CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Last year, a group of moms banded together with other parents to push for longer recess times after discovering that their elementary schools were not prioritizing recess. Now, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System is extending those recess times.
Currently, CMCSS elementary schools provide only 15-20 minutes of outside recess time. For the 2024-25 school year starting next month, that has been extended to 30 minutes.
Why the change?
In April 2023, Rachel Bush and Morgan Garner reported some behavioral issues with their children. Garner noticed her third-grade daughter was coming home with uncontainable energy and high stress. Garner told Clarksville Now this behavior worsened on rainy days, and when she asked her daughter what they did for recess, she was baffled by her answer.
“They weren’t even allowed to go to the gym,” Garner said. “The teacher would let them play a game or play on the computer, but only within the confines of that classroom that they’ve been in all day long.”
Garner and Bush started researching the benefits of longer and more stimulating recess times. They found that CMCSS elementary students are in school for 6.5 hours, or approximately 390 minutes. Of that 390-minute day, the master schedule fills 355 minutes, leaving over half an hour not accounted for.
According to the Tennessee State Board of Education, physical activity is to be integrated into the instructional day for all students. Elementary school students are to have a minimum of 130 minutes of physical activity per full school week, an average 26 minutes a day. And the policy states that walking to and from class doesn’t count.
Additionally, the policy states, “Physical activity shall not be withheld from a student as a punishment.”
“CMCSS teachers have been known to take away recess as a punishment,” Bush previously said. They said they were told by administrators that withholding recess as punishment was discouraged but not banned.
Half-hour recess for upcoming school year
“Through a collaborative effort with engaged parent volunteers, elementary recess time will increase to 30 minutes per day at all CMCSS elementary schools,” CMCSS spokesperson Anthony Johnson told Clarksville Now.
He said that although the state and federal requirements and academic expectations for each school are consistent, each school’s schedule is unique. School administration worked with their leadership teams and educators to modify existing schedules to increase recess times while still adhering to curriculum and service requirements.
“CMCSS’ directors of elementary schools, Jessica Harris and Amanda Nicks, have appreciated the collaboration on this initiative,” Johnson said. “The group of moms, respectfully called ‘the recess moms,’ have been great advocates and thought partners.”
NEWS TIPS: Do you have a local news tip? Email news@clarksvillenow.com or call us at 931-648-7720.
Garner, Bush and their new counterpart Kathryn Truman said they are happy with this new development but not completely satisfied.
“It’s a huge win, and we’re really happy,” Bush said. “We want to keep the momentum going and keep pushing for this.”
“It’s a start,” Garner agreed. “But there’s still room for improvement. I’d like to see us get recess time as close to an hour as possible.”
Bush said Montgomery County may never realistically get to 60-minute recess times. But their goal still stands: They want to see two 30-minute recess breaks a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They do, however, expect major pushback.
PREVIOUSLY: Recess in schools: Moms push Clarksville-Montgomery County to offer more breaks for kids
Wish list of changes
With the help of Carol Duffin, a candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives, the moms were able to meet with senior leaders at the state level. At the advice of John DeBerry, senior advisor of the Governor’s Office, the mothers dove into the existing legislation for schools and began compiling a wish list for change.
“We took the law, and we scrubbed it,” Truman said. “We found that (under current state law) it should be mandated that each local education agency (each principal) should appoint a school health advisory council. We’re hoping to identify what that is for our local community.”
Johnson said that according to existing CMCSS guidelines, schools develop and maintain family and community involvement plans as part of their School Improvement Plans and encourage community members to serve as representatives of Healthy School Teams located in each school setting.
“Each school is required to appoint a ‘Healthy School team leader’ who coordinates efforts in their building,” Johnson said. “Typically, but not always, this representative is a physical education teacher or school nurse.”
DON’T MISS A STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter
Among other other items they are looking at transforming are providing facilities for indoor recess on rainy/inclement weather days instead of putting students on computers. They are also looking to attach enforcement of the law to school funding.
“We know, right now, that if any school breaks this law there is zero consequence,” Bush said. “We don’t want new funding; we want to attach it to current funding. That way if a school is not abiding by the law, they can pull funding just so there’s accountability.”
The moms have started up a Facebook group called Say Yes to Recess Tennessee to garner support from parents across the state for their work with changing the legislation.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Sign up for our free Clarksville Now app