The purpose of recess (or break time/play time) as I understand it, is for children to let off steam and do their own thing, having been subjected to periods of time in which they had to concentrate on subjects they may have no interest in/find difficult.
The more rules we apply, the more we denigrate free play as a worthwhile experience and it cannot fulfil its original function.
I work in an elementary school and find some of the recess rules absurd. Unfortunately, many parents are quick to anger if their child sustains an injury. Perfect protection is the expectation, and as Imelda commented, many parents are quick to consider legal options (at least, that is the fear that seems to drive the behavior of school administrators).
Nora, "Safetyism" is the word for it. And I think it has come more and more to the fore because mothers/women, have more and more power over the school environment. More Matriarchal households and schools set the table for prioritizing safety over ... 'character building.' There are much, much fewer men in the schools, and fewer dads involved in homes.
Boy skins knee. Woman: "oh, honey let's see about that!" Man: "So? Suck it up."
Both orientations have their place. The female one particularly in the early, EARLY, years, the male one later.
We didn't have ANY recess monitors and did essentially everything on the list that is verboten. We survived and became anti-fragile.
This is the one that I think is the worst:
• Be alert to potential problem situations such as the following:
-Organized team games that result in arguments on rule interpretation
That sort of negotiating was going on all the time. And we figured things out and got on with the game. If you didn't cooperate with that process, if you didn't PLAY well, you were out of the game. Straight up.
Man, I'm so glad I was raised in an anti-fragile environment.
I would argue that "So? Suck it up" is just as a poor response as "oh, honey let's see about that". From my perspective you should listen to the needs of the child not enforce your own perspective.
The boy comes to you for comfort for a skinned knee? Reassure them that it's fine and let them be on their way.
"Suck it up" is essentially teaching the child. "How you feel doesn't matter and you shouldn't show it" which is how we get emotionally stilted boys.
The again being over comforting isn't the right approach either.
Yeah lol the recommendation has been to tell kids "you're okay" when they hurt themselves. As a parent that is stupid. I was too worried my toddler had broken something to use that. Instead, i say "are you okay?". That makes her check herself to figure out how the fall made her feel. She says "I'm hurt" or "I need a band aid" or "I'm fine". No kid _wants_ to interrupt their own playing for anything including a skinned knee unless it's not fun anymore.
A good one - the fear that drives administrators. Kids lack discipline and values - when that is missing, there will be such policing. As a parent, I support it. If the kids want to body slam someone, they should do so with their parents. Not other kids who can get hurt. This is a safety issue because discipline is hard when everyone has more kids than they have time to raise.
A recent title from The Free Press: "Lock Up Your Kids! The Eclipse is Coming! In a fit of absurd safetyism, schools are canceling class on April 8 because they’re scared pupils will look at the sun."
Such a contrast in approaches. I think in the US from what I observe and hear the insurance aspect dictates so much, as parents can be litigious. It's similar in Ireland in recent years, some schools have insurance policies for each individual child at a low cost which helps. In early years' settings some inspectors can be quite 'zealous' and settings need to have robust policies and risk management in place to counteract that. It is a joy to watch those children in New Zealand, great headmaster, congratulations!
I agree with what you’re saying Peter, but I think these rules tell a story!! They’re obviously trying to “ train” a variety of low paid, unskilled supervisors with no budget or time to do the job. By providing them with this level of detail they think they’re covering all the bases!
As usual with play (and all high level activities ) without highly skilled professionals who should be remunerated appropriately, input = output. That’s a whole different level.
The main concern here is that children don’t get hurt and there are no lawsuits!!
That list of rules from Maryland is absolutely absurd. At first I thought it must be a delayed April Fool's joke. But of course it's not; it's the logical next step in a world where physical safety is not only encouraged, it's obsessed over and "mandated."
What a perfect way to initiate the indoctrination into lifelong social control.
I wonder if the "No Rules School" in NZ is still able to maintain their free range playground policy?
One thing that would be helpful would be a concise message one might send to a school principal to push back on these kinds of rules. I can link to this post, but I can imagine a ready to go message that links to the most convincing research.
Why not just take out the children's batteries and put them back in their boxes so they're nice and quiet and clean? Less hassle all round than all this lively and essential creative play nonsense 🤪
Another example of government run amuck with unlimited power was after COVID, San Francisco business owners had to deal with 150 pages of requirements for their outdoor eating area. 150 pages for a wooden deck with outdoor tables. Some many people are employed in what is called " Bullshit jobs" which are mostly about creating roadblocks to justify their paychecks.
Boy would I be in trouble. In general music I teach my older students traditional playground rhymes which include bouncing balls off the wall as part of the game.
