Teacher and parent urges more daily recess for K–6 at Downingtown Area SD meeting

Summary

Molly Regis, a parent and teacher in a nearby district, urged the Downingtown Area School District board to increase daily recess from 20 to 30 minutes or add a second 20-minute recess for K–6 students, citing classroom observations of improved focus and a claim that obesity rates have 'quadrupled' in recent decades.

During public comment, Molly Regis introduced herself as a parent of two elementary-age children and a teacher in a nearby district and asked the board to increase daily recess for kindergarten through sixth grade. She proposed either a single 30-minute recess or two 20-minute recess periods. Regis said she sees benefits in students' behavior, focus, social development, and emotional well-being after recess, drawing on both her teaching experience and observations of her own children (SEG 190-210).

Regis argued that the current recess allotment—often presented as 20 minutes—functions closer to 15 minutes once transitions are counted. She also linked increased unstructured play to improved attention in class and reduced anxiety among students. In making the public-health case, she said obesity rates have "quadrupled in the last few decades"; the transcript records this claim as made by the speaker but does not provide supporting data in the meeting record (SEG 226-229).

Board members thanked speakers for their comments but did not take action on recess policy at this meeting. The comment was entered into the record for future consideration.