Should first, second and/or third graders lose their recess time as a punishment? Is it even legal?

Question

I just found out my first grade nephew has been sitting on the lunch benches all week during his 20 minute recess time because my sis didn't sign his reading log and send it back to school. Just sitting. He can't read, talk, draw or anything. He says his teacher is "mad" at him. He is six years old! No teacher or office person ever called her so he has missed recess all week because he just told her today.

They live in California.

She feels bad because of course she should have signed it and sent it back with him. She misplaced it and then completely forgot about it. We just feel because he is in first grade and only six someone should have called mom after the second day or sent a note home. It shouldn't have been allowed to go on for a week. He is really active and it's hard enough on him to sit there all day and stay out of other kinds of trouble! I believe he and all children NEED those recesses to run off steam and just to move around. What do you think my sister should do?

Answer 1

No they should not be there lunch times are for them to get enegy to keep going through the day, I would be having words with that teacher if I was you or the principal.

Answer 2

I think the parent needs to make it up to the child.. the school is wrong to take aways recess, but if that is the only thing that gets noticed, that s what they will do.. good life lesson for the mom and the kid...

She needs to stay on top of what her kid is doing in school.

Answer 3

Taking recess away as a means of punishment is perfectly fine. I as a parent would tell the teacher if my children don't behave or do their work they are to miss recess.

In this case I think there was a lack of communication and it seems as if both parties are at fault, mother and teacher...

To ensure it doesn't happen again, make your childs hw a priority...review it, sign it, make sure its in the folder and teach the child to communicate  with you about his day in school.

Answer 4

i am willing to bet this isnt the whole story

taking recess away is perfectly legal and fair.

when i was in school and something didnt come back we were told that every day it was out late we would lose the privilege to play at recess. i bet this is the case.

this is your sisters fault shes needs to learn to follow rules and return things on time. this isnt something new they sprung on her its been this way all year long

Answer 5

they can make him lose recess, but they can't make him do academic work during recess.

sis needs to keep up w/school rules so her son gets recess..

Answer 6

i go to a school were this is a typical punishment to me it seems perfectly fair at school its about the only thing supervisors can take away that students accually care about

Answer 7

Your sis needs to go down to the school and have a talk with them. That is pretty tough punishment for something like that. Especially for a first grader. My kids have had to sit out of recess (It is legal) but usually only for one day and for much worse things (like hitting, kicking etc.)

Teachers are human and they pick favorites. Once they see some parents want tolerate it, they quit. I've had teachers make fun of my son (he has Autism), pick on him etc. Once they seen my husband and I would come everyday if we had to and call them out on it they stopped.

Answer 8

Email has been a life saver with my son's 3rd grade teacher. I know immediately if there is a problem at school. His teacher is really good about letting me know ASAP.

Are you sure that there aren't other listening issues with him at school. It seems pretty excessive to lose all of recess for that. Plus, if no one calls home or sends a note, the work will never make it back to the classroom.  My thought would be there is another issue compounding this one.

Answer 9

i grew up in PA and they took 5 minutes of recess off every time we we're "bad" and sometimes we wouldnt have any time left.

Answer 10

yes its legal but they should have called

Answer 11

It's perfectly fine and legal to not send a kid out to recess....there's no recess law. lol. It's the way the school uses to teach the kids ersponsibility and right from wrong and all that junk. If your sister doesn't like it...maybe she should consider homeschooling? That's the only way to get around it.

Answer 12

One day of punishment should have taken care of the problem.  That is the way teachers punish students by taking their recess.  Keep in mind, that it punishes the teacher too by having to keep an eye on him whenever that is her only break.

Answer 13

She should talk to the teacher. I expect it's not a big deal. And the boy will be fine. He's 6 and human. I'm sure he plays all the time when he's not at school. School is a 6-year-old boys JOB, not his LIFE. Seriously, though, she should be at ease when she talks to the teacher. I'm sure the woman (or man) is a reasonable person. Maybe there's more to the thing than the mere absence of a signed reading log. Maybe there was lying involved. Unwise adults lie all the time. Wise adults don't. But even a wise child is prone to a lot of lying. He hasn't had a chance to learn yet. I'm not calling your nephew a liar. And, maybe the teacher is a pretty uncool customer. But.. well... I think that this problem is much less than it seems.

Answer 14

The six year old says he was sitting on the benches all week because of something his mum didn't do?

First thing I'd do would be to confirm the story with the teacher. I'd lay money that's not the reason but he doesn't want to admit he's been punished for his own bad behaviour.

Answer 15

ok i work at a school and we take recess away from kids all the time but never for forgeting a reading log the principal recently yelled at all the teachers for doing that because it was stupid. anyways as long as he's eating his lunch before going to the bench its not illegal its a little too harsh for a 1st grader but its not illegal. i work in an elementary school in the bay area, ca

Answer 16

Yes, it is legal to withhold recess as a form of punishment because recess is a privilege. Unfortunately, it can be withheld for the most ridiculous reasons, such as the one you have stated, that are completely out of the child's control. Due to the lack of communication between parents, teachers, principals, etc, children are made to suffer.

