Finally, saner minds started to notice and there is now a reaction. And our Education Establishment is now boldly, if somewhat fatuously, rediscovering the obvious.
The new science of recess says that recess isn’t a waste of time at all. “Having recess is much, much, much better than not having recess,” says Anthony Pellegrini, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Minnesota who’s written extensively on the subject. “That’s unequivocal, I feel. That’s a no-brainer.”
The American Association of Pediatrics recently issued an impassioned statement on the “play deprivation” experienced by children in poverty. That’s good news for children squirming in their seats.
As a final note, Montessori schools and classical academies tend to incorporate physical movement into their routine pedagogy. One of the most successful phonics programs has children jumping up to sing songs.
Keep their brains active. Keep their bodies active. The need for all this has never been in question. The question is why we have so many people trying to subvert the most effective approaches.