Recess and Fever

I loved this snap. There's just something so pleasant to me about that oldish looking 'brick' building on the water front. It really was an interesting place to take a walk. Mum, when you come see me again, I'll take you there.

Munchkin #1 is home today from school with a fever and sore throat, poor kid. I was supposed to go with Munchkin #2 on her class's field trip today. I'm glad they had plenty of parents. I felt so bad I had to back out at the last minute.

I read an article just now in the New York Times this morning that bothered me:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/education/15recess.html?pagewanted=1&exprod=myyahoo

Basically, it's about providing structured recesses for elementary students and making the structured activities mandatory. What bothered me is the 'how' the money is being spent. IF these schools have, basically, only limited paved space for play, then I can see how structure is helpful. But, what I think this story really shows some of the problems in working in some schools. According to the article, it costs $23,500 U.S. per year for one of these programs on one campus. That would buy some nice playground equipment. But, say you even had room for that equipment; would the students take care of it? Where my kids attend school, they have a variety of places to play outside - one of the best school playgrounds I've ever seen. Do they get hurt sometimes? Yes. But, they have the space to play as they choose. However, it only remains a nice playground because the kids, for the most part, take care of the equipment, and there is money to fix it should something need to be replaced or repaired.

I'm glad the kids in this news article get to play, but it makes me so sad to see kids who may not have any access to open play spaces. It also makes me wonder if open safe places for kids to play are linked to socioeconomic situation. I mean if you are 'working poor' then do your kids have the play spaces that say 'upper middle class' kids have? There are parks where we live, but the really nice ones (ie they are the cleanest) are in the compounds and/or are totally private - ie residents only kind of spaces.

Munchkin #2's field trip today includes a picnic at the beach. My family is truly blessed.

Peace.