Pages

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Does Jerry Weast have a dog?

Washington Post:  Taking healthy habits' measure

At Hollin Meadows Elementary in Va., first lady helps USDA honor the school's nutrition and fitness efforts

..."Anyone who has kids knows they need recess and exercise to focus. If you own a dog, you know that," Obama said, drawing laughs from school officials. "But I guess that's part of the challenge, changing the mentality within the system about what priorities make sense and why."

The first lady started a White House garden where fruits and vegetables are grown for use year-round in the kitchen. She also initiated a public campaign to help Americans better understand where their food comes from...

Superintendent Weast and the MCPS Board of Education's position on recess.

Superintendent Weast and the MCPS Board of Education's position on vegetable gardens.

8 comments:

  1. It isn't just Superintendent Weast who does not value physical education. The response below was sent home in an elementary school parent newsletter in response to the question, "Why does my child have to miss recess on some days?" Note the reference to children "playing" rather than doing their work as we know children couldn't possibly be confused or not understand what they are being taught or even have a valid reason for not completing their work in class or at home. Is anyone keeping track of the children who are being kept in on a regular basis to determine if perhaps there is a real problem such as a learning disability? Undiagnosed problem such as ADHD? Maybe too much work is being given? In addition, not all homework is graded some is simply for a learning skill, so why are the children being kept in at recess to do it? There are often situations where the child may not be able to complete homework due to illness, another obligation, etc. that does not involve "play". Obviously all of the children at this school are just playing and not working hard and it takes the school to set them straight since it doesn't appear the parents are doing their part.

    "Teachers are working very hard to help children learn the responsibility of completing homework and classwork. If a child has not completed homework or classwork, they have used that work time to play. Students need to learn this consequence. Recess is not a right for students. While we all agree that fresh air and exercise is a good idea, students also need to learn consequences for not following through on responsibilities. If a student does his work when he is supposed to, there is no issue. If he is not held to this expectation, he will quickly learn that completing work is not required and there is no consequence. Teachers will keep children in during recess to address both work completion and behavior. It is our hope that parents will explain consequences to their children and the result will be that work gets done when it is supposed to be done. If the work is too difficult, then the teachers need to know this so that the work can be addressed. Choosing to not do the work when it is assigned is not an option."

    ReplyDelete
  2. What school was this? Can we get a copy of the newsletter? (or perhaps is this parent "newsletter" online somewhere?"

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Students need to learn this consequence." Well, this Dickensian approach to children is keeping in the spirit of our Board of Education's remake of the physical plant of our schools, which are now large factories churning out product. Did you vote for this Board of Education? This is what you wanted, MoCo Native.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Recess was routinely withheld at my kids' elementary school(s) for failure to hand in work. I can see recess as discipline for behavioral issues (though it probably would not be effective) but for homework?

    ReplyDelete
  5. This was routine at my kids' MoCo elementary school as well. The practice was referred to as "homework call". Whenever a student did not finish homework, they would have to return to the classroom after lunch to finish it while the rest of the kids went out to recess. I guess the idea was that if they did the work quickly enough they could still get some time on the playground. I know of kids who were kept in for a part of recess for making simple mistakes on their homework such as spelling a word incorrectly. How that is supposed to help a child learn anything except to hate school, I have no idea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @freestategal - if you knew me, you would know I did NOT vote for anyone on this BOE or council and this is not what I want for my children. I would not still be here trying to change my school if that were the case.

    Seems like this isn't a problem at just this school but others as well. I don't get who the principals and staff think they are and why they think they can "punish" students this way. I agree with the last poster, all it does it make children hate school.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Students need to learn basic skills, like how to read and write, and this is the aim of meaningful homework. Hating school, not learning, not doing the work--despite any number of excuses that we are willing to assign, is it ever possible--EVER--that the kid just didn't do his homework because he or she knows there will be no accountability?

    Stop complaining about the US being behind the world in education and then trying to make schools "fun" and all about childrens' "self-esteem." If kids hate school, maybe it's because they haven't taken it upon themselves to learn anything, therefore making them feel lost and bored. Maybe it's because they come from homes where parents are always complaining and saying things like, "Who do those teachers and principals think they are." The more kids learn, the higher their self esteem will be. The more they engage themselves in the content, the more fun they will have. Stop it already with this foolish blaming of teachers and administrators who want to actually teach kids something. Wait until these kids, who have every excuse made for them and never have to take responsibility, will have to take care of the older generation (us).

    ReplyDelete
  8. @ anonymous NY comment:

    This post was, in part, about withholding recess, and the statement about the need for recess came from the First Lady. You can contact her directly if you disagree with the need of children to move and get exercise as part of their day.

    The other quote from Mrs. Obama was about learning about where food comes from.

    ReplyDelete

If your comment does not appear in 24 hours, please send your comment directly to our e-mail address:
parentscoalitionmc AT outlook.com