My son's school has decided that after 3 marks for getting in trouble they get recess detintion. I completly disagree with that. I think the kid needs to be in trouble but recess is a way to release that pent up energy. What do you think?

Teachers probably don't like it either but I imagine that after one or two kids get the recess detention, they will behave better.

At our school, there is outside play time before school (for those who get there early) and recess at noon after lunch... and the following:

Kindergarten and First Grade get 1 recess in AM and 1 recess in PM (plus above).
Second Grade gets 1 recess in AM (plus above).
Third Grade gets 1 recess in PM (plus above).
Fourth and Fifth Grade get no recesses in AM or PM (plus above).

I had a terrible day subbing in 4th Grade the other day and would have LOVED to have had a recess detention to hold over their heads...

I work in an elementary school and recess is the largest currency a teacher can use. Usually missing recess once is enough for most kids to realize they don't want to do it again.
I do think kids need recess and need to run, but missing one recess isn't going to hurt that too much. If a child is continually missing recess due to misbehavior then something else does need to be put in place for consequences.

Since you disagree with their solution, what would you recommend?

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My kids last school the ones who didn't finish their work had to do it during recess. My middle one hates recess, she hates to get hot and sweaty and this is hard not to do in Miami, she would save work to do during recess. I told her 2nd grade teacher that if you want to punish her make her go and play.

My son was having trouble with getting his homework done so his teacher started making him sit with her and talk instead of going to recess... he hated it but not enough to start doing his homework.

I am not sure what i would do. My son always gets more then 3 marks, mostly for talking. I know this is not exceptable and he should be punished just not sure taking his recess away is the answer. I guess only time will tell. I am sure its not a picnic for the teachers either and am sure its a good tool, i just really think he needs time to let it out. He only gets this one recess.

In my state (TN) teachers cannot keep kids inside - but they can make them sit out recess (sitting on the sidewalk,etc.) Works for my youngest - he HATES not being able to play.

I think that your attitude is shared by too many people and perfectly exemplifies one of the things that's wrong with society today. I also think that the whiners on this board will probably hit the report button until they're fingers turn blue because most people on this board don't really want to know what I and anyone like me thinks. You merely want someone to agree with you. I also think that you deliberately offered no alternative solution.

So how do you expect the schools to maintain any semblance of control if you don't want them to even take away recess for troublemakers? What do you mean that the child "needs to be in trouble" but recess detention shouldn't be an option? What good is being in trouble if there's no consequences at all? The schools are very limited in the punishments they can administer already.

Let's see, what can they do to deter bad behavior that isn't extreme enough to require suspension?

1. Corporal punishment? Nope, some parent will complain that no one should be allowed to touch their child.
   
2. After school detention? Nope, some parent will complain that they have no transportation to pick up their child.
   
3. Extra schoolwork? Nope, some parent will complain that little precious is overworked already.
   
4. Skip a field trip? Nope, some parent will complain that their child was denied culture and school is for learning.
   
5. Sit in the corner? Nope, some parent will complain that their child was ostracized and has suffered terrible mental anguish that only a hefty monetary settlement can heal.
   
6. Recess detention? Nope, some parent will complain that their child needs to release pent up energy.

Maybe the school can just designate the child as being 'Officially In Trouble'. That'll fix him.

Well said! BRAVO!!

I think missing recess for punishment is fine. If a child is continually missing recess because of bad behavior then maybe (MY OPINION & MAYBE) the kid has other problems that need to be addressed by the parents becuase they can't control their behavior in school. Teachers can only do so much and they have other kids in the class they have to teach, they have to do what they think will work the best in certain situations. When you are dealing with 20-30 kids in a class at a time there is only so much you can do. Parents need to back the teacher up as far as discipline (providing it is reasonable and not something totally off the wall) so the kid knows they can't put parent against teacher and cause more problems.

OH MY! Is everyone right w/ God? I agree with cougarskies

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I personally don't think missing recess is a good punishment, kids today barely get enough activity, recess is something they need. Make them do extra homework or a special project, don't take away exercise. My son has gone from going to gym 2 times a week to one, school needs to stop cutting this programs!

