After structured classroom time during the school day, elementary school students typically get a reprieve during unstructured recess time. Now, students at two elementary schools in Minnesota are about to get a little more structure in their recess.
Concord Elementary and Normandale Elementary school have hired recess consultants to intervene in students’ play time, the Star Tribune reports.
Concord and Normandale aren’t the first schools in the country to hire recess consultants. They join “a growing number of districts that have hired consultants to remake the playground experience into more structured and inclusive play time.”
The schools are part of the Edina Public School District. The district spends about $12,300 per student, more than the national and state averages of $10,700 and $10,800. Edina spent $30,000 total on the consultants. Edina may expand the program to other schools if it’s satisfied with the results.
In practice, the consultants train adults in various methods of regulating recess. According to the Star Tribune, “Instead of usual recess referees on the sidelines policing the worst conduct, the adults were on the ground, explaining rules and new games to confused-looking kids.”
Normandale’s principal is defending the consultants, saying their help has reduced the need for disciplinary or injury-related meetings after recess. Those results seem to be confirmed by studies by Stanford University and Mathematica Policy Research.
Playworks, the consulting firm, says it offers direct training in 23 cities and trains schools across the country. Their survey says, on average, schools save 21 hours a year moving from recess back to the classroom.
Playworks says its techniques aren’t about structuring recess, but rather about making sure every child is included.
Despite the claimed benefits, many parents are unhappy with the more rigid structure of recess. “The philosophy of Playworks does not fit Concord,” one parent told the Star Tribune. “It is a structured philosophy — an intervention philosophy — not allowing kids for free play.”
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
