All I can say is “THANK you all!" (espeacailly you, DaveP) I am learning, and have spent a great portion of my weekend reading (bylaws and Roberts Rule) although I too think my priority (recess issue) is no more then a dead fish floundering when it comes to what our PTO can, or will do! NOT for one minute that I don't believe it is not within their power or outside the rights to address the issue for the now 1500 residents who have signed the petition!
Below is a clip from our address to the PTO board:
In your bylaws; Article II, sections 1 & 5 states; that this organizations objectives are;
1.) To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school and community ..."
5.) To develop between educator and the GENERAL PUBLIC such united efforts as will insure for every child the highest advantages in PHYSICAL, MENTAL and SOCIAL education.
Taking this language into account, then the issue we present to you is indeed an issue the PTO can and should be involved in. The refusal of the President or any member of this board to do so would be in violation of the very bylaws you have sworn and are empowered to enforce.
The issue of recess is not merely a passion, nor is it personal opinion that has brought together over 1,300 people in this school district, but it is the rights of every child.
I’d like to read to you a section of the United Nations’
~Declaration of the Rights of the Child~, in which in Article 31 states:
*) “Recess is the right of every child, and every child has the right to leisure time. Taking away recess, whether as a disciplinary measure or abolishing it in the name of work, infringes on that right.â€
For the record I’d like to point out to this PTO board that currently, at OUR SCHOOL both infringements apply!
Also, at this point of our address I’ll point out the packets provided to you, they contain 13 documents and positions papers from various accredited sources; including the “The National Assoc. of Early Childhood Specialistsâ€, the National Assoc. for Sports and Physical Education†and the “American Council on Physical Education for Children in State Departments of Educationâ€. Because there is so much information in each document I copied only the front page of each and placed a link to the document underneath the heading, so anyone interested can read any of these documents in their entirety. I implore you to read the documents, become educated on the relevance of recess in the daily lives of children.
The National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of
Education takes the position that recess is an essential component of education and that preschool and elementary school children must have the opportunity to participate in regular periods of active, free play with peers.
The National Association for Sport and Physical Education has issued their Position Statement: “Recess and the Importance of Playâ€
Which states; “that, while recess is an essential component of the elementary school program, it is inappropriate to substitute recess for physical education or physical education for recess. The paper also addresses the fact that recess provides the opportunity for young children to develop and improve many social, life, and physical skills.
It has to be obvious to you that we are not just following our hearts where our children are concerned, but have researched the issue in depth. We hope that each of you will take it upon yourselves to do the same. We, the “PUBLIC GENERAL†would like this PTO board to answer our address today with your own well-informed, based on fact position, and intent regarding the recess deletion at our elementary school.
We have yet to hear anything from anyone on our PTO board.
[ 11-09-2003, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: SandyinTexas ]