Can You Imagine a World Without Recess? (Issues in Education) (Report‪)‬

Recess has been a staple of the elementary school day for generations. Participating in child-initiated, outdoor play has provided hours of unstructured fun. Such breaks supply the emotional, physical, and social rejuvenation that developing bodies and minds need. But are these experiences now only a faded, nostalgic memory from the past? While fond memories of recess abound for grown-ups, they are lacking for many children, because many schools across the United States are eliminating recess due to the belief that time is more wisely spent on academics (Patte, 2009). Indeed, over the duration of my teaching career, I have witnessed the increased devaluation of recess. In my current role as a university professor, I have visited many school sites that provide little time for daily recess. These personal experiences conjured up images of a story I read as a child, "All Summer in a Day" (Bradbury, 1959), in which recess is limited and the impact on children is profound. This fictional story offers keen insights into the dangers of eliminating recess from children's lives.