My fondest memories of elementary school are of recess. This was in the 1990s in an international school in S E Asia. I don't remember exactly, but morning break was probably 20 minutes and lunch recess 45 minutes. During lunch we had a choice of going to the library, to the outdoor playground, or to the computer lab where we could play …
My fondest memories of elementary school are of recess. This was in the 1990s in an international school in S E Asia. I don't remember exactly, but morning break was probably 20 minutes and lunch recess 45 minutes. During lunch we had a choice of going to the library, to the outdoor playground, or to the computer lab where we could play games on the PCs. The outdoor space included a covered play area (this was in the tropics so lots of sun and/or rain) with lots of equipment like jump ropes, balls, hopscotch and four square. Then there was a huge field with a playground at either end with swings, slides, jungle gym and so on. There was a soccer/football pitch, a basketball court, and tetherball. We were supervised by school support staff who also supervised in the cafeteria and the school buses. It was rare to interact with these support staff - they certainly didn't intervene in our play. My perception was that their main job was to blow a whistle when it was time to go back inside. Teachers were only seen coming to get their lunch in the cafeteria and would then disappear.
Now as an adult, I work in the same type of school myself, and have never worked in a school with so many facilities and options at recess, as I had when I was a student! Moreover, teachers are now required to be in the cafeteria to supervise students during lunch, and outside on the playground to monitor students during recess. School support staff are not used for supervision as it is felt they will be too permissive, not monitor properly and not enforce the rules, or these support staff positions have been eliminated altogether. I've sat in many faculty meetings where teachers were lectured that during playground duty, they must not look at their phones, must actively supervise students at all times, and enforce rules and consequences. Teachers complain that recess just causes problems because the students are bullying each other while away from direct supervision. Or that the students don't like recess and don't want to go. All these recess and lunch duties are a burden on the teachers, who may not get a break during the school day or be able to eat lunch in peace. Note that this is not in a stretched public school, but private schools charging hefty tuition.
I'm a school librarian and have always been required to be on duty for students who want to come to the library during break times. When I was a kid, the library was always a quiet place to retreat at recess, with just a few kids there to check out a new book in between class visits -- everyone else was outdoors. Nowadays, we always have issues with overcrowding, as hordes of kids flock there to sit in the air conditioning/heating and avoid being outside. Only a couple are there to actually read. I assume they spend most of their time indoors and don't like being outside, and have given up trying to play out there since the supervision by teachers is so onerous.
The other big difference is the computer games. I enjoyed playing SimCity, Oregon Trail, KidPix and such in the school computer lab at recess. I guess in those days, it was considered beneficial for children to learn how to use computers, so as students in a wealthy private school, this was provided for us. But I don't remember any addictive behaviour, fighting over computers, kids refusing to stop playing to go back to class etc. Sadly this is how kids are with games and devices now. I can't even offer educational games on the library iPads/laptops because it causes so much disruptive behaviour. I don't think it's the games themselves, but (as Peter has talked about), computer/video games represent the only remaining opportunity these children have for free play, and they are desperate for it. It's very sad, and I really feel for the kids.
My fondest memories of elementary school are of recess. This was in the 1990s in an international school in S E Asia. I don't remember exactly, but morning break was probably 20 minutes and lunch recess 45 minutes. During lunch we had a choice of going to the library, to the outdoor playground, or to the computer lab where we could play games on the PCs. The outdoor space included a covered play area (this was in the tropics so lots of sun and/or rain) with lots of equipment like jump ropes, balls, hopscotch and four square. Then there was a huge field with a playground at either end with swings, slides, jungle gym and so on. There was a soccer/football pitch, a basketball court, and tetherball. We were supervised by school support staff who also supervised in the cafeteria and the school buses. It was rare to interact with these support staff - they certainly didn't intervene in our play. My perception was that their main job was to blow a whistle when it was time to go back inside. Teachers were only seen coming to get their lunch in the cafeteria and would then disappear.
Now as an adult, I work in the same type of school myself, and have never worked in a school with so many facilities and options at recess, as I had when I was a student! Moreover, teachers are now required to be in the cafeteria to supervise students during lunch, and outside on the playground to monitor students during recess. School support staff are not used for supervision as it is felt they will be too permissive, not monitor properly and not enforce the rules, or these support staff positions have been eliminated altogether. I've sat in many faculty meetings where teachers were lectured that during playground duty, they must not look at their phones, must actively supervise students at all times, and enforce rules and consequences. Teachers complain that recess just causes problems because the students are bullying each other while away from direct supervision. Or that the students don't like recess and don't want to go. All these recess and lunch duties are a burden on the teachers, who may not get a break during the school day or be able to eat lunch in peace. Note that this is not in a stretched public school, but private schools charging hefty tuition.
I'm a school librarian and have always been required to be on duty for students who want to come to the library during break times. When I was a kid, the library was always a quiet place to retreat at recess, with just a few kids there to check out a new book in between class visits -- everyone else was outdoors. Nowadays, we always have issues with overcrowding, as hordes of kids flock there to sit in the air conditioning/heating and avoid being outside. Only a couple are there to actually read. I assume they spend most of their time indoors and don't like being outside, and have given up trying to play out there since the supervision by teachers is so onerous.
The other big difference is the computer games. I enjoyed playing SimCity, Oregon Trail, KidPix and such in the school computer lab at recess. I guess in those days, it was considered beneficial for children to learn how to use computers, so as students in a wealthy private school, this was provided for us. But I don't remember any addictive behaviour, fighting over computers, kids refusing to stop playing to go back to class etc. Sadly this is how kids are with games and devices now. I can't even offer educational games on the library iPads/laptops because it causes so much disruptive behaviour. I don't think it's the games themselves, but (as Peter has talked about), computer/video games represent the only remaining opportunity these children have for free play, and they are desperate for it. It's very sad, and I really feel for the kids.