The New York Times can sure dish up some scary stories.
Schools in the New York City area, like Broadway Elementary in Newark, are now hiring recess coaches.
Yes, recesses are now coached by “specialists” who force children into structured activities during their recess break. At these schools children are not allowed to relax, stand around, or daydream, or free-form play during recess.
(Go ahead–scream. It’ll do you good.)
Children at these schools are now required to participate in the games chosen by the “coach” and voted on by the other children. Coaches are known to break up “renegade” games (those not organized by the coach), and children forced to do what everyone else is doing.
(I will wait until the howls of outrage quiet a bit.)
Isn’t it bad enough that we try to make children THINK alike (poor instruction), and LOOK alike (school uniforms)–now we’re trying to make them all PLAY alike???
Here are the names of the members of the Newark School Board and board meeting times, the name and phone number of the district Superintendent Clifford Janey, and the email address of Broadway Elementary’s principal Alejandro Echevarria. Drop them all concise, well-written notes or phone calls and tell them how concerned you are that regimenting children continually through an 8- or 9-hour day is not good for them.
In the meantime: Mr. Carlin, where the hell are you now? We need your insights badly, as ever.
It’s the next logical step in the dumbing down of America. I could write a thesis on this (and you were right, it does horrify me!) but I am guessing that this will appall most teachers as well as parents. Hell, anyone who is at all interested in how children really learn will be writing and calling, trying to put an end to this nonsense.