Imagine a scenario where your children attend a public school devoid of recess. What would your response be? For a group of mothers in Florida known as the Recess Moms, the answer was to initiate a petition that paved the way for proposed legislation. They dedicated countless hours and personal funds to engage with lawmakers. Their efforts resulted in the passage of Florida House Bill 833 through three committees without any opposition. Yet, despite this momentum, a senator halted their progress.
Recently, Senator Mark Thompson declined to bring the recess bill to the floor, stating, “I’m not going to put it on the agenda. It doesn’t warrant a Tallahassee solution.” This decision affects many students in Florida who currently have no recess—neither a 20-minute break, nor even a brief 5-minute pause. The state does not mandate recess, leaving it up to individual counties to decide on its implementation. This situation seems counterintuitive, especially since it is widely acknowledged that children need recess. However, due to the intense focus on standardized testing in Florida, many schools are eliminating this critical time for play.
In the fall of 2014, Sarah Jenkins found that her second grader and kindergartner received only 10 minutes of recess twice a week. When she inquired about this limitation, the school attributed it to district policy. Further investigation revealed that the issue was rooted in state mandates. While Florida only requires four hours of instructional time for grades K-3 and five hours for grades 4-5, schools are prioritizing academic requirements over playtime, leaving her children and many others without adequate recess.
Motivated by these limitations, Sarah and fellow advocate Linda Carter launched a petition that led to the introduction of Florida House Bill 833. The bill aims to mandate recess in public schools, ensuring that students in certain grades receive a minimum of 100 minutes of unstructured playtime each week, with at least 20 consecutive minutes daily. This provision would also prevent schools from withholding recess for punitive reasons.
Despite the potential benefits of this bill, Senator Thompson has shown no inclination to allow it to advance, even ignoring multiple communications from the Recess Moms. These mothers have traveled to Tallahassee repeatedly, investing significant time and resources to advocate for children’s rights to play. They were informed of the bill’s stagnation through the media, rather than a direct communication from the senator.
In light of this situation, it is crucial for parents to recognize their role in advocating for their children’s needs. Vocal support can influence change, even when faced with indifference from elected officials. As Sarah reminds us, “This is not a time issue. It’s not a funding issue. It’s a priority issue. Recess is essential for children’s development. All kids deserve to have recess.”
Let’s champion the cause for children’s right to play.
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Summary
A group of mothers in Florida, the Recess Moms, are advocating for legislation to mandate recess in public schools. Despite their efforts and the passage of a bill through several committees, Senator Mark Thompson has refused to bring it to the floor, citing a lack of need for state intervention. The situation highlights the importance of parental advocacy for children’s rights to playtime during school hours.