We used to have a short recess, morning and/or afternoon. And we played outside after lunch, except when it rained. In the winter we played in the piles of snow next to the plowed parking lot.
I think school children would be better able to pay attention in class, if they got more recess.
I do agree, they need recess, and they also need to be much more active at home. My boys were not allowed to sit around and watch tv or play video games (unless the weather was bad and in Midland TX it was almost always nice out!) They complained sometimes but hey, I WAS bigger than them.