Assigned seats for elementary school lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agreed! I ask teachers to truly ask themselves if they are doing what's easy or thinking outside of the box to do what's right for the kids. The job takes a lot of energy and it is an honorable profession in my opinion because kids today need teachers who can model how to be respectful, responsible, and be social/good communicators. Because the job is difficult does not give anyone a free pass to make up rules that are not in the best interest of children. I certainly hope there are no assigned seats for lunch in the teachers lounge or silent time...

Curious? Do you think teachers deserve a duty free lunch? I taught school for years without a duty free lunch. No other job requires this.

Not sure how this fits into this conversation and will comment anyway....I think before resigning oneself to a teaching position, one should look into the expectations and realities of the job. Teachers do deserve a duty free lunch to be ready to finish the day. This is certainly something a person can look into at the location in which they are considering working to see if it is a reality.

All FCPS teachers are guaranteed a duty free lunch. We get ours and our kids don't have assigned seats at lunch. They are well behaved. Sure there is noise, but they are not out of control in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



Agreed! I ask teachers to truly ask themselves if they are doing what's easy or thinking outside of the box to do what's right for the kids. The job takes a lot of energy and it is an honorable profession in my opinion because kids today need teachers who can model how to be respectful, responsible, and be social/good communicators. Because the job is difficult does not give anyone a free pass to make up rules that are not in the best interest of children. I certainly hope there are no assigned seats for lunch in the teachers lounge or silent time...


Curious? Do you think teachers deserve a duty free lunch? I taught school for years without a duty free lunch. No other job requires this.





Not sure how this fits into this conversation and will comment anyway....I think before resigning oneself to a teaching position, one should look into the expectations and realities of the job. Teachers do deserve a duty free lunch to be ready to finish the day. This is certainly something a person can look into at the location in which they are considering working to see if it is a reality.

How can teachers supervise and control seating if they have a duty free lunch? PP was blaming the seating issues on the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Is it a matter of standard assigned seating or are the lunchroom monitors just seating the kids as they come to the tables? Time and space are very limited in these cafeterias. If kids wander around looking for a place to sit, it can be chaotic--especially if Angela is saving a seat for Amanda. And, then Amanda goes and sits with Christine instead.

[Anonymous]

I know my FCPS kids have assigned seats. Don't know why but it's been that way since we moved here. They don't care about it, lunch is too short for it to matter.

They can talk but the teachers do hush them constantly And if the kids don't listen they get silent lunch. Thats because the school is huge, there are 4 lunches, and kids in Nearby classrooms are trying to study/take exams/etc. it simply cannot be loud in the cafeteria, it's not fair to kids who are in class and get distracted by extremely loud cafeteria noise.

Heavens sake, when I went to school this was an issue and teachers would always be yelling and flickering lights. And we only had one lunch period and it was like 40 minutes long! Now there's like 17 minutes, 4 times as many kids, and kids trying to take a math test next door. I'm sure the schools don't randomly put policies into place for no reason...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the feedback. I agree that eating in an FCPS cafeteria isn't a fine dining experience that requires hushed voices. I'm assuming that the teachers spend all day telling the kids to be quiet, so why can't they cut loose at lunch! Confronting the administration won't do much good. We have a Principal that does not like to be questioned or challenged in any way. The principal is young and inexperienced and has made a lot of mistakes in the first few years. And for the record, I am not at talking about Colvin run, which I have always heard was an excellent school.

If he/she does not like to be questioned or challenged, then you need to contact your School Board rep. That's what they are there for. Also, attend PTA meetings. The principal is supposed to attend those. If not, ask the question anyway. Don't let it die if you don't feel its right. Its a constitutional right for a child to be able to talk - especially in a publicly funded building!

[Anonymous]

Our school has tables assigned to classes, but not assigned seats at those tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know my FCPS kids have assigned seats. Don't know why but it's been that way since we moved here. They don't care about it, lunch is too short for it to matter.

They can talk but the teachers do hush them constantly And if the kids don't listen they get silent lunch. Thats because the school is huge, there are 4 lunches, and kids in Nearby classrooms are trying to study/take exams/etc. it simply cannot be loud in the cafeteria, it's not fair to kids who are in class and get distracted by extremely loud cafeteria noise.

