On May 5 the Senate Education Committee amended bill A-467, also known as S-226, which seeks to establish a task force that would be charged with studying the potential benefits of student recess and making recommendations on the advisability of mandatory recess in New Jersey school districts.
The amendment adds two more members to the task force for total a total of 15 members. The two groups added to the task force were the New Jersey Education Association and the New Jersey Parent-Teacher Association.
The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Joseph Malone (ROcean, Monmouth, Burlington and Mercer) on Jan. 8.
The bill is scheduled to be voted on by the Assembly Education Committee sometime in June, however, that date has not yet been seen. Following passage in the full Senate and Assembly it will be sent to the governor who may sign it or veto it.
The bill states that “it shall be the duty of the task force to study the social and health benefits of student recess and develop recommendations on the advisability of making student recess mandatory in all school districts.”
The bill states that the task force will examine current data, research, programs and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional and intellectual benefits achieved by young students as a result of participation in school recess; identify effective strategies for schools that promote lifelong health and prepare children and youth for physically active lifestyles; examine the extent to which recess is provided to students in school districts across New Jersey; and develop recommendations on the advisability of mandating recess in all school districts.
The task force is directed to issue a report to the governor and the Legislature no later than nine months after the task force organizes, according to the Senate Education Committee statement to S-226.
Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Mercer) and Malone were in attendance at the Senate hearing during the amendment of the bill and offered comments to solidify the importance of the proposed task force.
According to Singer, “Due to the economic crunch in some municipalities, schools were looking to save money and have eliminated recess.”
Singer said recess is more than play time. As he sees it, recess is an important part of the development of a child.
Recess “is part of the socialism of being a student and being a child. It’s part of the educational system. It means that when the student gets back into the classroom he is ready to go back to work,” Singer said.
Malone said children need some time to be free of classroom constraints.
“Most adults could not sit still, and we are asking young children to sit still … given the needs we have in society today and the fact that we are trying to over-medicate children to sit still … we need to go back to something that was tried and true. Let kids have some time to play a little bit and get reoriented to go back into their classroom,” Malone said.H
owell parent Karen Cecere, who was in attendance at the Senate Education Committee hearing, spoke in favor of the bill.
According to Cecere, “Recess gives students a chance to interact with other children without rules. It gives them a chance to develop social skills, learn how to work together, and work out differences, and provides an opportunity for educators to learn about the children.
“The pressures passed down to teachers and increases in requirements of instructional time have blinded educators of the necessity to take a break. In their quest to teach more they are forgetting that a break in the day improves the children’s ability to learn.
“It reduces stress and encourages emotional growth, the ability to focus and build social skills and friendships,” Cecere said. “The proof is out there. Nowhere will you find research to prove that taking away recess is beneficial to children.”
According to Marie Walton of Howell, a recess advocate, New Jersey should set an example for other states to follow and mandate recess in the state’s schools.
“Four years ago I learned that my sons did not have a recess period. My children are in school over six hours a day, with a 25-minute lunch,” she said. “Gym is offered two days a week throughout the school year. My children come home from school on many days and move onto homework for two hours.”
Walton said although New Jersey school districts have implemented wellness policies and are very stringent in regard to the nutritional value of food being served in school, it is not enough.
“I have only found two districts in New Jersey that have included recess in their nutrition policy. Overall wellness cannot be achieved by nutrition alone. The state should adopt a model school wellness policy that includes 20 minutes of recess every day,” Walton said.
The Senate Education Committee favorably reported the bill with the committee amendments.
Malone said although the process is moving along, parents and supporters of the bill should expect a long legislative process.