Benefit of Structured Recess: Diminishes Bullying
There has been a lot of press lately about bullying and rightly so. It has become an epidemic, but it’s more or less obvious now than in the years past.
There are new ideas that are now coming into the forefront to prevent and even stop the meanness and disrespect that has seemed to become scholastically prevalent.
I read an article from “Education Week,” which is a periodical that many teachers and retired teachers subscribe to. The article, “Study Weighs Benefits of a More-Structured Recess,” was written and researched by Nirvi Shah, a former writer for “Education Week.” She is now the education editor for “Politico Pro.”
In American schools, the problems of fighting and bullying can sometimes develop during recess and lunch time, especially with the elementary school aged children, where the kids would cut loose on the playground, like escaped caged animals, during lunch recess.
In a study released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the solution is to have a focus of well trained-staff on the playground. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted solely to the public’s health. The study relating to problems on the playground examines an approach to creating more-structured recess time. The idea was born in Oakland, California from a nonprofit organization called Playworks, where the program can smooth the transition between recess and class time. This move is meant to give teachers more time to spend on instruction and cut back on bullying in the schoolyard.
This is about creating more organized play during recess, as opposed to letting the kids go out and have a free-for-all playtime. Keeping the students involved with organized play with contests and games is going to change their focus for play and avoid conflict and confrontation during recess. The theory behind these so-called new ideas has merit. Is it a solution to bullying? To some degree, yes.
I have always felt that being involved with sports is a good way for children to develop respect and friendship among their peer groups. This really isn’t a new idea. There has always been a positive effect in the growth of individuals by developing long term relationships through sports or competitive play.
Organizing playground or recess activities sounds like an ideal situation. Adding more responsibility to the school districts to have qualified instructors to orchestrate these activities might not be.
There are now state academic mandates, for school districts, gushing into the educational mainstream and adding another element to the equation might not be cost effective. Maybe it’s not the expense but more of another responsibility for the already over-the-top mandatory requirements that teachers have in their daily preparation for the classroom.
The idea of organized play during recess might cut back on the bullying, but there needs to be more research on what is recess compared to what is physical activity.
Let’s see now. The classroom teacher: does he, or she, have to add more to their lesson plans for recess and prepare their students for the new exams mandated by the state
Do the physical education teachers have part of their responsibility in playground activity? Playing with your friends and classmates has to be considered a must, because interaction between the students through physical play is a necessary element in education. There is more to school than doing word problems and math concepts in the classroom—it’s called socializing.
The structured recess is a grand idea, but should there be a time for free play?
Supervision is obviously part of recess. Giving the kids some ideas of what they can do in groups, which they usually can figure out for themselves, playing games like four square and kickball, has been around forever.
Addressing the bullying that might occur on the playground has to be observed and dealt with at that time. I agree that playing sports, or games, will change the playground environment. It may even eliminate the idea of using the power of might over each other.
But, there is bullying that we don’t see and still exists, like on the internet and the social media, or in the halls of school.
Parents of those who bully and those who are the victims need to become more proactive. They need to be educated about the intimidation of those who might be weaker and who are vulnerable to bullying. Plus, teachers and administrators can’t ignore what’s happening; this is a real thing for the children, not something that will go away. The old cliché that comes to my mind is that, “It takes a village.”
There are many seminars and instructional classes that are being implemented into teacher education classes and also for parental programs.
Obviously, camaraderie can develop from playing four square, baseball-off-the-wall, and kickball. The results are the multiple developments of friendships that will curb mean-spirited behavior. After all, many of our friendships have grown from our school years, beginning with the elementary years, and even stronger bonds occur through sports and team play.
What a better way for children to use their energy, in a positive manner, than through sports and playing games. Just maybe it starts at recess.
