What are your thoughts on silent lunches at school?

lizlemon77 · September 2009

There was a brief article in a local paper about how some schools, both private and public, are now doing a completly silent lunch. No one is allowed to talk, at all, during lunch.

I think this is a load of crap. Their arguement is that the lunchrooms get so chaotic that no one eats and discipline issues come up. There is also a school that claims that it has to be silent so that they can hear if someone is choking.

Who knew this was something I was going to have to ask at our local school before I enroll her? These kids sit quietly in their desks for way too much of the day as it is, they should be able to socialize during lunch.

thoughts?

xbrooklyngrl · September 2009

I agree with you, they should be able to socialize. Maybe they should ban talking at restaurants as well.

LeisureSuitLauren · September 2009

DUMB Confused

ETA: It's true Noah doesn't get all that much eating done while at lunch, but he has a snack at 10am and is home by 2:15 and has another snack again. He has plenty throughout the day to keep him going and focused on lessons.

Temp108743750006959 · September 2009

I would be so f'ing pissed if that happened at my school. I DO think the kids should be quieter, but silent? give me a f'ing break.I would be fighting this tooth and nail.

I am remembering the teacher flipping on and off the lights of the cafeteria to shut us up

adults need to get some ballz and learn a little crowd control. I was one of the few teachers at my school that ate with my students b/c they were SPED and had a lot of issues. they were expected to be chatty, but respectful.

JenniC1135 · September 2009

I'd go ballistic. Kids NEED socialization, time to talk, time to be silly with friends at school. As a former teacher, I cannot imagine what my 1st & 2nd graders would've been like in the afternoon if they had to sit quietly all morning in the classroom AND bee silent at lunch.

Chrisy-Wyobride · September 2009

Way to stifle kids getting to know one another! I hate the idea.

EXL311 · September 2009

That is insane. I know there are times when kids need to be quiet but that kind of thing sounds like breaking a kid's spirit.

joseysbride · September 2009

That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. I think there are ways that the teachers can keep things under control without it being 100% silent. It doesn't have to be chaos.

Ciarrai · September 2009

I hate it. I also disagree with canceling recess and snacks and break time. Kids need structure and that's great, but they also need down time. No one (not even adults) can absorb things all day long without exploding. In fact, studies have shown that most people cannot concentrate on one thing for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. After that, they need to get up and move around, do something different, change positions, whatever. Children shouldn't be expected to do things even adults can't/don't do. They need their breaks, social time and time to let go a little. How else can they come back and focus?

brightning · September 2009

They did this at the school where I taught. And after they finished eating, the kids had to put their heads down on the tables. It was awful and so sad. We had sooooo many more discipline problems in the classroom because kids never got to act like kids and get their energy out during lunch. They also cut recess down to 20 mins and made the kids walk back to their classrooms silently. Those recess aides yelled at those poor kids soo much! They also weren't allowed to share their lunches, even if they were finished.

kevschickee2 · September 2009

That is just too sad. They can't talk in class and now they want to take talking to friends away at lunch, we need to leave these kids alone.

lizlemon77 · September 2009

It makes me wonder who these people are who are running these schools and making these decisions.

I just hate this idea so much. It makes me sad.

krissymoves · September 2009

I hate the idea. Kids need a break. I know I can't sit at work and pay attention all day - that's why we have the nest

I went to Catholic grade school where we ate in our classroom and had volunteer moms come in to be our lunch monitors. If the class was really bad during lunch, we would often be punished with a "silent lunch" the next day. They happened very rarely because all of us kids would be on our best behavior for weeeeeks afterward or would shape up if the threat of another one came up, since we hated them so much.

In a "one off" situation like I described I don't have a problem with it, but EVERY day, no way!

camrude · September 2009

What the hell?! That is insanity. Are schools really that out of control that kids cannot even socialize during lunch?

CleoKitty · September 2009

That would be a total dealbreaker to me (as would not having recess). I'd be promptly looking for a new school or considering an alternative educational arrangement (ie: homeschooling.)

RieTea · September 2009

when I was in elementary school we were not allowed to talk in the lunch line. I believe we were allowed to talk once we sat down but I can't remember for sure...but definitely weren't allowed to talk while in line.

And for awhile we weren't allowed to talk on the school bus either...I forget for how long but I remember the whole bus having to stand in the "penalty box" during recess because we were talking on the bus. I know this was in regards to railroad crossings...we went over like 5 sets of tracks and everybody had to be quiet when she opened the doors at the tracks and we wouldn't be and she would get mad and yell. So at one point we were allowed to talk and we lost the priveledge.

LestaMarie · September 2009

I know that as a kid, I loved lunchtime because it was time to cut loose and joke around a little with friends. I'm sure there are discipline issues, but it comes with the territory. It's just not fair to make kids sit in total silence during lunch - they do enough of that during the day. There has got to be a happy medium here somewhere...I just don't know what it is.

hopefulmom · September 2009

I've been in some of those lunchrooms and they are CRAZY! I am for the silence. As for kids needing to socialize...they have plenty of time for that at recess. Younger kids have a am, noon and pm recess. My older DS used to eat his lunch in about 10 minutes so he go out and play for 35 minutes instead of a shorter amount of time. 1/2 hour of outside play and socialization is enough. When in elementary our lunches were pretty quiet and even in high school there wasn't a lot of talk and definitely no "fooling around". I don't remember in all my 4 years of high school there ever being a food fight. Kids eat more so they are more apt to pay attention and learn in the afternoon if it is quiet. I suppose quiet talking is OK (like in a restaurant - fancy restaurant...not a family-free-for-all type).

sarahjared · September 2009

The first half of our lunch is silent and the other half they can talk. That way they eat the majority of their lunch and still get to socialize. Our school does this because lunch is the only meal that some of our kids get (their parents are worthless). Oh, and if a child has had major discipline issues throughout the day, they have to sit at the "time out" table and they don't get to talk at lunch.

DandR · September 2009

hopefulmom:
(like in a restaurant - fancy restaurant...not a family-free-for-all type).

hahahahahahahah..this is so funny....as if family restaurants are loud and obnoxious places with kids jumping off tables and hanging from fixtures.......I hope you were kidding....

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