Leave it to my neighbor and friend, Mike. He always shows an interest in education and challenges my thinking in a good way. Tonight we chatted ever so briefly about the improving weather as I unloaded the car from work. I mentioned it was nice for recess duty today.
“Duty?” he responded, “You get to go outside and play with kids and they call it duty? I’d call that a privilege.”
Mike is right and I told him so. I thought about the fun my partner teacher and I had sledding with kids a few weeks ago, the walks through the nature trail that brighten fall afternoons, the Beyblade competitions I’ve watched, the tire swings I’ve spun, the dance and cheer routines I’ve applauded, the magic wood chips I routinely find with kids’ names written on them…Mike is right. Recess is not a duty, we should call it “recess privilege”. I think I will. Who wants to join me?
Agreed! I call it MY recess too! Lots of times it is the only time I can actually catch up with my teacher peers, too. Been known to throw a football (badly), play four-square, toss a frisbee, and proclaim loudly to NOT be home base for the daily tag games. The only non-privilege part is when the kids don’t get along while playing their inventive games and I have to play referee. I don’t like that part!
My students are always so excited when I have recess privilege. And so am I. It is a great opportunity to just chat with them in a more unstructured context. The focus isn’t directly on teaching and I have the luxury of listening to what they want to tell me (not what I want them to tell me).
Walt, you have such a wonderful outlook on what most think of as a burden or yes, ‘Duty’. I have watched over the years as teachers, along with some recess aides themselves, grumble and slowly make their way outside to the kids, the snow, and the sunshine. Teachers need any time they can get to do the work necessary so they can teach our children. I get that. I also understand that some of those days outside are more about bad weather or bad kids. If others would think of it as you do; a privledge, a positive part of their day, the ‘bad’ wouldn’t take over the short time that they are allowed to clear their heads of so many other responsibilities. Standing facing another adult chatting with barely looking or moving from that one spot does not make for a joyful, funfilled, or responsible recess ‘duty’. However, if others would engage, enjoy, and let the kid in them escape from their grown up exterior, they too could have recess!