is 'quiet lunch' over accommodation?

[Anonymous]

My kids' school does a quiet lunch for kids who prefer to not eat in the cafeteria. Some neurodivergent, some who just prefer quiet. My 1st grader is ADHD and has enjoyed having a quiet place (10 or so kids in the library) to eat each day. He also likes not having to choose who to sit by.

The school is considering ending it due to "skill building" and that the students need to learn to build up their tolerance to the cafeteria, build the executive functioning to decide who to sit by, etc. We cannot overaccommodate, they say, but rather teach children the skills to deal with the things they are uncomfortable with.

What do you think?

[Anonymous]

It's pretty unbearable in the school cafeteria and I say that as a non-neurodiverse person. So I would push for this to continue.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure, btw, it has zero to do with fear about "overaccommodating" and 100% to do with not having someone available to staff the quiet lunch.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a new trend in special needs. Teaching them skills to cope instead of special placements.

I would argue that the actual cafeteria gets the volume lowered. It's SO loud.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's over-accommodation because most adults can choose to eat their lunch in a quiet spot if they so choose. I'm not ADHD and have always sought quiet places to enjoy lunch my entire adult life and it's never been an issue.

My kid used to go to a school that enforced silent lunch for ALL kids, and I thought that was ridiculous because some kids can handle talking and eating. So offering a separate quiet space makes way more sense than that.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a valuable skill for those kids who are capable of working towards reentry into regular lunch. I can't see how introducing this goal would reduce staffing though - someone suggested that this was due to a desire to cut back staffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure, btw, it has zero to do with fear about "overaccommodating" and 100% to do with not having someone available to staff the quiet lunch.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a new trend in special needs. Teaching them skills to cope instead of special placements.

I would argue that the actual cafeteria gets the volume lowered. It's SO loud.

This. I'm all for skill building over time, but gradually. It's loud AF, and they're in a room with 24 other kids allllll day. It's fine for them to need a break. I don't know how teachers deal. Nobody should have to put up with that noise level all day long, period.

And yes this is about staffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a new trend in special needs. Teaching them skills to cope instead of special placements.

I would argue that the actual cafeteria gets the volume lowered. It's SO loud.

No it’s not a new trend - building skills has always been a main goal. That said you have to ask whether this particular move is building skills or taking a way an opportunity to build skills. “Lunch bunch” is a pretty common thing for schools to offer. I can get why they would want to be sure only kids who needed it would get it and that kids are not being denied the chance to make other friends and be independent. But a middle ground would probably be best - like requiring that kids all eat together in the cafeteria but also providing a quiet space for kids who want that for recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's over-accommodation because most adults can choose to eat their lunch in a quiet spot if they so choose. I'm not ADHD and have always sought quiet places to enjoy lunch my entire adult life and it's never been an issue.

My kid used to go to a school that enforced silent lunch for ALL kids, and I thought that was ridiculous because some kids can handle talking and eating. So offering a separate quiet space makes way more sense than that.

That’s true, but it is also removing kids from what all other kids do in a big way. So it’s right to give it some careful thought.

[Anonymous]

How will they support building the skills to have lunch in the lunchroom? What does that look like?

[Anonymous]

I’m impressed you got that accommodation. We requested but were told “absolutely not” - which resulted in absolute panic from my 2nd grader in which she eloped screaming….

[Anonymous]

Our school does the first 5 minutes silent. I don't think that's overly restrictive, and it helps them actually eat their food. Everyone needs a little quiet time sometimes, even if they think it's sooooo haaaaaaard to stop talking for 5 whole minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids' school does a quiet lunch for kids who prefer to not eat in the cafeteria. Some neurodivergent, some who just prefer quiet. My 1st grader is ADHD and has enjoyed having a quiet place (10 or so kids in the library) to eat each day. He also likes not having to choose who to sit by.

The school is considering ending it due to "skill building" and that the students need to learn to build up their tolerance to the cafeteria, build the executive functioning to decide who to sit by, etc. We cannot overaccommodate, they say, but rather teach children the skills to deal with the things they are uncomfortable with.

What do you think?

This is utter bs from the school. They are not "overaccommodating" by providing this. I would be aggressive with the admin about this. This is ignorant.

Also do not say your kid IS ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a new trend in special needs. Teaching them skills to cope instead of special placements.

I would argue that the actual cafeteria gets the volume lowered. It's SO loud.

This is not a new trend in "special needs". This is school systems deciding to ignore IEPs for their own reasons.

The last sentence is so ignorant as to be humorous.