My son nearly missed his Christmas pagent in first grade because of something like this. Here, in order to participate, the children are required to have a permission slip signed. I never received one and the only reason I knew they had begun was one of the parents at the bus stop brought it too my attention. I contacted the school who in return told me that since I neglected to send in any of the three slips sent home they "assumed" I did not wish my child to participate. I told them I did not receive them and upon not receiving the second they should have contacted me about it. The only reason my son was permitted to partake was the reasoning behind the permission slip. I was informed they needed parental consent due to the nature of some of the songs to be sung, they were religious in nature. I informed them I would be speaking to the state rep about it since religion and school had no place together (I don't agree with this but used it to my advantage just this once). Next thing you know, my son is given a line.

Answer 17

i live in IL and i had a 2nd garde teacher that was the same way with me. we repotred her several times but she had 10yr. she would lock us in closets, embarres us by telling the class to point and laugh if one of us failed a simple test, normally it was me and a few other students she picked on. she made one of the other kids pee his pants because she wouldnt let him go to the bathroom. another time i cut my finger when a student hit me with a wooden ruler and it was bleeding everywhere, she wouldnt let me get a freakn band aid.

i hated that teacher....10yr sucks

legal? i think if they have 10 year they have to do something really bad like molest a student or something...... but thats here in IL

Answer 18

legal?  talk with the teacher.  if the child has behavior problems in the classroom, he's got them at home.  consider parenting classes, getting rid of the TV, and spending more quality time with the child.

Answer 19

If the kid waited a whole week to tell his mom, he must be fine. She should just try and stay more on top of it for next time.

Answer 20

Your sister should talk to the teacher at least once or twice a week. To make sure everything is going ok and things like this don't happen. Someone walks my daughter to class everyday and picks her up everyday. I know a lot of the school here the teacher emails the parents if the kids forget something or are abcent or needs something for school. Maybe your sister could talk to them about doing this.

Answer 21

You know, most teachers want the involvement of parents and strive to work with parents to find solutions to problems.

This teacher has a duty to talk to your sister, especially if the punishment is based upon a perceived failure of the parent to sign a form!  

If I were in your sister's shoes, I would call the Principal immediately and firmly demand a meeting with him or her and the teacher.  I would explain that I wanted to be a supportive partner in education but cannot do that if there are barriers to effective communication with my child's teacher.

I would ask the teacher for his side of the story and let him get it out of his system before reminding him that reasonable adults work together and communicate in order to do what is best for the children in their care.  

Then, I would ask them to make a communication plan and expect them to stick to it!  

If the principal doesn't respond favorably, I would contact the office of elementary education for the district and ask for advice there.  Sometimes it takes a nudge from the powers in charge to get the ball rolling.  And if this teacher really has issues, she probably won't be the first person to complain.  The more complaints he gets the more likely it is that his superiors will see a pattern that needs repaired.  

Good luck.

Answer 22

She should pay better attention to his assignments, or face la consequences.

Answer 23

it IS legal. and they should until they sgould learn how to behave. maybe instead of completely losing recess time, you could ask the teacher if he could walk the track alone just so he can burn off some energy

Answer 24

I think taking time away from recesses is a decent way for punishment, but I don't think that all week was neccessary because his mom flaked. If it was an assignment he didn't do or misbehavior it would be different. I definitely think his mom should be calling the school about that.

Answer 25

Why would it not be legal.  I don't like for kids to miss recess bc they really need to run around and blow off steam; however, sometimes that's what it takes to get their attention. They don't have to call her.  I think your sister needs to be more responsible and she needs to keep an open peaceful line of communication with the teacher and she needs to teach her son to tell her what is going on in school.

Answer 26

I don't even see how this is a punishable offense. I don't know about illegal, but the teacher has totally overreacted and is holding the wrong person accountable besides.

Answer 27

have your sister write a note to the teacher explaing that it was HER fault that she didn't sign it.her son kept reminding her but she never reposed(if true or not)if that doesn't work go to the classroom your self and tell that b**** off(not in front of the kids though).hey.tell me how it goes. E-mail me at [e-mail]!later

Answer 28

they cant do that. he is allowed to interact with other children. you should call the school and complain and tell them it isnt even his fault. blessings

Answer 29

Support the school and back up the punishment.

Answer 30

That's a pretty normal punishment actually. The teacher doesn't have to have the principal call your sister, or have the office call.  The teacher -should- have sent a note home, but it's a pretty normal punishment for all kids in grade school.

Answer 31

she should be a responsible parent and take care of things. The kid should learn to speak up to his parents too.

How do you think the kid should be punished, if not losing recess?  He broke the rules, he should be punished.