Patch Flash: Illinois Considers Mandatory Recess for Grade Schools
Chicagoland news to talk about: Victim in Tinley Park mob attack says "We're not skinheads."
A bill passed by the Illinois Senate earlier this month will make recess mandatory in schools statewide if Gov. Pat Quinn and the House follow suit and sign off on the plan.
Senate Bill 636, introduced by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago), calls for at least 20 minutes of recess daily for children in kindergarden through fifth grade--outside, if weather permits. The bill includes a provision that would allow school boards to extend the requirement for students in grades 6 through 8, and also forbids schools from withholding recess as a disciplinary action.
The state Senate approved the bill on May 10 in a 32-20 vote, advancing it to the House for consideration.
“We can’t lose sight of the fact that kids need to be kids,” Lightford said. Learning to make friends and use your imagination is every bit as important as learning multiplication and grammar.”
Police are holding a 23-year-old Skokie woman in custody after she allegedly hit and killed an 8-year-old boy near the intersection of Main Street and St. Louis Avenue on Monday around 4:30 p.m. While charges are still pending, police had the woman provide several samples for toxicology tests, which is required per Illinois law, police said. While officers said they don't think alcohol played a role in the death of Vo, it will still take up to six weeks to get the test results back, police said.
Arlignton Heights police say an explosion in a manufacturing company that killed one person and injured 10 others was accidental. A machine exploded inside an Arlington Heights manufacturing company in the 3600 block of North Kennicott Avenue Tuesday morning. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the scene and will do so for the next couple of days.
“We’re not skinheads,” said Brandon Spiller, of Wisconsin, who was hospitalized after a mob attack at the Ashford House restaurant in Tinley Park, Saturday. Spiller was meeting with a group of about 15 to 20 i people from all over the country who were interested in joining the European Heritage Group, which he said was holding its first meeting. He has "no idea why" anyone would want to hurt him or his newfound friends. "They terrorized us," he says.
Bob Stock
9:45 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
When I read this I was flabbergasted.
I thought recess was always mandatory and now I wonder how that ever changed.
Scott
8:39 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
You would think 5 day a week PE is mandatory also but Palatine D15 keeps getting waivers.
Kelly K
9:37 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I had no idea recess was ever taken away. I realize I was in grade school in the late 70s and through the 80s but I didn't know it was ever changed? Next thing you're going to tell me is they don't have music or art classes anymore!
Donny
9:56 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Recess is a joke for the kids today anyway. They can't play tag or even give out hugs. Government indoctrination is really what our public schools are about. It's no longer about reading, writing, and math. It's about fairness and not hurting Jonny's feelings because he is slower in math than his classmates. There are some great schools out there but let's face it, government schools are not really about educating our children they are about securing a unions power both financially and politically with job security no matter what quality of product they produce.
Nightcrawler
12:23 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Then start going to board meetings, and hold your school board members accountable. Or vote for people who you feel are best suited to create an environment that is conducive to what you feel the learning experience should be to best help them learn, grow and be happy.
Hmmmm6
1:28 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Donny you need to move. Not sure where your kids are attending, but kids still play tag. They don't need to hug; I hug them at home. Kindness and fairness are worthy goals, and I am glad that they are reinforced at school. My public school children have been taught by some amazing teachers, some very competent teachers and a small number of teachers who should do other things. This is not altogether different from every other profession. Don't forget--success begins at home. Teachers can be great partners (or a complete headache), but in the end, as a parent, you are responsible, not your kids' school or their teacher, for their education. If personal responsibility is what you are hectoring about here, man up. You have them long before and long after those teachers are long forgotten. Schools aren't the only source of education, you are the primary educator. Show me a teacher who signed up for "power." I have one kid in college, one in high school and one in middle school, and I have yet to meet that power hungry teacher.
Donny
2:24 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Hmmmmm6 you need to pull your head out of the sand. Here is one teacher who signed up for power. Sounds like a bully to me after you listen to the full audio. Google / Bing / or Youtube these key words: teacher threatens student with arrest criticizing Obama. I could post news stories all day long on bad teachers, abusive teachers but you just asked for one. You have yet to meet that power hungry teacher but I bet your kids have. Have a great day!
Nightcrawler
12:24 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
I find it troubling that 20 people voted against this legislation, and would love to find out why.
Far too often, kids these days don't get enough time playing outside, or enough exercise. We need to let kids be kids. It's one of the greatest gifts we can give them. Even they need breaks from reading, writing, or other school-related things. Just like adults who get breaks while they are at work.
Why anyone would have voted against this is beyond me.
Gary
10:12 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Maybe they think local school boards should decide what's best for the kids, rather than some group down in Springfield.
Nightcrawler
4:56 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
Well Gary, if that includes not allowing kids to play outside for 20 lousy minutes, while staying indoors for 7-9 hours on computers, sitting at desks and whatnot, then shame on them. Children's bodies need at least 15-30 minutes of sunlight every day just to properly absorb the vitamins and nutrients they get into their systems, ask any doctor. As we have seen even locally, school boards don't always make the right decisions, nor do politicians, but to deny kids the right to be outside for a short period of time to take a break and unwind is unhealthy.