6. Most adults remember recess as an essential part, if not the highlight, of each school day. But recess has become an increasingly endangered element of a child’s time at school. As federal standards force kids to stuff more studying into each day, school administrators say there just isn’t time to “play around.” What they aren't saying is that eliminating recess may be the worst thing schools can do for a child’s education.

7. In 2006, The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) reported that nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have eliminated or are considering eliminating recess. Reasons range from budgetary and staffing problems to the crushing requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which set unprecedented standards for student achievement . A growing body of research supports the idea that physical exercise is essential for learning. Recess provides the opportunity for peer interaction, which can increase social skills and creative problem-solving. Recess also provides a much-needed break from focused academic activity, which can improve attention and retention of information, especially for kids pegged with attention problems for fidgeting and disruptive behavior in class (can you really blame them?).

8. With our ISTEP scores that continue to drop, why do we keep adding more and more for our young children to try and master? ISTEP DATA - % Passing % Passing 6th Grade Crestview 4th Grade Corporation 4th Grade State Gender E/La Math E/La Math E/La Math Male 49.0% 55.0% 69.0% 64.0% 79.0% 74.0% Female 65.0% 51.0% 58.0% 65.0% 70.0% 74.0% % Passing 4th Grade Crestview 4th Grade Corporation 4th Grade State Race E/La Math E/La Math E/La Math White 84.0% 84.0% 82.0% 81.0% 79.0% 78.0% Black 52.0% 43.0% 51.0% 51.0% 56.0% 55.0% Hispanic 12.0% 29.0% 36.0% 48.0% 59.0% 63.0% Asian 86.0% 90.0% 79.0% 84.0% Multi racial 70.0% 67.0% 71.0% 68.0% % Passing 4th Grade Crestview 4th Grade Corporation 4th Grade State F/R E/La Math E/La Math E/La Math Free/Reduced 52.0% 48.0% 50.0% 52.0% 62.0% 63.0% Paid 65.0% 65.0% 80.0% 79.0% 84.0% 82.0%

9. The No Child Left Behind Policy, started in 2001 by the Bush Administration, is a program that intends to improve the standardized scores of America’s children. This policy is quite punitive if schools do not demonstrate progress in test scores. This has led to increased stress among school administrators and local legislators to increase test scores with the threat of losing teachers and shutting down schools.

10. President Bush signed into law the "No Child Left Behind Act”.

11. No Child Left Behind does not address health education and is drawing funds away from improving the health of America’s children. It does not reflect the mission and vision statements of most schools which include health and wellness of students. It gives the impression to schools that health education is not a priority and that standardized test scores in “core subjects” are what should be focused on. This has resulted in funding cuts for physical and health education, the loss of physical educator positions, and shortchanging students.

12. I believe that although No Child Left Behind has good intentions of closing the achievement gap and increasing school accountability, it is unintentionally harming the health of American children. Children in elementary, middle and high schools need opportunities to be physically active in recess and physical education classes for the benefit of their health and well being.