Moms Push for Recess Bill, Senator Declines to Hear It

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Imagine your children attend a public school where they don’t get any recess at all. What would you do? If you were a group of determined moms in Florida known as the Recess Moms, you’d launch a petition that leads to a proposed bill. You’d invest countless hours and your own resources traveling to meet with legislators, advocating for change.

Despite passing through three House committees with unanimous support from teachers and parents, the bill was halted by Senator Mark Thompson, who stated, “I’m not going to put it on the agenda. It doesn’t merit a Tallahassee solution.” This was the disappointing reality for the Recess Moms last week.

In Florida, some students don’t receive any recess—not even for a few minutes. The state doesn’t require it, leaving school districts to decide if and when to provide this essential break for kids. You’d think this would be a straightforward issue, especially since everyone recognizes that children need recess. However, due to a focus on high-stakes testing, many schools are cutting back on time for free play.

Sarah Jensen’s Story

Take Sarah Jensen, for example. In 2014, her second grader and kindergartner were only getting 10 minutes of recess twice a week. When Sarah inquired about this, she was told it was a district mandate. After reaching out to the district and then the state, she discovered that Florida only mandates four hours of instruction for grades K through 3 and five hours for grades 4 and 5. With her kids in school for six hours, why wasn’t there time for recess? The explanation she received was that schools were prioritizing testing requirements over playtime.

Sarah, along with fellow mom Jenna Collins, decided to take action. Inspired by other counties, they started a petition that led to the introduction of Florida House Bill 833, which aimed to mandate recess in public schools. Although Sarah’s kids now enjoy 20 minutes of recess every day, she continues to advocate for families that lack the time or resources to fight for their children’s right to play.

Opposition from Educators

Despite the growing number of schools claiming that testing pressures leave no room for recess, some educators argue otherwise. For instance, in January 2014, Orange County Superintendent Lisa Roberts said, “A mandated 20-minute period is not appropriate for our schools at this point when teachers say they don’t have enough time to get it done.”

The proposed HB 833 would require school boards to provide at least 100 minutes of supervised, unstructured recess each week for students in grades K-5, ensuring a minimum of 20 consecutive minutes of playtime daily. Moreover, the bill stipulates that recess cannot be withheld for punitive reasons.

The Call to Action

All Senator Thompson needs to do is allow the bill to be heard. He could oppose it if he disagrees, but he won’t even let it come to that. It’s particularly disheartening given that the moms claim he has not responded to any of their communications for weeks. They learned through the media that their bill wouldn’t be heard, without any acknowledgment from him personally.

It’s essential to remember that elected officials work for the citizens who pay their salaries. As Sarah says, “This is not a time issue. It’s not a funding issue. It’s a priority issue. Recess is crucial to the development of children. All kids deserve to have recess.”

If you’re facing similar challenges with your school, take inspiration from Sarah’s experience. Vocal parents can make a difference—even when faced with indifference from politicians. Senators are accountable to their constituents, and they can be “fired” come election time.

Let the kids play!

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Summary

In Florida, a group of dedicated moms known as the Recess Moms are advocating for a bill that mandates recess in public schools. Despite their efforts and the bill passing through three House committees, Senator Mark Thompson has refused to allow it to be heard. With some schools prioritizing testing over playtime, many students are left without necessary recess breaks. The Recess Moms continue to fight for all children’s right to play, showing that persistent advocacy can bring about change.