This is a petition to reinstate the morning recess at DEVON Elementary School for the 3rd and 4th grades. Recess ... is about freedom. ... During recess, children are in a peer setting where they can watch how other kids act, decide whom they like and don't like, and figure out why. With this knowledge, they are armed with some important clues about how to go forth into the larger world. Some obvious reasons for requesting recess be reinstated are as follows: Recess constitutes a break from the day's routine. For people of all ages and in all fields, breaks are considered essential for satisfaction and alertness. Children are more on-task and less fidgety in the classroom on days when they have recess, with hyperactive children among those who benefited the most. Physical inactivity poses health threats for children as well as for adults. Inactivity is associated with the tripling of childhood obesity since 1970, accompanied by increases in health problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In this kind of open-ended play, children can blend intellectual activities with physical play making for a well-rounded experience. It is also a perfect opportunity for developing social skills and for working out any conversations that might have started in the class, and it helps children learn how to get along in the real-world without an authority figure directly in charge. Recess is not just a good idea; it is considered a basic right by the United Nations. "Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts. Please sign this petition indicating you recognize the importance of restoring morning recess for the 3rd and 4th graders at Devon. Thank you.

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