Classes resumed just a few days ago, but parents of students at Fayette Central Elementary School, just outside of Connersville, Indiana, are already upset about the recess rules.
The elementary school has implemented a structured recess policy that requires children to participate in a particular activity during recess. The option to choose how to spend their playtime has been eliminated.
Administrators select a specific type of physical activity or sport that children are required to participate in for the following two weeks, until the activity changes again. According to parents, if a child refuses to partake, they are sent to the office.
Frustrated mother Audrey Dice got tired of hearing her child complain about the rigid playtime rules and started an online petition demanding change.
“We’ve been lucky that we are getting a huge response,” says Dice.
More than 400 people signed the petition in less than 24 hours.
“I would define recess as a 20-minute break that children get to take from their school work to play with other children to play by themselves to be able to express themselves and whatever way they need to to get out of energy,” Dice said.
School administrators say issues in the past led to the changes in recess policy. They have plans to send a note to parents in the coming days to better explain the new rules.
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