Added to your ridiculous list: we have a rule that they cant throw stones, but we have hopscotch painted on the blacktop. Some of the older kids asked me if I knew how to play (because they thought just jumping on squared was pretty lame), so I picked up a rock and showed them. They were so excited, and mystified at how I could land the rock in the correct square so many times in a row). Then I reminded them they couldn’t throw stones, and would have to find an adult willing to monitor when the played (I only had recess duty one day a week). The next question from a fifth grader was “why do we have them if we can’t play the game?”. To which I answered “that’s a really good question, who do you think you could talk to that would have the authority to answer it?”
I say this all the time…there are two places in America where we require humans to stand in a line and be quiet. In elementary schools and in prison. It gets people every time I tell them that. I teach at a school where there are no rules like that ones you mentioned, but there are teachers who follow similar rules for themselves. No going up slides. Why not? Don’t splash in puddles after it rains. Why not? I live in Texas where those kids will be all dry in five minutes.
No, minor injury is a part of a child’s learning process. Safetyism does more long-term psychological harm to a child’s development than any skinned knee or broken bone ever could.
The purpose of these rules is to allow the rule following kids some recess time without being trampled by the rowdy kids ( that is the kindest word I will use but find it inadequate). Plenty of kids who plot to push down a 2 yr from the top of a slide; down the staircase; decide that the huddle is really a free for all and plot nefarious ( yes nefarious) schemes - this continues unfettered into elementary, middle school and high school even in catholic schools - adults need guidelines because sadly adults who supervise kids don’t have a clue on what to do. They need this to work through the monitoring. Peter - your idea of childhood is idyllic - one that does not countenance mental disease in kids and one that assumes some degree of parenting. The absence of such parenting is abysmally missing across socio economic lines. I can relate to your shock re these rules because I disabuse myself of those things regularly - kinda like a refresher and remind myself that we live in a “ different world”. You should inquire WHY a school needs this preposterous list - it is because adults don’t function like adults and some pithy stuff like “ boys will be boys” will creep in when they don’t know when, how or galling as it is, IF, they should intervene in certain circumstances. We live among idiots - they need a manual. I am glad it exists - my child survived because some of these guidelines existed. Public, private - exists everywhere. Which is why a college with Greek culture does not appeal to me - I suggest you watch a few kids in the playground as you write these articles. Actually watch - without turning because that is when you miss the first blow by kid no 1 but catch the second one by the victim and find the perp crying!!! They are cute through all that but not in high school.
Unstructured play is hard because the rules of civilized behavior have CHANGED! Not our childhood anymore. Most kids are chemically managed and some forget the medication. Adults overseeing these kids NEED these regulations. They cannot use discretion and prefer to stay out of trouble themselves at a paltry $ an hour. Some can’t get out their chairs once they sit and so don’t, unless they find something that falls within the parameters of the rules.
Will be great for kids to kick a ball around without structure - that makes sense. Without controls - does not. Damage is real and physical ones are irreversible!
Did you watch the video, if so what did you think about it? They mentioned older kids showing up an breaking up fights and that children getting hurt was way down.
Do you attribute that to cultural differences or something else?
I live right down from an elementary school, all we hear when they're outside at recess is them screaming. Just running around screaming!! All of the new "improved" schools here are all glass with some bricks holding it together. Inside they look like institutions, all white Inside.
I am not surprised that its gotten this bad in a place like Maryland. Back in 1996, when I moved to Maryland as a 2nd grader, I was surprised that none of the elementary school play grounds had swings— they had all been outlawed and taken down as unsafe! Swinging was what I loved to do at recess, I was at a total loss. The teachers also seemed overly concerned about us running and skinning our knee on the blacktop, and I was incredulous— coming from New Mexico, where the entire playground was dirt because grass doesn’t grow in a desert, I was simply astounded at the attitude. No swings and no running except on the grass field? What was a kid to do? And this was back in 1996!
A wonderful film. So many amazing ideas here - two things struck me the most. The child that said he likes school now, and the fact the children are too busy to bother with phones or iPads. Maybe the problem with children being ‘hooked ‘ on tech is that they are simply bored!
a thought--provoking start to the week , thanks! In the UK part of this sort of thing about wrap-around procedures would be due to fear of OFSTED, the monitoring agency - though arguably some of that is probably a pretext for doing what pope-let would anyway. Do you think it is a kind of spreading algorithmic approach in which everything is treated like the instruction manual for an online procedure? best wishes George
The purpose of recess (or break time/play time) as I understand it, is for children to let off steam and do their own thing, having been subjected to periods of time in which they had to concentrate on subjects they may have no interest in/find difficult.
The more rules we apply, the more we denigrate free play as a worthwhile experience and it cannot fulfil its original function.
