Superintendent says breaks, physical activity already allowed
When Andrea Savoie of Destrehan posted her online petition March 2 entitled, “Bring Back Recess in St. Charles Parish Schools,” it generated 911 signatures in six days.
Recess being replaced by “brain breaks,” which gives the teacher discretion to decide when students get a break, isn’t new.
But parents’ opposition to the change is mounting into a national movement and they want to restore recess.
Savoie, as well as the many people, local and further, who signed the petition within hours of her posting it on MoveOn.org’s website, maintains recess is a necessary time for physical activity, as well as socialization. She additionally maintains teachers are restricting or withholding brain breaks as “an ineffective punitive measure.”
Savoie states she’s bringing her petition to Ajit Perthe, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, and to Felecia Gomez-Walker, superintendent.
Gomez-Walker, who noted she was aware of the petition, said recess was replaced by brain breaks after research indicated recess was cutting into optimum learning time.
“At that time, we decided to give the teachers autonomy to take the kids out for physical activity when it didn’t interrupt learning,” she said. “We renamed recess as a brain break. They’re still going out for recess, but now at a more convenient time for the students and learning.”
However, Gomez-Walker said they will consider Savoie’s concerns.
“It’s an opportunity for us to really look at what we’re doing at each of our schools, and if there are some areas to adjust we’re certainly willing to do that,” she said.Unlike recess, a brain break can vary in length and time depending on a student’s activity or need to move, the superintendent said. The teacher decides the length and number of the breaks.
Although Savoie suggested a brain break could be withheld from a student, Gomez-Walker said, “We certainly discourage taking away brain breaks or recess from students for punitive purposes. That is another area we will be looking at.”
On physical activity, Gomez-Walker also said the School Board approved funding to provide at least one physical education teacher at each school along with other activity periods.
“Students are not sitting behind desks all day long,” she said. “We do incorporate different modes of learning.”
But Savoie’s petition says her kindergarten student is coming home regularly with complaints about school pressure.
“My son started kindergarten at New Sarpy Elementary this year and has come home daily complaining about there being too much classroom work at school,” she states. “He would enjoy going to school more if there was less emphasis on instructional work and more emphasis on learning through play. “
She adds, “Developmentally, children should not be punished from this highly beneficial form of learning.”
Savoie’s petition is also tapping a national effort by parents to bring back recess.
Arguing that it is falling victim to budget cuts and testing pressures in many elementary schools in recent years, PTAs have been organizing a movement on how to rally to restore recess in schools.
Their political activism includes providing instructional materials that outline such efforts as starting a petition, approaching school boards and talking to school principals, as well as approaching congressional delegations and even staging a protest to make the point.
Of the hundreds of people – local and beyond – who signed Savoie’s petition, many agreed that children simply need more active time and that, in turn, will make them better students.
Kerry Naquin and Colette Bernard, both of Destrehan, say the issue is about balance.
Naquin said children learn by playing, too.
Bernard maintains kids still need to be kids by letting them burn off energy, which will help them pay more attention in class.
Cory Savoie of Luling calls it “absolutely ridiculous that there is no recess in school … not only for the physical benefits, but for the mental and emotional benefits. The playground is where many lifelong friendships are formed and social skills are developed.”
St. Rose’s Sylvia Petifils adds recess is certainly needed with providing outside activity.
Jennifer Green of Luling praises the parish’s school system, but adds, “We are failing our children by denying them adequate recess time. There is a copious amount of research that shows the benefits of recess, and also lots of research that discusses how unacceptable it is to take away recess as a punishment for misbehavior. Please help our kids and give them time to be kids by bringing back recess.”
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