Please support the Effort to Return Recess to Kitty Stone Elementary
Jacksonville Parent Involvement was formed to be an advocate of the Health, Welfare and Academic Acheivement for our children. The New England Journal of Medicine released a report that for the first time in two hundred years, this latest generation of children will be the first to have a SHORTER LIFESPAN than their PARENTS. The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates "THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN'S RECESS TIME" as a means of combating childhood obesity and the diseases and risk factors associated with it (Pediatrics.206;1834-1842). The Reseach of Early Childhood Development supports Recess in improving attention, concentration and reducing fidgeting in the class (Jarret, Maxwell, Dickerson, Hoge, Davies and Yetley, 1998; Pellegrini Huberty & Jones, 1995). Children must have play to reach important social, emotional, and cognitive milestones. This "play" must be peer to peer and nonstructured for this benefit.The National Association for Sport and Physical Education has a Position Paper entitled Recess for Elementary School Students. In it they state that both recess and P.E. are essential components of a comprehensive school physical activity program and of the total elementary school experience. They write the National Course of Study for Physical Education on which the Alabama Course of Study for Physical Education is based. This Position Paper documents the support of Recess by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Education (USDHS & USDE, 2000), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 1997), The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC, 1998) and The American Association for the Child's Right to Play (IPA/USA, n.d.). The National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education also have a position paper supporting Recess and its Benefits. They quote article 31 of The United Nations Convention on Children's Rights that states that every child has the right to some free play time. Taking away recess, whether as a disciplinary measure or abolishing it in the name of work, (or "Planning Time"/Grade Level Meetings), infringes on that right.
We value the work our teachers at Kitty Stone Elementary are doing and many of them value what Time on the Playground does for the kids in the classroom. It's incredible how much time on the playground kids get during SAT Testing. That's when and where the Anniston Star took the color,front page pictures of our kids on the monkey bars that appeared on April 9th, you may recall. That kind of "play",playground time only happens one week out of the school year,just ask your kids. Otherwise,it's just once a week ,30 minutes on Friday and even that's conditional, depending on the weather and individual and group behavior being good enough . Again, just ask you kid's. If any of those things aren't good enough,it will be almost two weeks before your kids get to play on the playground. The reason we suggested that people observe P.E. is because many people did not know the difference between P.E. and Recess. Not only that, but just one or two people that we have talked to knew that any change to Recess had ever ocurred. . Our concern is for the Children and for the removal of the Childrens Recess time that the Public knew nothing about. That was a policy change by Superintendent and School Board, not the Teachers and we do not know why recess was removed.
Our petition to Dr. Eric Mackey, Superintendent, Principal Bob Phillips and the Jacksonville City Board of Education (Board members Lori Tippets, Sue Jones, Kelly Haynes, Phillip Pearson and Ray Hammett) is to resume Daily Recess of at least 20 minutes per day. The Recess issue is on the Agenda for April 24th School Board Meeting at School Board Meeting at Jacksonville High School at 6:30 pm. Please tell your Teacher the value of Recess to your Child. Tell Mr Phillips also. Tell the elected Board Members. Ask why the National Association of Sports and Physical Education supports 20 minutes of Daily Recess and Dr Mackey doesn't. Be at the Board meetng and show support for your Children and Daily Recess. Our Children do not have the benefit of a vote. Many states have mandated Daily Recess. All our Children have is us (their Parents). Please call Jacksonville Parent Involvement/Steve Smith at s_stepen@bellsouth.net or cell 453-8510 You can also sign Petition at Sight Unseen Video "ON THE SQUARE".To Find out more go to www.petiionspot.com keyword ''kittysonerecess" You may there sign or check out links THANK YOU
Please call 453-8510 to sign Petition or get more info

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