Growing Pains
“Let everyone else call your idea crazy... just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where ‘there’ is.” - Phil Knight, “Shoe Dog”
Give Me a Break
What if I told you that not all elementary and middle school kids in the United States even have recess? Surprisingly, this is the case in states like Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Arizona, and even my home state, California. This is why California Senator Josh Newman introduced SB 291 in February 2023 which mandates that “elementary and middle schools in California will be required to provide students with a daily recess period of at least 30 minutes, to be held outdoors…while prohibiting the withholding of recess as a form of punishment or discipline.”
It’s Personal
Back when I was a second grader, the looming dread of daily morning drop-off would set in as soon as I reluctantly rolled out of bed. Just thinking of leaving the cozy security of home to step into a classroom full of familiar yet distant faces would make my heart sink.
But then, I started playing basketball during recess and it was a game-changer.