[vjoshi]

"teachers demanded, and won, guaranteed daily recess for all elementary school students — 30 minutes each day.." Am unsure if the circumstances are that different in the US vs the UK where I'm from, but surely recess of at least 30mins particularly at an elementary level is compulsory? Or is this dependent on the subjects the students are studying and their respective timetables?

[lawtguy]

Since No Child Left Behind was passed, there has been heavy focus on testing. Because of this schools have been slowing removing everything from the curriculum that doesn't appear on the standardized testing. That includes things like recess and P.E. even though the research suggests that physical activity helps kids learn better (http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/recess-makes-kids...).

I suspect that school superintendents would agree that play and exercise is important, but they are under tremendous pressure to squeeze in more learning in an attempt to raise test scores. The result of that is a slow nibbling away at recess and P.E. even though it's most likely counterproductive.

[vjoshi]

Oh wow, okay this I wasn't aware of. I think there are differences on the emphasis of P.E. and recess at the moment in different countries. I was a lazy little kid in school, especially in the winter. The thought of getting ready for P.E. would bore me. But once I'd get started, and as soon as I finished, I'd feel a massive difference over the next 24 hours. Oxbridge, two of the best universities in the world limit (from what I have heard) most lectures to 45-50 mins. If the world's elite are saying they need a break, surely children and young people's needs are clear. It's not what you do, it's how you do it at the end of the day. I'm sure that if final year exams has taught me one thing, it's cramming, without a break, no matter how much information I try to get into my mind, is pointless. The sad thing is I'm sure many of those attempting to raise the test scores have crammed for finals too ... they've just forgotten. Thanks a lot for the insight lawtguy.