Education: Expand recess time for Bethel children

Everywhere in the Bethel School District you will see billboards advertising the district’s accomplishments, but one thing you won’t see mentioned? Recess. Bethel provides the least in the area – just 20 minutes a day.

It’s no wonder teachers have written 45 minutes a day into their new contract proposal. After all, research shows that kids learn through play and learn better after playing. Puyallup kids get up to an hour; Sumner has 45 minutes per day. Their test scores are the same or better. So why the district’s flat-out refusal to increase recess?

Earlier this year parents approached the board about the issue. A district representative said teachers were not on board. Not true. They said they couldn’t increase recess because of state requirements on instructional time. Not true. They said research only cites a minimum of 20 minutes per day. What many of us want to know is: Why do they feel our kids are only worth the minimum?

Children need time to recharge. There is a teacher shortage. If the Bethel District wishes to keep its excellent staff, it needs to be competitive with surrounding districts – and not just when it comes to energy efficiency.

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 9:55 AM with the headline "Education: Expand recess time for Bethel children."