The Toronto Star recently reported on a Ministry of Education memo it obtained that asks boards for input into a new regulation that “would provide school boards with the ability to structure their school day schedules for students in kindergarten to Grade 6 (primary and junior divisions) based on local needs and to maximize student learning.”
The ministry mentions “new flexibility in the scheduling of recess and lunch — for example, schools may choose to offer one longer recess period in place of two shorter ones, while still providing a lunch break,” plus the 300 daily minutes of instructional time.
While the impact of the potential changes is unclear (especially as many boards already operate on a “balanced day model” that moved away from two recesses plus a lunch break to offer two breaks instead), the proposed changes — plus ministry concern with maximizing student learning — warrant discussion about the significant role of recess in all schools.
