Hopkinton Parents: 'Make School Recess Longer'

HOPKINTON, MA — Kids need to let off some steam. Exercise. Get some fresh air. The importance of recess has been lost, many are arguing, at the Hopkinton Public Schools.

A group called the Current and Future Parents of Hopkinton Public Schools have launched a petition to increase the 15-minute recess currently given to elementary students in Hopkinton schools.

"Massachusetts State Law requires 900 hours of structured learning time per school year at the elementary school level," says the petition on care.org. "After calculating for half-days, assemblies, etc. these requirements would comfortably allow for up to 54 total minutes of recess time per school day."

The group, which has garnered 443 of the 500 signatures it seeks, argues that the diminished recess has been cited nationally, and that the trend is to return to longer times.

"Several Massachusetts school districts have been in the news (most recently Medway and Milford), for their efforts to lengthen recess time," says the petition. "Schools that have opted to increase recess time have reported that its effect on academic performance has been positive."

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