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What weather conditions required your school to declare an indoor recess when you were a kid?
Here in Southern California: any temperature under 55 F. Maybe exceptions were made for low 50s it was clear with no wind for the morning recess (@10AM) because temperatures were rapidly rising at the time. Any rain, even the slightest drizzle or even a few solitary drops of rain, indoor recess. If it rained that morning and the playground was still wet even though it was no longer raining, indoor recess. Sometimes, if we had heavy rain on one day (more than an inch) and the next day had lots of puddles and wet equipment, indoor recess until it dried out. Overcast and windy with temperatures under 65 F, indoor recess. Sometimes, if there was even a chance of rain, even though the playground was dry and it hadn't rained yet, indoor recess.
If the same criteria were used in most places, there would be no point in having school playgrounds because the kiddos would never get to go outside .
More unique to SoCal, strong Santa Ana winds, smokey air from wildfires in the hills, and temperatures over 100 F have also declared indoor recesses.
Where did you grow up and what criteria did your school use to keep you guys inside for recess?
Last edited by ABrandNewWorld; 11-19-2014 at 12:12 AM..
Only rain. It's typically heavy here, so it was usually pretty clear cut. Sometimes school would close early, before the bridges closed.
No temperature restriction. Most mornings in winter, are close to freezing, so it wouldn't make much sense to be inside. We were tough little muppets back then - bare feet were common, even on frosty mornings.
Never hot enough to be inside, although school did finish early on one day that reached 38C. The strong sun could be an issue, so "under the trees" (a big oak grove) was often the place to be.
There was snow in 1974 ( first time in nearly 40 years), so school was closed. Less than an inch and gone by breakfast, but I guess they figured we would be too excited to go to school.
Back in primary school, if it rained, you were required to stay inside during recess and lunch break. They used to call it a "wet day timetable". They'd also cancel sports when it rained, which I loved because I always hated sport. Used to always hope for rain on those PE days.
In very high temps, over about 38C, we were allowed to go home at lunch time if our parents were available (or willing!) to pick us up. This is back in the the mid-late 90's when a lot of classrooms at primary schools didn't have proper aircon, usually in those portable buildings. Those rickety window units just weren't up the task of cooling a big room full of 30 people. I imagine it would be different these days. I remember being jealous of my friend as her mum always used to pick her up at around midday on such days, while I had to stay the whole hog because my parents had to work
In high school, none of this stuff happened... rain, shine, hail, 40C, whatever, you were sent outside. You could stay inside the library or another common building or the gymnasium, but usually you were not allowed inside the classroom. No early home time either. But by then almost all classrooms were airconditioned.
Last edited by Stratus Hater; 11-19-2014 at 06:23 AM..
Heavy rain. If there was any ice/snow then school was cancelled (this was the deep South, they don't have the equipment to deal with those conditions). No matter how hot and humid it got, we were still outside. I remember sweating it out in 105 and very humid conditions in late August...
A heavy rain caused an indoor recess. Only misting or a drizzle - get outside!
For temperature, if the real temperature or the wind chill is 0 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be inside. Otherwise, get outside.
Forget your snow pants, boots, mittens, hat? Find and use some from the lost and found, borrow from your sibling, or run laps dressed as you are to stay warm! You won't forget your gear tomorrow!
It's still that way today.
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