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ok i do not just want someone to agree with me, i wanted others opinions. I would be fine wih extra work, after school detintion, or missing a special activity. I do believe he needs to be punished in one way or another but not missing recess. i am not the parent who thinks their child does no wrong and doesnt need to be punished i simple am a parent that feels like thier child needs a few minutes to let thier hair down and get some energy out during the school day. I will support the teachers and he will serve any/all detentions he gets i just was seeing where my opinion stood amongst the crowd.

I agree with Cougarskies also very well put.

You say you agree with some of the other options. However what I believe was being said is that you want one of the other punishments, someone else wants recess etc.. You just have to make your child understand if he wants recess he will have to learn the rules.
I know when I was growing up I would never ever think about telling my parents I got into any trouble at school. Because if I did you better believe I would be in trouble at home.
So if I missed recess I would not be going outside when I got home and most likely be in bed early. I learned quick not to get in trouble.
I think he will get the message eventually, some kids take a little longer to catch on

I think a lot of younger kids have trouble behaving because they've been asked to sit still and listen a bit beyond their capability. In my daughter's second grade class they have cards that get turned. Green is good, then yellow, pink, and red. Yellow means they lose 5 minutes (half) of one recess. They lose the first half, so the one thing I would change is make them sit out the last half, after they have had a break. It might even seem more painful that way! DD has never gotten in trouble (knock on wood!) so it's not an isssue with me. Although once, most of the class were talking in line --which I for one don't even see as a huge problem anyway and they had to put their heads down on the desk (which seems a little creepy to me!) and they missed some computer time (which is really an educational opportunity missed, not just fun DH who is an IT guy really hated that!) DD wasn't even talking and still got punished along with the rest. Kinda weird. Most of the kids in our family just stop doing bad things when they are asked to do so..and punishment isn't really necessary. I guess we are lucky!

P.S.
Hmmm... WOW! That seems pretty harsh and intended to cause strife and hard feelings. The rest of the post seems like a well thought out response to the actual question. IMHO

Well said! I personally don't like missing recess either BUT it's really the best deterrent I think a teacher has. If you have a child who is missing recess a lot for talking, that just means you will need to add extra exercise into their after school activities which I would much prefer over added homework or detention (although I would NEVER complain about either of those options if that were the choice of the school)

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I totally agree with what cougarskies said. There's not much left for teachers to do to kids who misbehave since parents seem to have a problem with just about everything a teacher tries to do to maintain order. The poster who said it was 'creepy' for the students who had to put their heads on their desk for misbehaving??? I remember having to do that when I was in school. There's nothing 'creepy' with it. It does keep the kids quiet. Heck, I remember having to stand in the corner with one foot up! AND the teacher drawing a circle on the blackboard and the kids misbehaving have to keep their nose in the circle until the teacher said to move!

If a child misbehaves (especially after having had warnings such as in this case), then taking away recess is a necessary thing to do, especially since that's something the child enjoys. Then when he gets home, OP, have him go to a time-out and think about why he keeps getting in trouble at school. If parents would re-enforce the punishment that the teacher has given, then maybe some problems at our school would diminish.

I think missing recess is fine. Hopefully, after a few times, the behaviour in question will cease. If not, then at that point, someone needs to come up w/ something else. Right now, I think missing recess is a "gentle" option.

I agree also.

I have never seen so many people agree with Cougerskies, but that reply was accurate. Teachers start out by giving a warning or two for small infractions. Trust me, they also want the student to get rid of excess energy. Someone will always disagree with a punishment. There is a ripple effect.You may think of it as only a little talkative, but it distracts their neighbors from listening to the teacher and learning the lesson being taught. They get frustrated because they don't understand and act out, thereby distracting more students. Pretty soon, no one is learning the lesson being taught all because little Johnny or Susie just wanted to talk to their friend.

I fully agree with lunch detention, these kids are in elementary school, so there is no after school detention and I think kids need to learn to listen to the teachers and if it takes discipinary action to get the childs attention than so be it. I am sorry but the way you say "oh he talks a little, but" it seems like you aren't understanding the teachers standpoint, one kid gets disruptive and then it becomes the whole class and if there werent any consequences to their actions what is going to stop them from doing it again? My daughter has had lunch detention once for forgetting her homework (I had to sign a test, she had gotten a 100, and she didnt put it back in her backpack) so she got lunch detention and I'm sure that she won't forget again.

