Comments on: The CPS school day

By: Fasila

Fasila — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:47:59 +0000

i wish i could home sohcol. my kids are in public sohcol and i hate the way they are treated not only by their peers but from their teachers to.[]

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:05:33 +0000

My daughters school does not have recess. I am actually reading this blog because I stumbled upon it while conducting research for a college course. I am actually doing my research on Elementary Eduction: Ramifications of Recess Elimination. My daughter is in 7th grade and her school recently got a new principal. We’ve had about two parents who have been pushing the idea of recess for the past couple years and no one has embraced it. Following this research, I’ll be one of those parents pushing for recess with it’s many benefits.

By: Nicolle

Nicolle — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:12:10 +0000

Beaubien does NOT have a recess at all, so those of you who have 10-15 minutes of recess, count your lucky stars!

By: LR

LR — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:43:25 +0000

There was a bill introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives earlier this year (you can go to ilga.gov and type in HB33) that would require schools to provide a 10 minute recess for all students in grades K-8. It is held in the Rules Committee (which is I think what happens when the bill doesn’t pass before the final session in the spring), but it will probably be back next year. I’m sure CPS would oppose this bill given the amount of money it would cost; however, it seems like there is pretty good support for this type of legislation in the House.

By: chicago parent

chicago parent — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:37:23 +0000

Dear obssessed,
I think that you should do a separate piece on the fact that most schools limit their students 15 minutes of recess per day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Recess is extremely important to get kids to clear their heads by allowing them to run around and also is THE place that they make friends. There are numerous studies that show that kids with recess learn better and are happier.

I think that 15 minutes of recess is CRIMINAL. I myself did not realize the importance of recess to my guy until we switched schools & became much, much happier.

I think that parents may not be pushing for more recess because they think that recess is covered by some master contract with the teachers’ union & that by trying to make a change they must tilt against the super large windmill. I was shocked to find out that recess is controlled at the school level. Let parents know this, plus a factoid or 2 about the importance of recess & they can push for change. Write to the tribune — which seems concerned about obesity? Get theword out.

By: Y

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:23:35 +0000

From my discussions with teachers in programs with longer days, they find that their students respond better with an actual recess in the morning, instead of just a post-lunch recess. It seems like schools use a mix of aides, specials, parents, and willing teachers to supervise recess in order to make it work. I would be supportive of a longer day in order to accommodate recess at my DD’s school.

By: brenda

brenda — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:11:06 +0000

I have a kid at Edison and I love the schedule. I don’t necessarily care about the length of the day (seems just about right, they get lots of “specials” and recess) but 8 am is much easier to work around if you work full-time.

By: CPS Mom

CPS Mom — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:41:07 +0000

Beginning in January I have my son go two hours a week to a tutor for ISAT test prep and his school offers a one hour a week test prep for three days a week. I have noticed during those two short months he seems to complete his homework with little assistance from me. I think that 5 hours a week of time spent in school would be better. CPS should add one hour to the school day but pay the teachers their hourly rate. Class sizes are too large but at least a longer school day could make up for it. Even if twenty minutes of that hour were spent on recess that would still be 40 additional minutes of instruction.

By: hopeful

hopeful — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:25:38 +0000

I am a teacher and I would vote for a longer day and a longer school year for that matter. I *might* be willing to do a slightly longer day for the same amount of money, especially to include an actual recess, which is desperately needed. That said, when schools have a longer day to have recess, teachers end up supervising the lunchroom or recess, which is added work. If schools could come up with parents, either volunteers or paid, to work the lunchroom or recess and gave teachers that time to plan, I’d do it without asking for more pay. I am going to have to do that same work anyways.

By: J

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:00:12 +0000

Good luck. As you tried to say, I mean come on, who in their right mind would vote for a longer day? Unpaid? This is an issue that goes all the way to the contract and funding level. You are going to need more money, plan and simply. Good luck.