Very true
I work in an elementary school and find some of the recess rules absurd. Unfortunately, many parents are quick to anger if their child sustains an injury. Perfect protection is the expectation, and as Imelda commented, many parents are quick to consider legal options (at least, that is the fear that seems to drive the behavior of school administrators).
Indeed, New Zealand is far, far less litigious than the USA. They literally have public universal no-fault coverage there. And it shows!
And even so in the USA, the FEAR of lawsuits is still disproportionately higher than the actual risk of lawsuits.
Nora, "Safetyism" is the word for it. And I think it has come more and more to the fore because mothers/women, have more and more power over the school environment. More Matriarchal households and schools set the table for prioritizing safety over ... 'character building.' There are much, much fewer men in the schools, and fewer dads involved in homes.
Boy skins knee. Woman: "oh, honey let's see about that!" Man: "So? Suck it up."
Both orientations have their place. The female one particularly in the early, EARLY, years, the male one later.
We didn't have ANY recess monitors and did essentially everything on the list that is verboten. We survived and became anti-fragile.
This is the one that I think is the worst:
• Be alert to potential problem situations such as the following:
-Organized team games that result in arguments on rule interpretation
That sort of negotiating was going on all the time. And we figured things out and got on with the game. If you didn't cooperate with that process, if you didn't PLAY well, you were out of the game. Straight up.
Man, I'm so glad I was raised in an anti-fragile environment.
Respectfully
I would argue that "So? Suck it up" is just as a poor response as "oh, honey let's see about that". From my perspective you should listen to the needs of the child not enforce your own perspective.
The boy comes to you for comfort for a skinned knee? Reassure them that it's fine and let them be on their way.
"Suck it up" is essentially teaching the child. "How you feel doesn't matter and you shouldn't show it" which is how we get emotionally stilted boys.
The again being over comforting isn't the right approach either.
Yeah lol the recommendation has been to tell kids "you're okay" when they hurt themselves. As a parent that is stupid. I was too worried my toddler had broken something to use that. Instead, i say "are you okay?". That makes her check herself to figure out how the fall made her feel. She says "I'm hurt" or "I need a band aid" or "I'm fine". No kid _wants_ to interrupt their own playing for anything including a skinned knee unless it's not fun anymore.
Glad you did not break. Some
Kids do. None should.
A good one - the fear that drives administrators. Kids lack discipline and values - when that is missing, there will be such policing. As a parent, I support it. If the kids want to body slam someone, they should do so with their parents. Not other kids who can get hurt. This is a safety issue because discipline is hard when everyone has more kids than they have time to raise.
A recent title from The Free Press: "Lock Up Your Kids! The Eclipse is Coming! In a fit of absurd safetyism, schools are canceling class on April 8 because they’re scared pupils will look at the sun."
A great article. Insane times.
https://www.thefp.com/p/school-safetyism-classes-closed-solar-eclipse
Such a contrast in approaches. I think in the US from what I observe and hear the insurance aspect dictates so much, as parents can be litigious. It's similar in Ireland in recent years, some schools have insurance policies for each individual child at a low cost which helps. In early years' settings some inspectors can be quite 'zealous' and settings need to have robust policies and risk management in place to counteract that. It is a joy to watch those children in New Zealand, great headmaster, congratulations!
Indeed, New Zealand is far, far less litigious than the USA. They literally have public universal no-fault coverage there. And it shows!
And even so in the USA, the FEAR of lawsuits is still disproportionately higher than the actual risk of lawsuits.
I agree with what you’re saying Peter, but I think these rules tell a story!! They’re obviously trying to “ train” a variety of low paid, unskilled supervisors with no budget or time to do the job. By providing them with this level of detail they think they’re covering all the bases!
As usual with play (and all high level activities ) without highly skilled professionals who should be remunerated appropriately, input = output. That’s a whole different level.
The main concern here is that children don’t get hurt and there are no lawsuits!!
That list of rules from Maryland is absolutely absurd. At first I thought it must be a delayed April Fool's joke. But of course it's not; it's the logical next step in a world where physical safety is not only encouraged, it's obsessed over and "mandated."
What a perfect way to initiate the indoctrination into lifelong social control.
I wonder if the "No Rules School" in NZ is still able to maintain their free range playground policy?
One thing that would be helpful would be a concise message one might send to a school principal to push back on these kinds of rules. I can link to this post, but I can imagine a ready to go message that links to the most convincing research.
Why not just take out the children's batteries and put them back in their boxes so they're nice and quiet and clean? Less hassle all round than all this lively and essential creative play nonsense 🤪
Another example of government run amuck with unlimited power was after COVID, San Francisco business owners had to deal with 150 pages of requirements for their outdoor eating area. 150 pages for a wooden deck with outdoor tables. Some many people are employed in what is called " Bullshit jobs" which are mostly about creating roadblocks to justify their paychecks.
