CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Parents who are pushing for additional recess at Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools are continuing their efforts, and they seem to have gotten renewed attention from the district administration.
At a recent School Board meeting, dozens of parents turned out to support improved recess, and several addressed the board. They said they have a petition with 700 signatures supporting the idea.
Rachel Bush told the board Tuesday night that while the state of Tennessee requires that all employees be provided a 30-minute break in any shift of six or more hours, CMCSS allows only about 15 minutes of recess in 6.5 hours of the school day – half of what’s given to working adults.
She said that by her calculation, there’s 25 minutes of time unaccounted for in the Tennessee education mandates, so that should provide leeway for more recess. She also said there are five counties in Tennessee that offer more recess than CMCSS, three of whom have better test scores.
CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson previously said the schedule is already full. “There is a finite amount of time students are at school, so in order to increase recess time beyond the average 15-20 minutes per day, time must be taken from other areas,” he told Clarksville Now.
PREVIOUSLY: Recess in schools: Moms push Clarksville-Montgomery County to offer more breaks for kids
Bush acknowledged that CMCSS did a pilot program at Barksdale Elementary in 2022 to test a recess program, but she said the program was flawed, and that school administrators had conceded that it was.
CMCSS is an innovative district, she said. “We’re asking that you remain innovative” and do another pilot program.
‘We have to get these kids moving’
Dr. Dale Brown addressed the School Board on the science behind the recess push. He said brains develop from sensory input, and movement, exercise and play provide that input. Exercise and movement improve brain neurology.
“If schools care about memory and learning, then we have to get these kids moving more,” Brown said.
He asked officials what the barriers are to additional recess and to work with the community to get around those barriers.
Other parents pointed out that too often recess is scheduled at the end of the day, which defeats the purpose of recess, and that children aren’t designed to sit still for hours on end.
Fixes and changes requested
Morgan Garner clarified the parents’ request that CMCSS “fix three things and to change two.”
Things to fix:
- Eliminate recess being taken away as a punishment, which is a violation of state requirements.
- Start and stop the clock for recess on the playground not the classroom, which is part of the state requirements.
- Provide adequate indoor recess facilities for inclement weather. “Staying indoors in the classroom is not cutting it,” she said.
Things to change:
- Allow elementary schools to offer Physical Education every day. “PE should not be considered special. This is a right, for children to move,” Garner said.
- Substantially increase recess time.
“In 2017, CMCSS had two recesses per day. If we did it before, we can do it again,” Garner said.
School officials plan meeting
On Monday, CMCSS administration discussed the matter at their team meeting, Johnson told Clarksville Now.
“The Directors of Elementary Schools will be meeting with a group of parents next week to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the future,” he said.
Johnson has previously said CMCSS recognizes the importance of getting the kids out of the classroom.
“When possible, teachers and schools do add extra recess time on a class-by-class, school-by-school basis, and in the warmer months, we generally observe an increase in extra recess, field days, fun runs, kickball tournaments, etc. at schools,” he said.
“While not specific to recess, CMCSS is continuing to explore opportunities to provide more access for students to learn outside in the natural environment. From supporting outdoor gardens to reallocating grant funds to provide outdoor classroom furniture at schools, CMCSS is making efforts to increase outdoor recreation and environmental learning.”