preview

Synthesis Essay: Should Middle School Have Recess?

Decent Essays

Imagine this: you’re dreaming about your old school playground. The place is filled with laughter and a soft breeze picks up. You look around and there are vibrant slides that shock you in the sun, squeaky but colorful seesaws, and the creaking noises of the swings. Some students already have recess, but in recent times, schools have been taking away recess for more time to prepare for tests and learning. This new change sparks debate amongst children, teachers, principals, and administrators. However, schools should bring back recess because it promotes better health and keeps kids less distracted. One reason middle schools should have recess is that by doing daily physical activities, children are healthier, with lower rates of obesity and …show more content…

This statistic displays the recommended amount of physical activity for kids. As time passes and kids grow older with more things to do, such as extracurriculars or after-school classes, recess can help children get their daily exercise in their jam-packed schedule. By adding recess to school, kids are actively exercising and improving their well-being. Another reason why middle schools should have recess is that after many elementary schools have brought it back into multiple breaks, teachers have noticed that kids are more focused, and are not as distracted as they were before. Christopher Connelly, the author of “Turns Out Monkey Bars And Kickball Might Be Good For The Brain” from the January 2016 issue of NPR, writes about the health benefits of recess. In particular, he mentions a teacher’s perspective on her students’ use of pencils. Cathy Wells, a teacher at Eagle Mountain Elementary School, says in source B, “You know why I was sharpening them? Because they were grinding on them, they were breaking them, they were chewing on

Get Access