Boy would I be in trouble. In general music I teach my older students traditional playground rhymes which include bouncing balls off the wall as part of the game.
Added to your ridiculous list: we have a rule that they cant throw stones, but we have hopscotch painted on the blacktop. Some of the older kids asked me if I knew how to play (because they thought just jumping on squared was pretty lame), so I picked up a rock and showed them. They were so excited, and mystified at how I could land the rock in the correct square so many times in a row). Then I reminded them they couldn’t throw stones, and would have to find an adult willing to monitor when the played (I only had recess duty one day a week). The next question from a fifth grader was “why do we have them if we can’t play the game?”. To which I answered “that’s a really good question, who do you think you could talk to that would have the authority to answer it?”
I say this all the time…there are two places in America where we require humans to stand in a line and be quiet. In elementary schools and in prison. It gets people every time I tell them that. I teach at a school where there are no rules like that ones you mentioned, but there are teachers who follow similar rules for themselves. No going up slides. Why not? Don’t splash in puddles after it rains. Why not? I live in Texas where those kids will be all dry in five minutes.
Thank you for posting. I love your letters!
No, minor injury is a part of a child’s learning process. Safetyism does more long-term psychological harm to a child’s development than any skinned knee or broken bone ever could.
The purpose of these rules is to allow the rule following kids some recess time without being trampled by the rowdy kids ( that is the kindest word I will use but find it inadequate). Plenty of kids who plot to push down a 2 yr from the top of a slide; down the staircase; decide that the huddle is really a free for all and plot nefarious ( yes nefarious) schemes - this continues unfettered into elementary, middle school and high school even in catholic schools - adults need guidelines because sadly adults who supervise kids don’t have a clue on what to do. They need this to work through the monitoring. Peter - your idea of childhood is idyllic - one that does not countenance mental disease in kids and one that assumes some degree of parenting. The absence of such parenting is abysmally missing across socio economic lines. I can relate to your shock re these rules because I disabuse myself of those things regularly - kinda like a refresher and remind myself that we live in a “ different world”. You should inquire WHY a school needs this preposterous list - it is because adults don’t function like adults and some pithy stuff like “ boys will be boys” will creep in when they don’t know when, how or galling as it is, IF, they should intervene in certain circumstances. We live among idiots - they need a manual. I am glad it exists - my child survived because some of these guidelines existed. Public, private - exists everywhere. Which is why a college with Greek culture does not appeal to me - I suggest you watch a few kids in the playground as you write these articles. Actually watch - without turning because that is when you miss the first blow by kid no 1 but catch the second one by the victim and find the perp crying!!! They are cute through all that but not in high school.
Unstructured play is hard because the rules of civilized behavior have CHANGED! Not our childhood anymore. Most kids are chemically managed and some forget the medication. Adults overseeing these kids NEED these regulations. They cannot use discretion and prefer to stay out of trouble themselves at a paltry $ an hour. Some can’t get out their chairs once they sit and so don’t, unless they find something that falls within the parameters of the rules.
Will be great for kids to kick a ball around without structure - that makes sense. Without controls - does not. Damage is real and physical ones are irreversible!
Did you watch the video, if so what did you think about it? They mentioned older kids showing up an breaking up fights and that children getting hurt was way down.
Do you attribute that to cultural differences or something else?
I live right down from an elementary school, all we hear when they're outside at recess is them screaming. Just running around screaming!! All of the new "improved" schools here are all glass with some bricks holding it together. Inside they look like institutions, all white Inside.
I am not surprised that its gotten this bad in a place like Maryland. Back in 1996, when I moved to Maryland as a 2nd grader, I was surprised that none of the elementary school play grounds had swings— they had all been outlawed and taken down as unsafe! Swinging was what I loved to do at recess, I was at a total loss. The teachers also seemed overly concerned about us running and skinning our knee on the blacktop, and I was incredulous— coming from New Mexico, where the entire playground was dirt because grass doesn’t grow in a desert, I was simply astounded at the attitude. No swings and no running except on the grass field? What was a kid to do? And this was back in 1996!
A wonderful film. So many amazing ideas here - two things struck me the most. The child that said he likes school now, and the fact the children are too busy to bother with phones or iPads. Maybe the problem with children being ‘hooked ‘ on tech is that they are simply bored!
Hi Peter,
a thought--provoking start to the week , thanks! In the UK part of this sort of thing about wrap-around procedures would be due to fear of OFSTED, the monitoring agency - though arguably some of that is probably a pretext for doing what pope-let would anyway. Do you think it is a kind of spreading algorithmic approach in which everything is treated like the instruction manual for an online procedure? best wishes George