| Author |
Message |
    
mimosa
Citizen
Username: Mimosa
Post Number: 90
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 10:20 pm: |     |
Montagnard,
Cathy has said that knitting is a choice, so how does that take away from those children who want to play outside? If your kid doesn't want to stay in and knit, he/she doesn't have to, does he? Why do you insist on saying her child's choice to stay in and knit means the staff has some excuse to keep all children in? An activity that allows some children to stay in shouldn't take away from the children who want to play outside. Is that what is happening at your school?
Keeping a whole class in for an entire recess as a punishment leaves much to be desired, in my opinion. Better classroom management skills or keeping in the misbehaving children for just some of the period would be better for a classroom community.
Personally, I think children are better off by getting outside and having fresh air before settling down for the afternoon's studies. But if some children want to knit, or do a craft, or play a board game once a week, that's okay too! |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 334
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 10:47 pm: | |
In an ideal world, the choice of knitting or playing a board game would be fine.
However, it's all too easy for the school staff to let things slide into watching videos in the auditorium (as Eliz saw at Clinton School).
Next thing you know, the District will try to eliminate outdoor supervision as a cost saving measure. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 449
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 11:09 am: | |
How would it be a cost saving measure? The children would still have to be supervised during lunch recess while their teachers are having their own lunches. Not all schools show movies at lunchtime - I can't remember the last time it was done at Tuscan, which is the school I am familiar with.
On indoor days, when the weather precludes children playing outside, classes are in individual classrooms with a lunchaide and a tray of board games. Kids can also draw or read if they choose to do so.
If the temperature is below freezing, if it is raining, if it is icy or if there is a lot of snow on the ground, lunch recess is pretty automatically indoors.
Staffing is the same, whether it is indoors or outdoors. The same number of lunch aides report regardless of whether it is an indoor or outdoor recess.
I don't see any problem with offering knitting or board games or reading on days when the children cannot be outside. It's not as if they are being forced to stay inside and knit. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 335
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 1:58 pm: | |
They may not be forced to stay inside and knit, but they are certainly forced to stay inside.
There should be an option for children to go outside if they wish to do so, assuming that they have come to school with appropriate clothing.
|
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1763
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 2:25 pm: | |
How about every kid gets their own personal aide
Maybe on 10 degree days when the blacktop is covered with 8 inches of snow, you can go to the school yourself and make sure the kid gets out and breathes fresh air. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 245
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 3:47 pm: | |
Probably been noted elsewhere, but given that gym isn't necessarily gym, lack of outdoor recess is pretty bad for elementary school kids. My kid has "gym" twice a week at Clinton, but it sounds pretty lame to me. Not very physical very consistently. At her old school, gym was gym: basketball related activities, or sports oriented. Here, she says gym is a lot like recess, which is most often board games, gossip and just sort of "non academic" free time. If this is what I have to accept, I find knitting about equal to board games, and a lot better than gossip or videos... |
suzanneng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 64
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 4:28 pm: | |
These comments reflect my personal input/observation and are not official statements of the district or school in which I work.
Cynical girl - there is a district wide P.E. curriculum (for K-8, I believe); talk to the Dept chair to get a copy . Physical Education (formerly known as "gym" (gym is the location not the subject!)) is taught at the elementary level, 2x a week for a 45-50 minute period each time. Our school's PE program is wonderful - age-appropriate skills, taught seasonally...basketball skills in the Winter/early Spring, soccer, team games in the Spring - getting ready for Spirit Day in May.
Check out our school's PE program website - it lists the activities, expectations, etc. Note, however, that some of the information will be removed/updated shortly, as one of the PE teachers has resigned and moved to another district. http://www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us/physed/peindex2.html |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 246
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 5:48 pm: | |
I do intend to follow up at Clinton. I've been hearing about it entirely too much from her and others, so I've reached frustration point. I'm allowing some for kid exageration, but I do know that she's in the ballpark in her report. I understand that Clinton's pretty challenged resource-wise given it's particular mission and that may play a part, too. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 336
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 9:27 pm: | |
In contrast, Maplewood Middle School has a very lame Physical Education program.
The time slot for PE is shared with the time slot for art, so that for half of the year, the kids are doing art instead of PE.
For a good part of the year they get no outside time whatsoever.
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happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 83
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 12:17 am: | |
In contrast, South Mountain has an outstanding PE program. I know it is only part of the overall issue...but, I have noted to the PE teachers that there are relatively few significantly overweight children in the school.
Congrats to the teachers, parents, and of course the kids.
Keep playing outside and walking back and forth to school, it is good for the body and the mind!
 |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1629
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 8:39 am: | |
Seth Boyden also has an excellent PE program, I'm happy to report.
Cathy |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1764
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 9:00 am: | |
Montag- that is so not true at MMS. PE is all 4 quarters. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 337
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 10:23 am: | |
Not so, my friend. Check your kid's schedule. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 234
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 11:33 am: | |
Hey, Monty, check your own kid's schedule. I have three children, and the youngest is now in 7th grade at MMS. As far as I've heard from them, there is no gym/art split. You need more details. |
parkbench87
Citizen
Username: Parkbench87
Post Number: 361
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 3:20 pm: | |
As far as 6th grade at MMS PE is not shared with Art. There are 2 Art classes, 1 Home Economics and one Music class that make up the 4 quarters. PE is separate. |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1623
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 3:23 pm: | |
How come Physical Education is the only class with the word "Education" in it? It's about education just as much as the other classes are. So why not drop the word, or add it to others, yielding Math Education, Language Arts Education, Social Studies Education, and Science Education?
