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.

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.

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 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.

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 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...

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.

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.

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.