A push to make recess mandatory at elementary schools is getting the attention of the Dallas Independent School District.
Dozens of parents met with school leaders for the first time Thursday morning to present their plans in support of the recess time.
Currently, the amount of recess that Dallas ISD students get varies from school to school, but parents and some Dallas ISD trustees want recess to be mandatory for all elementary schools.
They believe their children are not getting enough recess. Parents say teachers are under pressure in dealing with new testing standards and that recess is sometimes taken away as a form of punishment if the children misbehave.
One mother, Amanda Weimer Ziehm, started an online petition requesting at least 30 minutes per day of unstructured free time. Ziehm said recess fights obesity, reduces stress and anxiety and improves children's attentiveness.
In less than 24 hours, nearly 600 parents signed the petition asking for recess.
The proposal is in the beginning stages and it could one more month before an outcome decided.
