New Jersey Lawmakers Debate Bill That Would Require Recess In Schools
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- A bill moving through the legislature in Trenton would require New Jersey schools to have recess.
The bill would require that students in kindergarten through fifth grade have a daily, 20-minute recess period. That's time that would not count toward schools' mandate of 150 minutes of weekly physical education.
JoAnn Doherty, past president of the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, says recess has health and academic benefits.
"I taught for 44 years in the state of New Jersey," Doherty said. "And I have worked with kindergarten kids. And I can tell you that they can't stay in a classroom without some kind of a break."
But some educators warn that mandating recess will mean less time for something else in the school day.
The Senate-passed bill has cleared the Assembly Education Committee. The full Assembly could consider the measure in December.