Schools across the Upper Cumberland adjusting to the new state law that requires additional recess during the school day.
Most school systems previously had 30 minutes of recess scheduled. That time has been bumped to 45 minutes. Jackson County Director of Schools Jason Hardy said adjusting to the new law has not been easy, but the system made the change.
“Our principals at our elementary schools have done a good job of getting the outdoor play time in and getting the unstructured recess time in without compromising the instructional time that we really value and need,” Hardy said.
Pickett County Director of Schools Melissa Robbins said principals have had to make tweaks to the school day schedule to fit the added recess time.
“I’ve been in the schools this week, actually this morning again, just welcoming kids into the building, and everyone seems positive about it,” Robbins said. “I haven’t heard comments otherwise.”
Hardy and Robbins said instructional time has been cut out to accommodate the new law. Though 15 extra minutes a day racks up over time, Hardy and Robbins both said students are still getting adequate instruction time.
“You know, the schedules are much tighter right now for sure,” Robbins said. “But, you know, they don’t see it as something negative, they see it as something positive, and instruction is continuing, you know, as we have always done.”
Hardy said the lost instruction time needs to be made up for somehow. Hardy said that time can be made up outside of school.
“We are always encouraging families to do more with their kids, read with them at home, and do some things academically,” Hardy said. “So hopefully, families also see this as a good thing with the recess, but that’s a sign that maybe they need to take 10-15 minutes extra out of their day to really go over the academics with their child when they are at home.”
Some school districts and teachers across the state are not in favor of the law. Hardy said he believes that some people are against the new law as it is one more requirement that school systems across the state have to meet.
“We find a lot of times in state government and public education that we are always requiring new things each year, but we are never taking things away,” Hardy said. “So, as you continue to add things to the plates of teachers without taking something else, it’s very hard to manage and very frustrating for teachers. You know, every time you have a routine that you feel like is working, one more thing is being put on your plate.”
Hardy said Jackson County Schools will continue to feel out the new school day and figure out what will work best as the school year goes on. Robbins said Pickett County Schools will also continue to monitor the impacts of the new recess law.
“It is always monitored, and feedback is given from teachers and our administrators,” Robbins said. “But you know, I trust my staff to do what they have been tasked to do, and I don’t see that it’s going to be an issue.”
Both directors said they view the new recess law as a positive change.
