Elementary school bans talking at lunch !

I don't agree with it being quiet. I don't think that it will keep kids from chokingo n hazardous foods. I do know that at my sons school they aren't suppose to talk in the lunch line or talk much at lunch. This is because they are trying to get the kids in and out as soon as possible so that they can get in their very short recess break.

I think that no talking at all is a little extreme. I mean, how can you expect children to sit and not say anything for a full day? I think a better alternative would be not packing a couple hundred students into a cafeteria all at once. Schedule the lunch breaks so that there are less students in there at one time. This would keep the noise level down and the student to staff ratio would go down as well.

This is a very bad idea. The cafeteria is a central place, where the students live their social life. It sounds like a joke. They must talk. What a stupid decision.

I can kind of understand the reasoning. When I was in grade school our principal was in the cafeteria at lunch. She would stand on the landing that went up to the outside door (cafateria was in the basement) She always had her "bell" with her. It was quite loud, it was the same bell used to signal the start and end of school. We were allowed to talk, but quietly. Any time it got loud or kids fooled around she would ring that darn bell. Oh boy how it echoed in the lunch room. One of the times she was not there, which was almost unheard of. It was really loud and kids were fooling around. A girl was choking and a friend was yelling for help and no teacher heard her. It turned out she got up what she was choking on but boy did we get a lecture the next day. We had an assembly and after she got through letting us have it, we all had to one at a time say "I will use my quiet voice at lunch or eat alone in the office" That way no one had an excuse. We could leave the cafeteria for the playground or gym as soon as we were done eating so it wasn't really that big of a deal. I don't think absolute silence is really needed. Maybe I should send them Miss Sprague and her big loud bell..lol

Wow! That just seems like such a reactionary way for a school to behave. I mean, I can understand the choking thing, but shouldn't fellow students also be watching out for someone choking and tell someone in charge if it happens? You would hope that people around the person who is choking would be helpful in this way :/ I just think that it is really sad that kids can't talk at lunch! It should be a time to learn to socialize, especially since I've been hearing as well that some schools are having shorter recesses. When else are the kids supposed to have time to relax and talk to their friends? I hope that this school will re-think the policy, in time.

I dont believe its right for them to be able to do that. That means a child would basically have to go all day without being able to talk since its not ok to talk while in class either. I think they are being a little to harsh there, maybe they need to get a little more staff on duty during lunch rather than making it like a prison for students and we wonder why some kids hate school.

I think that is ridiculous that they ban talking during lunch as the kids need time to talk with their friends and time to enjoy during the school day. I do not think that is good for their social life or experience. They should have a staff monitor walk around the cafeteria and monitor the area to make sure everyone is okay. I do not like the idea that they do not allow the kids to talk during lunch.

I am a former Principal of a middle/High School. The rule is STUPID. My bet is that the rule is so that the teachers can get an extra few minutes for thier lunch. If you do not allow children to talk at Lunch schools are missing an important learning situtation. Children need to learn how to talk at a social gathering. This time gives them a chance to share ideas with other in their peer group. It is interesting that silence in the Lunch room seems to be an Elementary School Problem, I have supeervised Middle and High School lunch rooms for 20 years and never had a problem with noise. Walking around and listening to the students talk was very interesting. The conversations were for the msot part very approiate and students would stop me to give them some information or answer a question generated by their discussion. I don't know why Elementary School Staff has a problem with children talking at lunch.

I think those schools are being incredibly lazy. For years kids have talked and, yes, a few have choked. These people at those schools are making an excuse to keep the students quiet instead of actually paying attentiont to WATCH for choking. I hope someone calls them on it and make them reverse this decision.

The principal has his experiences and thus the rule, If it would be for the safety of all why not, after taking lunch, then they could go out and do their talking staff. Better safe than sorry.

I think this is SOOOOO crazy!! It seems to me just another example of the 'lawsuit' society gone mad - people and institutions being scared about ANYTHING happening which they could be sued for. It's so sad for the kids though! School was SOOO boring and frustrating. I know that when I was at school kids had enough trouble trying to keep quiet during class - without being able to let off some steam during breaktime I think they'll really go a bit crazy!!!! It could actually be bad for schoolwork in the end I think!

There has to be a little leeway here to allow the kids to socialize in school and lunchtime is one of the few times when they can do it. My kids school works on a traffic light system in their lunchroom. The light starts at green, and if the volume gets loud, it goes to orange and then if it gets really loud, ther is a red light signalled by a beel at which point the kids have to stop talking and be quiet. After a couple of minutes the bell rings again and the light goes back to green. I've met my kids a few times for lunch at their school and the system seems to work really well.

So all of a sudden there's an epidemic of children choking due to talking while eating? Why has this never been an issue before? Something doesn't add up, it also has effects on the child's social development. How can they learn these valuable skills with their own peers if they are unable to communicate with them during the only times throughout the school day that they are able too?

it's such a bore to keep quiet in canteens. it's not a library, right? let them enjoy breaktime... that's whats good for every student...

Kids need to learn to be social along with the "book larning". Lunch is a good time for children to socialize with their friends. This too is an important part of education. Quiet talking should be permitted, if the children get too loud then they should be reprimanded.

I don't agree with total silence. I think that lunch time should be a time to socialize with friends. They should be allowed to talk but not to cause commotion and be excessively loud. I think it is the responsibility of the teachers on duty to keep the level of noise in the lunch room to a dull roar.

My son had this at his school. And one time he stuck out his foot and hit someone by accident and he told him he was sorry. Well they put him on the wall for talking. I was so mad I went to that school and gave them an ear full. How can you punish someone for having manners?? This is so crazy. That is these kids time and they should be albe to speak.

I too see the reason, but I think it better that students be taught how to behave first. And I don't think that's the sole job of the schools. It all comes back to poor parenting and kids not being expected to behave at home.

Sounds like oneof the dumbest things I 've ever heard. It is one of the few times all days that kids can interact without many restrictions. It is a time for kids to relax and iteract socially. Seems to me the school may need to take some time and teach the kids how to chew their food properly or maybe give them a little more time to eat so they do not have to eat so quickly. I know my kids have only about 20 minutes at lunch. By the time the get through the line they may have 10 minutes to eat. That may be more of a cause of choking. haveing to eat tooquickly.

I have heard of this the principal has explained to the children that the rule is a temporary one not permanent (I guess they are just paranoid). Also, they are allowed to whisper quietly, and the children are apparently having less of an issue with this than everyone else.