Thursday, April 28, 2011

Recess Duty

It has been said the three best things about being a school teacher are June, July and August.  Some days I couldn’t agree more.  And since the end of school is less than two months away I am counting the days.

If you are employed in a small private school you sometimes have to do more than just teach.  Two of my week days are spent in the classroom teaching children the joys of music.  The other three are spent keeping them from killing each other on the playground during recess.  Not the best assignment of my career, but if it means having a full-time job I will happily put that whistle around my neck.

The 4th, 5th and 6th graders love to play a game I call the, “Kill the Person on the top of the climbing structure” game.  A few kids stand on the top of the “mountain” where they are pelted with balls of every shape and size by the kids on the ground below.  If I wasn’t in charge I would probably enjoy watching the mayhem and maybe even participate.
Not being a mom, I think I let them get away with things that would make someone with a stronger maternal instinct shudder.  Some women have said to me, “Should you let them do that?”  And I reply with, “Oh, is that not safe?  It looks fun.”  Or if a kid comes up to me crying, saying, “He hit me with the ball,” I have absolutely no sympathy for them.  A more sensitive woman would comfort the child and put a stop to the game.  Not me.  I mean, if the point of the game is to hit people with the ball, and you don’t want to get hit by a ball, THEN DON’T PLAY THAT GAME. 

Teaching isn't the only profession that deserves three months off, but as far as I know it's the only one that does.  So I'm sticking with teaching, even if if means recess duty.  Come on Summer...
Question:  What are some of your fun recess memories?

5 comments:

wendy said...

I was just thinking this exact thing the other day. I don't have sympathy for kids who get hurt in games they choose to play at recess either. And I've wondered the same thing about not having kids of my own - if I let things go that most moms would shudder at. Weird.

Luci said...

To Dana and Wendy- Even though neither of you have children I will still listen to your advice when it comes to my kids.....I think there are many moms who let their kids do things that I shudder. I am one of those protective moms.
What I loved about recess was playing kickball, football and volleyball. It was fun seeing the kids first expressions when they saw Mrs. Smith throw the football for the first time. "WOW Mrs. Smith can throw a spiral".....I miss OUT DOOR RECESS in the warm SUN.
Luci

Dana said...

Oh crap, I spelled shudder wrong...I just went in a fixed it. You both had it right.

Yes, I must say recess is much better when the sun in shining. It has been a long, wet, cold winter!! I'm ready for some sunny recess days. Luci, you were the best recess lady ever!!

Wendy, were we seperated at birth?

Katie said...

I was going to comment about my year and a half as recess monitor at CCS, but I guess Luci already won the award. :-) I think it is more fun now being facebook friends with all those kids I used to send to the principal's office! haha

Dana said...

I didn't know you did recess, Katie. I'm so glad the year is almost over. With so much rain this year we've been in the gym way too much. I was looking forward to enjoying a sunny spring full of outside recess but no such luck!