Recess at Westmoreland Central School - Westmoreland, NY

Let's start with the begining...Westmoreland Central School District eliminated recess starting the 2008-09 school year for ALL the elementary students in grades K-4. Why, you ask? According to district officials, it was NECESSARY to be in compliance with NYS Physical Education mandates. NYS mandates require children in grades K-3 to have daily PE instruction with a combined weekly total of 120 per calendar week. The daily portion of the PE instruction can be met in a variety of ways, including in-class instruction performed by the normal elementary classroom teachers as long as it is under the supervision and direction of the ceritified school physical education teacher.

Unfortunately for children at Westmoreland Elementary, school officials decided the ONLY wany to meet NYS mandates was to eliminate recess in favor of daily 25 minute PE classes.

That seems like an okay idea at first, right? Truth be told, after doing extensive research on recess and it's benefits (both PHYSICAL and social), you will find this the WORST way to meet NYS mandates and is detrimental to the children of this district.