I think these readings really open your eyes when it comes to how education is being handled in schools these days. The facts were somewhat depressing, but the article was extremely informing and the videos were as well. I don't know why the education system has taken a turn like this, or why exactly they felt that limiting recess would somehow enhance learning, but it really does seem like it is hurting way more than helping.
According to Louv, P.E. classes have dropped from 42 to 28 percent between 1991 and 2003. Field trips have taken cuts, and nearly 40 percent of school have either dropped or considered cutting recess. The best part is we're choosing to do this when the country is battling obesity. We're doing this while trying to teach children to protect the environment. We're saying all these things, yet our actions are saying otherwise.
And then reading facts like this, it is no wonder that people are diagnosing kids with ADHD, or a variance, falsely. Kids are supposed to be running around, burning of energy, socially interacting with others their age, and just being a kid. Literally locking them in a building for 6-9 hours a day is obviously going to drive them crazy. These kids don't need to be labeled as bipolar or add or anything else at such a young age. Maybe all they need is a variation of their day, to not be so repetitive. No one wants to be crammed in a room all day with little to no physical stimulation.
Dewey also mentions that learning is interactive. We learn more when it's a first hand experience. Louv mentions that it would be beneficial to at least have some classes outside once in a while. In 7th grade my history teacher used to take us outside and sit on the baseball bleachers and have class from there. He always said if it was a nice day, we should be outside. I can attest to the fact that this indeed worked. We had more fun learning outside, even if we weren't necessarily doing something outside. It was enough to just be.
As a society, we shouldn't be discouraging recess and outdoor classes. Instead we should be encouraging it. It could potentially free children from misdiagnosed illnesses, and it just overall a healthy activity that children have been enjoying for hundreds of years. It would be a huge mistake if we were to get away from it and lock children into a 4 walled room 200+ days a year.
According to Louv, P.E. classes have dropped from 42 to 28 percent between 1991 and 2003. Field trips have taken cuts, and nearly 40 percent of school have either dropped or considered cutting recess. The best part is we're choosing to do this when the country is battling obesity. We're doing this while trying to teach children to protect the environment. We're saying all these things, yet our actions are saying otherwise.
And then reading facts like this, it is no wonder that people are diagnosing kids with ADHD, or a variance, falsely. Kids are supposed to be running around, burning of energy, socially interacting with others their age, and just being a kid. Literally locking them in a building for 6-9 hours a day is obviously going to drive them crazy. These kids don't need to be labeled as bipolar or add or anything else at such a young age. Maybe all they need is a variation of their day, to not be so repetitive. No one wants to be crammed in a room all day with little to no physical stimulation.
Dewey also mentions that learning is interactive. We learn more when it's a first hand experience. Louv mentions that it would be beneficial to at least have some classes outside once in a while. In 7th grade my history teacher used to take us outside and sit on the baseball bleachers and have class from there. He always said if it was a nice day, we should be outside. I can attest to the fact that this indeed worked. We had more fun learning outside, even if we weren't necessarily doing something outside. It was enough to just be.
As a society, we shouldn't be discouraging recess and outdoor classes. Instead we should be encouraging it. It could potentially free children from misdiagnosed illnesses, and it just overall a healthy activity that children have been enjoying for hundreds of years. It would be a huge mistake if we were to get away from it and lock children into a 4 walled room 200+ days a year.
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