Your concern is valid. This not developmentally appropriate and very punishing. I would complain.

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world are they not allowed to talk at lunch????

They are in school all day. Let them be kids for 30 min FFS. I have an issue with the whole rule to begin with so I'd start there.

Some punishments are valid and I would support the school in enforcing it. This one I would have a hard time with because 1) he should not be in trouble for talking in the first place 2) yes, he should not be publicly shamed for it. GFC

Perhaps someone was speaking to the kids and he did not quiet down after several requests for silence. Or perhaps this is one of those schools that expect the children to be quiet for the first x minutes because they found that too many kids were socializing first and then ran out of time to eat. I understand that OP’s kid is embarrassed but it’s not clear to me that the purpose of the punishment is to shame or embarrass the kids. This does not seem like a big deal, to be honest. I think it makes sense to inquire about the rule that was supposedly broken and exactly what happened - had he been asked to quiet down but didn’t hear it, ignored it or whatever. Otherwise, I think OP should just remind his kid not to talk when he’s not supposed to be talking and not to be embarrassed at the small infraction. The book is a good idea, too.

What school district? If this is FCPS, I'd request a meeting with the principal and break out the regulations. Being removed from the table seems like a level 2 sanction. I'd ask what made this a level 2 violation and demand to see the paperwork. Basically, I'd try to waste as much of their time as I could because I'm petty

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world are they not allowed to talk at lunch????

They are in school all day. Let them be kids for 30 min FFS. I have an issue with the whole rule to begin with so I'd start there.

Some punishments are valid and I would support the school in enforcing it. This one I would have a hard time with because 1) he should not be in trouble for talking in the first place 2) yes, he should not be publicly shamed for it. GFC

Schools not letting kids be kids again. Then they wonder why some act out when they're suppressed all day

I would just let the school handle it and support my kid at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world are they not allowed to talk at lunch????

They are in school all day. Let them be kids for 30 min FFS. I have an issue with the whole rule to begin with so I'd start there.

Some punishments are valid and I would support the school in enforcing it. This one I would have a hard time with because 1) he should not be in trouble for talking in the first place 2) yes, he should not be publicly shamed for it. GFC

OP here. Yes I definitely support consequences, this just seems extreme, that's why I'm not super happy. I guess they'd gotten the "privilege" of talking at lunch taken away for being too loud and were supposed to not talk and DC "forgot" and talked and this is the punishment.

I'm the one you're responding to and I understand. I just think kids need to be able to let loose for a few minutes and not be "on" the whole damn day. So if the cafeteria gets too loud maybe tell them to bring the volume down instead of preventing them from speaking at all. but get what you're saying. I'd have a problem with him sitting alone as punishment too.

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world are they not allowed to talk at lunch????

They are in school all day. Let them be kids for 30 min FFS. I have an issue with the whole rule to begin with so I'd start there.

Some punishments are valid and I would support the school in enforcing it. This one I would have a hard time with because 1) he should not be in trouble for talking in the first place 2) yes, he should not be publicly shamed for it. GFC

OP here. Yes I definitely support consequences, this just seems extreme, that's why I'm not super happy. I guess they'd gotten the "privilege" of talking at lunch taken away for being too loud and were supposed to not talk and DC "forgot" and talked and this is the punishment.

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world are they not allowed to talk at lunch????

They are in school all day. Let them be kids for 30 min FFS. I have an issue with the whole rule to begin with so I'd start there.

Some punishments are valid and I would support the school in enforcing it. This one I would have a hard time with because 1) he should not be in trouble for talking in the first place 2) yes, he should not be publicly shamed for it. GFC

I AM NOT THE OP, but Sometimes the cafe can get very loud, so they have to eat lunch quietly

Anonymous wrote:I think you’d be doing your child more harm by intervening, sometimes kids have to deal with unfair things. I would acknowledge to your child that the punishment is extreme and help them pick out a special treat in their lunch that day and a new book if they are allowed one.

OP here. Yes, that's what I told DC and allowed DC to take a book from home to lunch. No clue if it's allowed, hopefully they don't get in trouble for that too.

Why in the world are they not allowed to talk at lunch????

They are in school all day. Let them be kids for 30 min FFS. I have an issue with the whole rule to begin with so I'd start there.

Some punishments are valid and I would support the school in enforcing it. This one I would have a hard time with because 1) he should not be in trouble for talking in the first place 2) yes, he should not be publicly shamed for it. GFC

I think you’d be doing your child more harm by intervening, sometimes kids have to deal with unfair things. I would acknowledge to your child that the punishment is extreme and help them pick out a special treat in their lunch that day and a new book if they are allowed one.

I don’t think that eating lunch alone is an appropriate punishment but I’d let it go, personally. It’s one day. If it happens again, I would check in with the teacher to see what is going on.

They didn't call. DC told me and was really upset.

since it was a very small incident why did they call you about it?

its just one day? just let it be

My 2nd grader got in trouble at lunch for talking when they weren't supposed to and now has to eat lunch alone the next day. They are a really well behaved child, we've never gotten any feedback from anyone at the school that is less than stellar. I believe this is a first offense. Sure, they made a mistake, so there should be a consequence, but I have an issue with consequences that are meant to embarrass kids. They are very embarrassed and upset about having to sit by themselves.

Thoughts on this?