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Parents want HISD to stop playing with recess - Houston Chronicle

Parents in HISD are lobbying the board to ensure that their children don't miss out on the one-time staple of elementary school: recess. Upset that some principals have shortened recess or eliminated it amid academic pressure, the parents have asked the Houston Independent School District to mandate the free playtime for 30 minutes a day in all elementary schools. Texas law doesn't mandate... moreParents in HISD are lobbying the board to ensure that their children don't miss out on the one-time staple of elementary school: recess. Upset that some principals have shortened recess or eliminated it amid academic pressure, the parents have asked the Houston Independent School District to mandate the free playtime for 30 minutes a day in all elementary schools. Texas law doesn't mandate recess but says elementary school students must get at least 135 minutes a week - or 27 minutes a day - of physical activity. Sam Sarabia, HISD's chief of elementary schools, said he understands the push for recess - to give children time to relax and learn socialization skills - but the enemy is time. Grier said district officials may want to discuss the possibility of lengthening the school day - a costly endeavor to pay staff overtime. Numerous studies have shown a positive relationship between recess and students' cognitive skills and classroom behavior, according to a 2010 analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Tuesday afternoon, students at Poe - taking a break from swinging on monkey bars, kicking a soccer ball and playing tag - echoed the research, in their own words., Parents in HISD are lobbying the board to ensure that their children don't miss out on the one-time staple of elementary school: recess. Upset that some principals have shortened recess or eliminated it amid academic pressure, the parents have asked the Houston Independent School District to mandate the free playtime for 30 minutes a day in all elementary schools. Texas law doesn't mandate recess but says elementary school students must get at least 135 minutes a week - or 27 minutes a day - of physical activity. Sam Sarabia, HISD's chief of elementary schools, said he understands the push for recess - to give children time to relax and learn socialization skills - but the enemy is time. Grier said district officials may want to discuss the possibility of lengthening the school day - a costly endeavor to pay staff overtime. Numerous studies have shown a positive relationship between recess and students' cognitive skills and classroom behavior, according to a 2010 analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Tuesday afternoon, students at Poe - taking a break from swinging on monkey bars, kicking a soccer ball and playing tag - echoed the research, in their own words. view page