Heavens sake, when I went to school this was an issue and teachers would always be yelling and flickering lights. And we only had one lunch period and it was like 40 minutes long! Now there's like 17 minutes, 4 times as many kids, and kids trying to take a math test next door. I'm sure the schools don't randomly put policies into place for no reason...

This sounds like a problem that needs to be addressed. Kids should be talking at lunch. Period. Why is this being allowed to happen? If there is a problem and clearly there is, make changes for the better good. Kids are THE most important thing here, right? Somewhere along the line in the midst of things being too "loud" the importance of socialization and a short break from the rigors of school work have become unimportant?

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a problem that needs to be addressed. Kids should be talking at lunch. Period. Why is this being allowed to happen? If there is a problem and clearly there is, make changes for the better good. Kids are THE most important thing here, right? Somewhere along the line in the midst of things being too "loud" the importance of socialization and a short break from the rigors of school work have become unimportant?

How do you expect to fix it? The kids are in a very crowded lunchroom with a limited time to eat. The noise is horrendous. Have you ever helped out in the cafeteria? I don't like the idea of silence either, but believe me, it is ear shattering when they are all talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Agreed! I ask teachers to truly ask themselves if they are doing what's easy or thinking outside of the box to do what's right for the kids. The job takes a lot of energy and it is an honorable profession in my opinion because kids today need teachers who can model how to be respectful, responsible, and be social/good communicators. Because the job is difficult does not give anyone a free pass to make up rules that are not in the best interest of children. I certainly hope there are no assigned seats for lunch in the teachers lounge or silent time...

Curious? Do you think teachers deserve a duty free lunch? I taught school for years without a duty free lunch. No other job requires this.


What do you mean? I get 30 mins of a duty free lunch. My friends who don't work in schools get at least an hour lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agreed! I ask teachers to truly ask themselves if they are doing what's easy or thinking outside of the box to do what's right for the kids. The job takes a lot of energy and it is an honorable profession in my opinion because kids today need teachers who can model how to be respectful, responsible, and be social/good communicators. Because the job is difficult does not give anyone a free pass to make up rules that are not in the best interest of children. I certainly hope there are no assigned seats for lunch in the teachers lounge or silent time...

Curious? Do you think teachers deserve a duty free lunch? I taught school for years without a duty free lunch. No other job requires this.


What do you mean? I get 30 mins of a duty free lunch. My friends who don't work in schools get at least an hour lunch.


No kidding- are you really implying your kids teacher doesn't deserve a break?

[Anonymous]

Teachers deserve a break for lunch and so do the students. It doesn't take rocket science to figure things out. CHANGE is good. Doing things the same way when it's not working is just plain lazy... Kids need to socialize. It is not prison, although if one day down and did a comparison, it might look very similar.

[Anonymous]

OMG.. the kids can socialize. They don't need to yell to do it. Assigned seats shouldn't end the socializing. If it does then the kids need to expand their horizons a bit.


- A mom of two kids beyond elementary school, a lunchroom supervisor and a former Teacher's assistant.

[Anonymous]

I can understand assigned seating--and I assume it means tables. Also, remember, Sally may start crying because no one will let her sit with them. Be careful what you wish for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can understand assigned seating--and I assume it means tables. Also, remember, Sally may start crying because no one will let her sit with them. Be careful what you wish for.

I don't think there is a problem with having tables assigned per class. Otherwise, the cafeteria would be too chaotic and some kids may get left out as references above. It is SILENT time that is too controlling and in my opinion, wrong in so many ways. The silent issue should be brought to the attention of principal, school board, whatever it takes to have it banned as an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This sounds like a problem that needs to be addressed. Kids should be talking at lunch. Period. Why is this being allowed to happen? If there is a problem and clearly there is, make changes for the better good. Kids are THE most important thing here, right? Somewhere along the line in the midst of things being too "loud" the importance of socialization and a short break from the rigors of school work have become unimportant?

How do you expect to fix it? The kids are in a very crowded lunchroom with a limited time to eat. The noise is horrendous. Have you ever helped out in the cafeteria? I don't like the idea of silence either, but believe me, it is ear shattering when they are all talking.

If you find it "ear shattering," maybe you shouldn't be in the cafeteria at all. I've been in loud cafeterias and am fine with it. The kids need a break. To expect silence at much is crazy, and a disservice to the kids.