LET KIDS BE KIDS DURING RECESS

I agree with Donna Thompson when she says that training and supervision are the keys to safe recesses (“Should contact activities be banned from recess?” Speak Out, March/April 2007). As an educator, I am aware of the research showing that kids who have recess display an improved ability to stay on task, are less fidgety in the classroom and are better behaved.

Teachers and students are under a lot of pressure due to testing and NCLB, so recess is more important than ever.

It helps students with their mental, social and physical development, and is an opportunity for them to learn sportsmanship and social skills.

And recess is sometimes the only break I get during the day. As a teacher, I look forward to recess as much as the students.

Why must we insist all children be “good little girls”? Not trying to be sexist—I have several daughters. My daughters enjoy contact activities as does my son, but not at the same level. My son connects with others through physical activities. He also has a hard time sitting in his classroom all day. He and his student peers need to get their energy out. Excessive do’s and don’ts [during recess] simply complicate their time to “play.”

By continuing to remove opportunities for children to participate in physical play, we risk further isolating students whose primary mode of communication, or connecting with others, is through touch ... a bump, a nudge, etc.

I realize there does need to be some order ... but, come on, can’t kids enjoy being kids? Throw a snowball, throw a ball, play tag.

 

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NO TO BAN ON MILITARY ADS

As a 49-year member of the teacher union movement that included activism in the United Federation of Teachers and its parent organization, the AFT, and as an Army veteran, I am appalled by the suggestion from a group of teachers (“Mailbox,” February 2007 ) to ban military advertising in American Teacher.

My military service, along with that of countless other AFT members who are military veterans, made it possible for such a group to express its opinions. I will defend their right to do so. However, in their own bias against the military they wish to deny young men and women the right to get the information necessary to make up their own minds regarding future plans and a choice of careers.

During a number of visits to Camp Pendleton in Southern California, which is home of the 1st Marine Division, I had the privilege of meeting some of the finest men and women—who believe that military service in defense of liberty is a noble calling.

I may be somewhat old-fashioned in believing that courage and conviction are virtues to be applauded.



The “Just Say No to Military Ads” letter is blatant treason. Our beloved country is at war, and it seems that instead of sending letters of support and gifts to our fighting forces, all some people can think of to do is undercut our efforts in every way they can, every time there is an opportunity to do so. Does anyone remember knitting socks for our soldiers and buying war bonds?

Winston Churchill once said: “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.”