Some educators say the school day is too short for youngsters to waste 30 minutes chasing each other on the playground, sitting on seesaws and playing dodgeball. They need time where they can just be themselves, talk and play,'' said Bernadette Robinson, a physical education teacher at Atlanta's Perkerson Elementary School, where a gymnasium doubles as an auditorium, basketball court and baseball field. The American Association for the Child's Right to Play believes schools can have both structured physical education and recess. In the past year, more than 300 people from 10 states and Canada have contacted the association asking for help in reinstating recess or keeping it available. ''We're looking at a society that unfortunately is robbing children of physical activity,'' said Rhonda Clements, the group's president. The association estimates that about 40 percent of the nation's 16,000 public school systems have eliminated recess or are considering eliminating it.
Many schools systems leave the decision up to individual schools.
Critics, however, say eliminating exercise is a bad move. It's like people at the water cooler during a coffee break. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education considers recess a critical part of the school day. ''A six-hour or longer school day is too long to go without breaks and without opportunities for substantive physical activity,'' said Judith Young, executive director of the group. It recommends extending the school day to include time for unstructured play. It feels like we're inside all day,'' she said, hugging a load of schoolbooks close to her chest.