In the school district that my son attends, the hybrid system divides the student body into four groups. There are the two groups (group A and group B) that attend in-person school two days a week and remote for the rest of the week, the group that is 100% remote, and the group that goes to school four days a week (in a separate computer lab for two days and in the classroom for two days). My son is in group A, the group that attends in-person school Mondays and Tuesday, remote learning Wednesday – Friday. For those of you that have read my previous posts, you know how I feel about this school year so far.
On the positive side, we have been fortunate to have a warm blast of weather come through this November, with temperatures in the upper sixties, low seventies, and lots of sunshine. It has given us a rare opportunity to spend time outside before being cooped up for the long northeast winter. For elementary kids in school, it’s torture to be stuck in a classroom all day on beautiful weather days like this. The only opportunity that they get to go outside during the school day is at recess and the all-important PE class. Why can’t they take kids outside for other parts of the class day? Fresh air is good for kids; it refreshes them, gives them something to look forward to, provides a break from the information dump in class. A brain reset of sorts.
I promise I am getting to my point.
So far this year, my son’s class has been denied recess more times than they have had it. Why, you ask? If any student(s) in my son’s class do not finish all their work before lunch, then the teacher takes away recess. I’m not talking just going outside for recess; I’m talking about taking away any break from work! If someone does not get all their work done, then the entire class must return to the classroom after lunch and continue to sit at their desks and complete assignments. No play or recreation in the classroom, as if it were a rainy day. Not even just for the few kids that are not keeping up, the entire class faces the punishment. Punishments like this may work on older students or on teams but are not effective on second graders. I’m afraid that all that this is doing is making my son’s classmates dislike teachers and school in general.
What are your thoughts on this? Is the teacher wrong in denying an entire second grade class recess? Or is this okay and I am just an overreacting parent?