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Bill would make school recess mandatory

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Readers who responded to last week's online poll about recess in elementary schools were overwhelmingly in favor of giving kids time to play.

Ninety-four percent of respondents said recess is an important part of the school day and 82 percent favor a bill in the Legislature that would mandate a half-hour of recess a day in Grades 1 through 6.

Looking back on their own childhoods, 78 percent of poll respondents said their recess experiences were either fantastic or enjoyable. Fourteen percent said recess was OK, and 5 percent said they hated it.

We editorialized last Monday in favor of the mandatory-recess legislation, House Bill 2037, because we believe it would help combat the epidemic of childhood obesity; helps students burn energy and become more attentive in class; and adds fun to the school day.

However, Howard Fischer reported in Thursday's Star that the measure has hit a roadblock.

On a voice vote Wednesday, the state House refused to accept the measure, which already has been approved by the Senate.

Rep. David Schapira, D-Tempe, said that while he likes the idea of allowing free play during school, he does not support the proposal by Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa, that recess needs to be a state-imposed mandate.

Schapira said he wants the legislation altered to allow a school board to opt out of the recess requirement. But the board would first have to have a public hearing, explain the reasons and take testimony.

We believe Schapira's request would ruin the measure. As we said last week, the bill wouldn't be necessary if many schools weren't getting rid of recess so that students can spend more time studying for standardized tests.

If school districts have the option of opting out, we believe many of them will do just that. Kids will be no better off than they are today.

We have a message for Schapira and other lawmakers who oppose mandatory recess: Let them play.