I think recess detention is an appropriate punishment for gradeschoolers. It is their "currency" (most of them, at least). And except for a couple of unusual circumstances, I support whatever the teachers decide is needed for punishment and especially in front of my children. I'm the Mom who asked that my son be sent to the principal when he bit another kid as a 1st grader. (I was like WTF? and I wanted him to be punished!)

It helped my boys to burn a little energy at the bus stop in the morning. It seems like many parents drive their kids to school these days, that I think many kids miss that before school opportunity to chat and jump around....

cj/

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Whatever happened to standing in the corner? That was always a pain in the butt that no kid liked to do.

Yeah, you're not allowed to do that any more.

Try not to take it personally... Sometimes replies may seem judgmental and/or heated but it is the nature of the discussion -- 'parenting' turns up the heat! Hopefully, you are reading the responses and maybe you will be able to come to terms with the school's decision or figure out how to discuss this with your son so that he does not become a repeat offender in the recess detention.

How old is your son? What are the hours that he is at school? How many recesses does he have? Did your son come home and tell you about the new policy? If so, it probably is hitting home for him that he needs to stop getting the strikes...

I find that my 10 year old son who has a lot of energy (and a bit of lack of self-control at times!) has just blossomed since he has been in an after-school Kung Fu program. It really has touched every aspect of his life -- that and his dog that we rescued from the pound about 6 months ago.

Excellent point! My boys love riding the bus... They also get a few minutes at school on the playground before school when they ride the bus. It is good for them to be outside and spend some downtime with their pals too. From past discussions, I remember reading from some of our other members that their kids go immediately to class when they arrive at school... Now, that's sad.

I agree with Cougarskies that teachers are very limited in the punishments they can offer. To keep a child afterschool, a teacher would have to contact the parents. Some parents don't like to be bothered at work. If the teacher did not obtain parental permission to keep the child afterschool, there is very little alternative. When I was a teacher, I often kept individual behavior folders where I would write a comment about the student's behavior for the day. The students who had a good day received a sticker. At the end of the week, I brought out a treasure box for the students who followed the rules. This system didn't really work for the kids who had behavior problems. They didn't care that they never got a reward. I think that missing recess is ok because it's an immediate consequence.

Yeah, she said they get 3 marks and then lose recess, so the boy has warnings and knows he's going to lose it...I don't have a problem with it either.

We have the same rule. They have an extra "Fun Friday" recess. Those who have gotten 3 X's (or strikes) during the week don't get the extra recess. The rest of them do. They also get check marks for good behavior and for every 5 check marks they get a prize - sit on a large ball for the day instead of a chair, chew gum in class, wear slippers to school, stuff like that. My 5th grade daughter loves it. She lives for the check marks!

Lisa

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Here the elementary only gets one PE class a week, and 1 20 minute recess. If your child gets in trouble, they have to walk laps around the playground while their friends are playing. I really like it myself. They still get outside, and are still expending some energy, just not getting to play and do what they want to do.

I tell my 8 year old all of the time about how I think the fear of being paddled in the hallway for severe misbehaviors should be brought back. I know others will think I'm a horrible parent for it, but the fear that I would be embarrassed in front of my classmates for acting up kept me in line. Just like I never chewed gum in class because I didn't want to have to walk around the rest of the day with it stuck on the end of my nose! I also remember having to go home and write 500 sentences of "I will not talk without permission in class" several times because I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

just send him down here to our school in lower alabama.....we will just give him 3 good swats on his little behind and send him on out the door for recess.......oh wait...we don't even have recess....we will just give him 3 good swats and send him back to class....it would probably only take once and he would get the point...of course if you prefer not to have your little one spanked we will send him/her outside to run hills until they are exhausted......then they will be ready to go sit in class and behave

I feel pretty darn good about it. Don't send me a note or call me if it can be corrected at school!