Then when the kids go to college to become teachers, they'll take education courses called Language Arts Education Education, Math Education Education, ...
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 339
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 3:32 pm: | |
We were advised by the Grade 6 counsellors last year that Grade 6 was split.
My child began Grade 6 this fall with PE, and is now taking art during the same time slot.
Strange. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1768
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 4:14 pm: | |
Here's what the confusion is....Related arts* and Gym share a period but Related Arts is even days (or odd) and Gym is odd days (or even). Also, one quarter for Gym is Health class.
In 7th/8th grade Related Arts is in 5 "quarters" with 2 Arts (2-d and 3-d), Health, Music and Home Ec.
*for 6th grade Related Arts is 2 Arts, Home Ec and Music |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 340
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 4:32 pm: | |
What a mess.
And the first quarter started in a such a promising way, with the kids out running.
I should have known that they'd find some way to screw this up. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1770
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 6:01 pm: | |
what's so screwed up about it? |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 341
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 9:54 pm: | |
Teenagers in the United States have higher rates of obesity than those in 14 other industrialized countries, including France and Germany, a study of nearly 30,000 youngsters ages 13 and 15 found. The full story is on CNN.com.
The school isn't to blame for all of this, of course, but it sure isn't helping. |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1633
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 9:55 pm: | |
The school does share some responsibility. It is reprehensible that it sells sugary drinks at a high profit.
But if you're implying that knitting is now a new part of the problem, I won't buy into that.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 342
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 10:56 pm: | |
I never said that knitting was the problem.
The problem is a gradual substitution of passive, indoor, and structured activities for the active, outdoor, and unstructured activities that would make for a more healthy recess.
I don't think that adding another of these is cause for celebration.
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Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1636
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 11:11 pm: | |
I disagree that knitting is passive. It's a craft, and it builds and uses several technical skills. I understand the notation can even denote recursion, a mathematical concept that many have trouble comprehending.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 343
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 11:42 pm: | |
Okay. Substitute sedentary for passive. The argument is still the same. |
knak
Citizen
Username: Knak
Post Number: 40
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 12:21 am: | |
I think elementary school students benefit tremendously from gym, despite the fact that I mostly hated it when I was their age. They do seem to rotate the activities and learn both sports & games, with discussions of rules and fairness. Some of the games are imaginative and include roles and switching perspectives. They would benefit more from having more than 2 gym classes a week, though there aren't enough teachers to provide that coverage. It's hard for kids to sit for so many hours with really limited movement (desk to table & back).
Recess is mostly just unstructured time - fine for many kids but difficult to monitor and not so fine for less assertive kids. Ideally, there would be lunch monitors/ activity leaders, staff and/or volunteers, who would offer and lead a variety of (optional) group activities for students every day. As it is now, even in good weather they get bored (or into clashes) chasing each other around the playground.
So knitting, games, arts & crafts are all welcome options for my child and lots of others. In previous years Seth Boyden and other schools had chess clubs, though unfortunately that isn't meeting this year. At least with knitting and other indoor activities they're acting and interacting constructively, and doing a little thinking and problem-solving. It's not as passive as watching a video or sitting on a bench, bored, which can happen even with outside recess. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 858
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 5:45 pm: | |
Just so you know ... the trend isn't all toward sedentary activities and it sounds like knitting is about to have competition at Seth Boyden from a new Run/Walk program that will take advantage of the new track in the school yard. The program isn't up ("and running") just yet, but parent volunteers are being recruited and I think it will be going soon. I expect that we will see many kids knitting some days and running or walking others, including during the winter months, as a result. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 346
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2004 - 10:07 pm: | |
Now this is a step in the right direction.
Let's wish them every success! |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1633
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 12:44 pm: | |
Agreed. My kid plans to do both.
Cathy |
emmie
Citizen
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 219
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 7:40 pm: | |
My mom, who lives in Houston, told me today on the phone that there was a picture and article about kids knitting at Seth Boyden School in the Houston Post. So our town has made national news again. The story was quite complementary, btw. Unfortunately she threw the paper out or I would have posted it here. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1797
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 9:04 am: | |
To me, knitting is one of those "lost" arts. It has recently had a surge in popularity, and I am happy to see kids learning this. How great to wear your own scarf or give one as a present as opposed to the store bought kind!
What's the old saying..."Idle hands are the devil's...something?" |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1682
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:09 am: | |
workshop
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
|
jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 865
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:21 am: | |
playground |
SO/M Community Coalition
Citizen
Username: Coalition
Post Number: 94
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 6:01 pm: | |
Knitting is the rage - set your VCRs or TIVO!
Watch CBS This Morning (the national show!) Friday, 2/13/04 between 8:10 and 8:15 am featuring the Seth Boyden Knitters! |
SO/M Community Coalition
Citizen
Username: Coalition
Post Number: 95
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 4:34 pm: | |
Okay, if you missed the spot on CBS this morning you can catch it on line -- you need Real Player or another media player -- the address is:
javascript:vlaunch('clip=/media/2004/02/13/video600036.rm&sec=500202&vidId=50020 2&title=Knitting$@$Not$@$Just$@$For$@$Grannies&hitboxMLC=earlyshow')
Cut and paste the entire address into your address bar!
You can run the video and also read some text and see cute pictures on CBS' web site: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/12/earlyshow/contributors/tracysmith/main 599928.shtml
Barbara |
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