The issue came about when IS Principal-to-be Yanek met the Shafer PTA last Monday and the daily schedule that was described did not include recess.
When questioned, it was noted that the teachers would decide when their class would have recess.
Some parents felt it was important to have the recess built into the schedule, otherwise it would cut into another scheduled activity or not be utilized by the teacher in order to get other things done.
One attendee started a petition calling for recess to be built into the schedule and for the school to support purchase of playground equipment. You can read and sign the petition here.
A few days later Yanek (current Bushkill Elementary Principal) spoke before his home crowd at a Bushkill PTA meeting. At that meeting those in attendance indicated he said that when and how often recess was had would be at the teachers' discretion and he discussed the importance in this day and age of not having a designated time for recess due to child predators.
Now, the E-T article writes:
No mention of predators, but it does report that the only change is not having a designated time for recess.District Superintendent Victor Lesky said Monday Hyman was not listening carefully when the changes in school schedules were explained at a Nov. 3 Shafer Elementary School PTA meeting.
"We are absolutely having recess," Lesky wrote in a letter to Hyman.
So apparently there is some inconsistency between Dr. Lesky and Yanek as the former states it will take place and the latter that it is discretionary.
In short, it is like any deal, if it isn't in writing, it isn't guaranteed.
4 comments:
Child predators - talk about a red herring.
Is Yanek telling us the teachers, or who ever is out watching kids at recess, are to inept to actually watch them?
If they are really concerned about child predators, should they not do away with recess at all the schools, or any other outdoor activity because of this? Isn't the risk the same? That would mean no more outdoor gym, football, soccer, track, field hockey, etc.
Lesky has said many things in the past. Surprisingly, many never came true. Hopefully this time, that is not the case.
I would hope that someone would be watching the kids during recess and I mean "WATCHING" them and not talking amongst themselves and not paying attention. I have seen this many times when those in charge are suppose to be watching our kids and they have their backs turned and are talking amongst themselves. Be responsible, our children are in your hands during these times and we are trusting you to controll the area when they are at recess.
My kids go to school at Bushkill and it has been up to the teachers in 4th and 5th grade to decide when the students have recess for several years. Unfortunately this means recess gets cut way too often. With no rule forcing recess many teachers skip it and offer little or no reason to parents. If you really want the kids to have recess every day it needs to be in the schedule. Considering that the school day is an hour longer than current elementary, it is more necessary to have recess! The child predator idea is just a smokescreen.
justc
this is the type of information the school board needs to be presented with tomorrow night @ 7:30
please consider joining me when I present the petition to the board
together we can and try and insure our kids a set recess time and an area to have it!
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