Why Do They Get Rid of Recess?

My daughter (the one going into middle school next year) asked me a really interesting question the other day:

"Dad...why do they get rid of recess in Middle School?" she asked.

"Why do you ask, honey?" I volleyed back.

"Well," she said, "I like recess. It's a great break in the middle of the day. Sometimes I stay by myself. Sometimes I talk with my friends (because we're not allowed to talk in class). Sometimes I do some homework. But I just don't know what I'll do without it because I really need that break in the middle of my day. I hope I don't have math at the end of the day."

And I have to admit, she had me there. I hoped she didn't have math at the end of the day too. Can you imagine having to start at 7:30 am, go straight through until 2:00 pm, with only a 25 minute break for hurried lunch, be expected to pay close attention that entire 7-hour period, and THEN top off that whole experience with having to learn something advanced and difficult at the end of the day?

Who among us would even be able to do it?

Which got me thinking about why I believe so strongly in a group approach to work-life balance. We live in a culture that is completely warped about what it means to "work hard." We think working hard means toiling. We completely miss the point that working hard means working smart. Our culture doesn't permit us to believe that it is possible to take a strategic break in the middle of the day. Even if we can show that such breaks are guaranteed to make you more productive. We just can't conceive of it. Our belief structure, as reinforced by our culture, simply does not permit such a thought (see my other blog entry).

And if you need any evidence of how deeply ingrained this kind of cultural bias is, you need look no further than Middle School. Obviously, recess is for "little kids." Grown ups don't take breaks.

And this kind of thinking is only going to get stressed more as the recession looms before us.

Which is why a group is really your only hope. Work life is like any other problem where you are faced with forming a new habit that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. One can read any number of books, fill one's head with principles, and construct completely unassailable logic that proves a new habit is needed. I would argue, in fact, that my book does exactly that. And yet, even with all of that, one would still be faced with the peer pressure of everyone around you doing things the old way. In such a setting, going it alone is virtually impossible.

But a group of like-minded people, who can create what I think of as "positive peer pressure" can act as a counter-balance. It is, I believe, the only realistic way to fight back against a "cultural-wide bad habit."

And that is what I am all about at Dr. WorkLife. That's what I do. I don't want to turn this blog entry into a sales pitch, but if you're interested contact me. Or search the web for other group work-life approaches. You'll be happy you did.

All of this flashed through my mind (and created the idea for this blog entry) but left me with no good answer for my daughter. After a few moments thought, I finally said the following to her:

"Well, honey, I don't have a good answer. I'm afraid Middle School is making a big mistake. Don't ever forget what you've learned about recess; it's a great idea. When you are done with school, you can start taking recess again and you'll be way better off than everyone else."