The Recess Problem

Here's an article from almost a year ago, describing a growing, and, from this player's perspective, cancerous practice afflicting the student body. I quote:

"As many as four out of ten schools nationwide, and 80 percent of the schools in Chicago, have decided there's no time for recess. Instead of romping in playgrounds, kids are being channeled into more classes in an effort to make their test scores rise on an ever-higher curve."

What's wrong with these people? With us that we would condone such a negative, damaging, uninformed practice?

Look at me. I'm ranting!

I know that this doesn't seem like a big-time rantworthy issue, given our current, ever-escalating war. On the other hand, this is something whose evils I understand. Depriving kids of recess, when kids already have such few opportunities for unstructured socialization, is depriving them not only of their childhood, but of a sane, happy adulthood. Without unstructured, free play, where are they going to learn leadership, where the skills of community-building, where the art of friendship, where the practices of collaboration and co-creativity?

It worries this particular fun guy. It worries him enough to make him sound not very fun or funny.

Time for a game.