Letter: Recess is as basic as three other R’s

Friday, March 12, 2004 | 8:50 a.m.

I cannot believe they are now taking recess away from the kids. Since when did we decide recess was preventing our children from learning?

Are we now blaming recess for our problems in education? Kids have always had recess -- it's one of the high points in the day. In my school in Indiana, we had recess and square dancing, and I still managed to learn how to read. What I didn't have was Spanish in the second grade taught by a VCR.

We just concentrated on reading and spelling English. I didn't have a curriculum a mile wide and an inch deep covering everything under the sun. These kids need basics and that includes blowing off some steam and, hey, how about having some fun.

What we don't need is to make the kids start hating school even earlier. Let's cut out some of the curriculum and concentrate on basics.

DONNA COLEMAN

Editor's note: Donna Coleman is a former member of the Nevada Board of Education.

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