Two Edina, MN Elementary Schools Hire Recess Consultant … Phrases like, “Hey, you’re out!” are replaced with “good job” or “nice try.”

FROM THE YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME FILES …

Two Edina elementary schools have hired a recess consultant to police the politics of the playground. Of course they are going to do it in a PC manner. What has this country and more importantly our schools become? So this is the role of the recess consultant to make recess more inclusive and beneficial to children and more structured and if phrases like, “Hey, you’re out!” are replaced with “good job” or “nice try.” GOOD GRIEF!!! All these fools are doing is creating generations of kids who have no ability to cope or adapt to tough situations. Sheltering children is not the answer folks. Because its all about making everyone feel good. No wonder kids cannot deal with difficult situations anymore. Although I must admit, I was shocked that recess even exists anymore.

Two Edina elementary schools, worried about the politics of the playground, are taking an unusual step to police it: They have hired a recess consultant.

Some parents have welcomed the arrival of the firm Playworks, which says recess can be more inclusive and beneficial to children if it’s more structured and if phrases like, “Hey, you’re out!” are replaced with “good job” or “nice try.”

But some of the kids at Concord and Normandale Elementary say they are confused, or that the consultants are ruining their play time.

“The philosophy of Playworks does not fit Concord,” said Kathy Sandven, a parent of twin boys who attend the school. “It is a structured philosophy — an intervention philosophy — not allowing kids for free play.”

The two schools have joined a growing number of districts that have hired consultants to remake the playground experience into more structured and inclusive play time. The games and activities, like four square and jumping rope, are overseen by adults and designed to reduce disciplinary problems while ensuring that no children are left out.