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Recess helps student achievement, behavior, principals say

posted by lesliepostal on February, 5 2010 7:00 AM

This probably qualifies as “Duh” news to many in education circles: Principals report that recess helps kids with their academics, behavior and social development.

Of course, principals also report (and this isn’t a surprise either) that they’ve cut back or even cut out recess under pressure to improve academic achievement (read: test scores).

This information comes from a new “The State of Play” report based on a Gallup survey of 2,000 elementary school principals.

Principals think that a break to play helps kids listen and focus better and helps their “general well-being.”

But one in five principals report that testing requirements have cut down on recess at their campuses.

This has been an issue in Florida. In fact, in 2008 I reported on a trio of local Moms who were fighting to get recess back in their children’s elementary schools.

The good recess does kids has been studied and reported previously (see this post here).

”Between clinical evidence and the direct input of our nation’s principals, the benefits of recess are well documented,” the new report says. “Recess should no longer be treated as an afterthought or an expendable block of time. Instead, it must be recognized as an essential part of the school day.”