During the year, our schools are busy slashing P.E. and recess to make more time for math. During the summer, we get ourselves worked into a tizzy that our children will forget their fractions.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Right now many schools have no recess. Most schools have no PE.
Children without access to quality early education programs start kindergarten with an 18-month disadvantage, and that gap continues to widen. By the time they are in fourth grade, many cannot do math or read at grade level.
One of the problems we have is children are not in school long enough in the day and during the year.
Why do children dread mathematics? Because of the wrong approach. Because it is looked at as a subject.
I would hope that maybe math teachers could use 'Prime Baby' as a way of establishing an emotional connection between students and numbers.
Play is under attack in our nation's schools - and shrinking recess periods are only part of the problem. Homework is increasing. Cities are building new schools without playgrounds. Safety concerns are prompting bans of tag, soccer, and even running on the schoolyard.
I think a lot of the problem is that at 8 o'clock there's nothing on for kids.
The President's call for more math and science students is not being heeded by his party's leaders in Congress. They are cutting over $10 billion from student aide while refusing to fully fund No Child Left Behind. Something doesn't add up.
We must make sure that there is recess and P.E. class in every school, getting kids outside for 60 minutes, every day.
In the education of the American people, I am Recess.