Lunchtime rules

[SueC]

My sister went to eat lunch with Maya at her school the other day and was shocked to learn they aren't able to talk while eating (they actually get into trouble). I had forgotten this rule but wasn't overly concerned about it since I'm sure they want to get the kids fed and out of there instead of having them screw around. Is that pretty common in elementary school? I remember being able to talk at the lunch table when I was a kid.

wow. we sure talked at our lunch tables! I kind of see lunch as part of the socialization aspect of school. I wonder if it's more commonplace these days. I'll be interested to see what those with school-age kids say here.

[Sheherezade]

We talked in my school too. My son's school in Boston didn't have this rule, but he did come home without finishing his lunch often because "he was chatting". Here, they have a 5 minute "chew time" at the end of lunch to get the food down. I think it's a good compromise. I think I wouldn't like it if there was NO talking at all.

Yep, same here. Drew has a ten minute time slot to "eat without talking". When you are dealing with a hundred or more 5-6yos, with trays full of food, I would want to enforce that rule with an iron fist!

We haven't had any complaints from Drew about it, and when I went for lunch, it was quite nice....we could still whisper though.

[SueC]

That's too funny Annie! Yeah, actually I have no problem with the no talking rule--it seems a little harsh but in the scheme of things I don't think it's a big deal. My sister was really upset by it, though, so I wondered if I should be more concerned.

Annie - you're a riot! I think I like the compromise Angie mentioned, but the rule is the rule, and I'm sure it saves a lot of hassles.

[twinsmom]

I remember in our grade school not only having the no talking rule (we could whisper, though, if I remember right), but we were assigned to different seats by the on-duty teacher (who would usually split up friends and make girls sit by boys (yuk!!). We would then have to raise our hand to be excused and the teacher would check to make sure that we had eaten enough of our lunch (I got very good and stuffing things in my milk carton ).

Jen B.

[houseelf]

If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"

Kelly

I'll have to ask my daughter. I know they have a "try one bite of everything" rule.
I have lunch/recess duty in a few weeks and will know for sure then.