book. It’ll put things in perspective, and it’ll even make you laugh. That right there is a win/win.

I’ve decided to keep my wits about me and NOT puke on the principal’s desk. I am going to focus on the importance of free time and I’m going to really try and find the mom inside this principal. She IS a mom, after all. A mom that wants her kids to have fun has got to be in there SOMEWHERE.

I really appreciate all of the support.

I think I can hear the Rocky theme. Can you?

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