This blog features observations from Randy Turner, a former teacher, newspaper reporter and editor. Send news items or comments to rturner229@hotmail.com
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Joplin mom: Elementary kids don't have enough time to eat lunch
I hope everyone agrees with this issue. It is not fair to the kids for them to have to eat as fast as possible and then dump 1/3 of their lunch in the trash. My child has been told that they are not allowed to bring snacks to school. No child should be distracted from learning because they are hungry.
Talk about a training ground for future eating disorders! This is ridiculous--not only the lack of time, but the "line'em up and slop the hogs" benches they are sitting at. Horrible.
All 3 of my kids have complained of this as well. Whatever happened to the days where kids were allowed to enjoy their lunch break? The entire education culture in Joplin has changed dramatically from what it once was. Everything is structured like a boot camp now. These aren't Army Recruits, they are KIDS!
It's quite a trick getting 100+ kindergarteners through a lunch line and then get them to eat and out the door in 20 minutes. I agree: 20 minutes isn't long enough for anyone to eat. (Teachers with recess duty maybe get 15.) Classrooms are required to have a certain number of minutes for each subject area and the school day isn't getting any longer (at least I certainly hope not!) I'm not really sure what the answer is. Another example of rushing kids.
This, too, is kids paying the price for all the poor planning that resulted around the building of the high school. The time-table is being re-written because Huff insisted that the school open in time for the 2014/2015 school year when it wasn't really practical. Now they don't have time to eat lunch, have to stay at school later every day, and have to be at school through December 23rd.
Maybe administration could own some of their mistakes instead of trying to always find fixes that are taken out on the backs of our children? Maybe they could spend a little less time thinking of exploiting the tornado and its victims yet one more time via six-mile ribbons and presidential visits? Spend less, save more?
The causes for the division and anger with regards to the Joplin school district are all because of the Huff administration. Don't let him scapegoat otherwise.
Anonymous 3:14 - there's not enough time to eat their free or reduced lunch, you are kind of a jerk. I volunteered a couple of years ago to eat lunch once a week with an "at-risk" child. This was a real eye-opening experience. The entire meal looked like low-cost processed food and I saw nothing that resembled chicken in the so-called chicken enchilada. I would usually bring us lunch. Again, rarely enough time to eat. The monitor was an example of a small amount of responsibility going completely to her head. She threatened, yelled, dolled out punishments, etc. I would like to say this was a rewarding experience, but that would be a lie. Based on firsthand experience, the kids need more time to eat and better nutrition.
The average American is one illness or accident and three paychecks away from disaster so don't think that you are immune from being poor yourself if your job goes away. One of the most difficult things a parent has to teach a child is to eat his food slowly, chew that food fully and to take the time for good table manners. This is just an example of the problems of having a public school education.
1. Get some treatment for anger management. You really need it. 2. The average taxpayer gives ten cents a day to support nutrition for those in need. I'm sure you can afford it. I can, and I work for R8. If I can, anyone can. 3. It is true that most of us are a paycheck away from assistance. With your attitude, you may be closer than you think. 4. And finally, the guiding words of my life, "What you do for the least, so do you also do for me." Conversely, that reads, "What you do to the least, so do you also do to me." I would give much more than a dime a day to feed those in need. So, Ebeneezer, I hope you don't find yourself in need. You might get what you deserve.
My child has had similar complaints. This was the first year I noticed she wasn't finishing her lunch.
ReplyDeleteHuff&Puff should try to eat in 16 min. He would not even finish his salad must less his meal and double dessert ok maybe
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone agrees with this issue. It is not fair to the kids for them to have to eat as fast as possible and then dump 1/3 of their lunch in the trash. My child has been told that they are not allowed to bring snacks to school. No child should be distracted from learning because they are hungry.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a training ground for future eating disorders! This is ridiculous--not only the lack of time, but the "line'em up and slop the hogs" benches they are sitting at. Horrible.
ReplyDeleteAll 3 of my kids have complained of this as well. Whatever happened to the days where kids were allowed to enjoy their lunch break? The entire education culture in Joplin has changed dramatically from what it once was. Everything is structured like a boot camp now. These aren't Army Recruits, they are KIDS!
ReplyDeleteEat your free or reduced lunch and be quiet
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a trick getting 100+ kindergarteners through a lunch line and then get them to eat and out the door in 20 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI agree: 20 minutes isn't long enough for anyone to eat. (Teachers with recess duty maybe get 15.) Classrooms are required to have a certain number of minutes for each subject area and the school day isn't getting any longer (at least I certainly hope not!) I'm not really sure what the answer is.
Another example of rushing kids.
This, too, is kids paying the price for all the poor planning that resulted around the building of the high school. The time-table is being re-written because Huff insisted that the school open in time for the 2014/2015 school year when it wasn't really practical. Now they don't have time to eat lunch, have to stay at school later every day, and have to be at school through December 23rd.
ReplyDeleteMaybe administration could own some of their mistakes instead of trying to always find fixes that are taken out on the backs of our children? Maybe they could spend a little less time thinking of exploiting the tornado and its victims yet one more time via six-mile ribbons and presidential visits? Spend less, save more?
The causes for the division and anger with regards to the Joplin school district are all because of the Huff administration. Don't let him scapegoat otherwise.
Anonymous 3:14 - there's not enough time to eat their free or reduced lunch, you are kind of a jerk. I volunteered a couple of years ago to eat lunch once a week with an "at-risk" child. This was a real eye-opening experience. The entire meal looked like low-cost processed food and I saw nothing that resembled chicken in the so-called chicken enchilada. I would usually bring us lunch. Again, rarely enough time to eat. The monitor was an example of a small amount of responsibility going completely to her head. She threatened, yelled, dolled out punishments, etc. I would like to say this was a rewarding experience, but that would be a lie. Based on firsthand experience, the kids need more time to eat and better nutrition.
ReplyDelete824. Go sit back in your subsidized housing, watch your dish TV, and consume your cheetos and let me go to work so I can support you. SLUG.
ReplyDeleteThe average American is one illness or accident and three paychecks away from disaster so don't think that you are immune from being poor yourself if your job goes away. One of the most difficult things a parent has to teach a child is to eat his food slowly, chew that food fully and to take the time for good table manners. This is just an example of the problems of having a public school education.
ReplyDelete3:14/8:24
ReplyDelete1. Get some treatment for anger management. You really need it.
2. The average taxpayer gives ten cents a day to support nutrition for those in need. I'm sure you can afford it. I can, and I work for R8. If I can, anyone can.
3. It is true that most of us are a paycheck away from assistance. With your attitude, you may be closer than you think.
4. And finally, the guiding words of my life, "What you do for the least, so do you also do for me." Conversely, that reads, "What you do to the least, so do you also do to me." I would give much more than a dime a day to feed those in need. So, Ebeneezer, I hope you don't find yourself in need. You might get what you deserve.
You work for the R8.......why?
ReplyDelete