Re: They should be perfect!

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/2001 8:59:53 AM Central Standard Time,

wildwards@... writes:

>

> Maybe we should start a lunchroom poll .... how many kids here are in

> lunchrooms with just the lunchroom monitor present?

>

> Mine are in high school, different than elementary school, there are some

> teachers sitting at their tables off to the side. That doesn't stop flying

> food, or fights from breaking out.

>

There is a lunch room aide in the elem. school. Teachers have one of their

breaks over the lunch hr. from what I understand. The aide is there to hold

the food fights in check and basically get them to eat and move out. I

wouldn't call it dangerous, just kinda gross since like me they can't see

everything. hehe.

In the high school there aren't really aide in the lunchroom. If they have a

problem with alot of food flying around they will put one of the cooks

helpers or even one of the cooks will come in. we all quaked in our seats

whenever Lottie the cook came and put us in our place. hehe. She never

touched anyone, but could get her point across pretty well. hehe. Except for

the lack of manners of some of those trying to be cool I think it's a pretty

safe place myself.

Joy

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 03/19/2001 11:41:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, JTesmer799

writes:

<< Joy waves her hand to say WHAT!! 500 kids in one lunch room??? >>

Schools here have been overcrowded since I was in them!! My children attend

the same high school I did. When I was in we had 3,000 students in a school

built for 1,500. We had double shifts, country kids came in at 8:00 am and

left at 2:00, city kids came in at 10:00 and left at 4:00.... we were still

squished like sardines!!

Now, with my kids, there are 2,300 kids in the high school ... and it is one

of the smaller ones in our city!

Their elementary school held 780 kids when they were there ... so we may not

have had 500 kids at a time ... probably 400!! ;-)

What kind of behavior programs did you guys have in your lunchrooms? Every

year we had a different one, colored cups, sticks in a can, but my favorite

was a big stoplight they mounted on the wall that turned yellow if the noise

level got too high and then buzzed loud enough to scare everyone when it

turned red due to noise volumn. Red meant entire lunchroom went on silence

and then we had to wait until the elapsed time of silence before stoplight

went back to green. AS SOON as it turned green, every kid started yakkking

and the damned process would start all over!!! Kids never got to talk!!

Cheryl in VA

March 19, 2001

I disagree, Cheryl. The school lunch room should require the same good

manners as home or a restaurant. If it doesn't, then something is amiss.

granny

---

" Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must

in time be utterly lost. " -- Walt Whitman

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: They should be perfect!

> In a message dated 3/19/2001 6:44:36 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> bspyle@... writes:

>

> > Blowing bubbles in ones milk is not acceptable behavior at

> > the table for any child. Matter of fact, it's gross. Especially for the

> > other people who are trying to eat

>

> Granny,

> The school lunchroom table and the home dinner table or restaurant dinner

> table actually have two different sets of etiquette rules, trust me!!

> learning to blow bubbles like his peers is probably quite an

accomplishment

> and far from being repudiated by his behaviors, the other kids no doubt

give

> him kudos! ;-) Now, as far as gross, blowing bubbles is nothing compared

to

> the things I have seen kids doing in the lunchroom, from showing everyone

> their partially chewed food to things in the nose. Keep in mind the ages

of

> these kids. Blowing bubbles in your milk at age 8 or 9 is typical

behavior.

> If he was 19, we'd have a problem to discuss.

> BTW, did he get the bubbles to come out and lay on the table or was he

just

> making noise? I saw a kid get a milk bubble tower about 6 inches high one

> day, must have taken plenty of practice!

> Cheryl in VA

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/2001 10:13:27 AM Central Standard Time,

List@... writes:

> !! Anywhoooooo... I just thought it was interesting how things

> have changed! When I was younger we always had art, music, and physical

> education... what has happened???

>

When I was young, we had art, music, band, phyed, recess that wasnt during

only during the lunch hr. Drivers ed was a class for a 1/2 credit and no

fee. Sports didn't require and activity fee, spetator buses for actletic

events yeah things have changed. Some not for the better. But what happened

is when they passed IDEA they stated they would fund it up to 40%. The most

they have ever funded it has been like 6% (?) or so. My guess is they never

intended to provide anywhere near 40% but it sure looks good to 'the people'

.. The schools still have to pay the teachers, saleries and contracts have

improved greatly for alot of them, but obviously those who have taken more

training to work with the disabled will require a higher salerr then those

who just teach gen. ed. I urgh you to join (my guv...who does have some

good points despite his crude mouth, hehe) in asking the fed to increase

funding to sped as was approved by congress 30 yrs ago. Contact your

congress persons and ask others to do the same. Rochester must have at least

8-10 different languages in the ESL classes, that's how many different

notices of school closings are said on the radio. INterpetors in these

languages are not esepecially cheap either. Things like that do cut into

budgets. Many of the problems schools are facing are from being underfunded

in the area of sped for 30 yrs. Wonder why they've never put out a decent

sped buget at any time over those years?

Joy

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/01 10:00:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,

wildwards@... writes:

> Maybe we should start a lunchroom poll .... how many kids here are in

> lunchrooms with just the lunchroom monitor present?

We have about 160 kids in the elementary lunch room at a time and there are

3-4 monitors.

nancy

March 19, 2001

LOL!!!

When I was in grade school (back in the dark ages), the teacher ate with her

class. Mealtime was teaching table manners time. Teachers got a break while

we were in music or art class, but not at lunch time.

granny

---

" Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must

in time be utterly lost. " -- Walt Whitman

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: They should be perfect!

> In a message dated 3/19/2001 5:44:27 AM Central Standard Time,

> bspyle@... writes:

>

> > . Matter of fact, it's gross. Especially for the

> > other people who are trying to eat.

> >

>

> May be gross, but redirection would be the best answer. After all the

> teachers do not eat lunch in the cafeteria and all the other kids are just

> reminded to not do it. You would be surprised at how even 8th graders go

out

> of their way to be gross. I once took Kristi and a couple of her friends

to

> find shoes for cheerleading, we stopped at McD's and I was really had to

ask

> them if their mothers let them talk and chew when eating at home. (I went

to

> school with their parents the one were in my class the others a couple yrs

> older, and I know they weren't that ill mannnered) They admitted that no,

> they had to chew, shallow then speak. They were a little better after

that

> but the whole purpose was to be gross. they both now have young

> daughters.....it's probably payback time. hehe

>

> Joy

>

March 19, 2001

Like I said, something is amiss. If there's only one adult supervising 500

children that age, then something is very, very wrong. I would not allow a

child of mine to be exposed to such danger.

granny

---

" Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must

in time be utterly lost. " -- Walt Whitman

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: They should be perfect!

> In a message dated 03/19/2001 7:14:29 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> bspyle@... writes:

>

> << The school lunch room should require the same good

> manners as home or a restaurant. If it doesn't, then something is amiss.

>>

>

> When is the last time you were in a elementary lunchroom? There are about

> 500 kids and one adult. The kids all know what they can get away with and

> they do it. When a kid squirts the mustard, mayo, and ketchup packets all

> over food in his tray, stirs it up and eats the nasty mess, the other kids

> respond with the appropriate ews and yuks and laughter! Those same kids

> would never do that at home. The lunchroom is a different environment,

> regardless of whether it should be or not.

>

> Believe it or not, I can still remember some of the antics my classmates

> performed during lunch time (blowing milk was one of them) when I was in

> elementary school, and we had teachers sitting at our tables. The boys

used

> to have spagetti sucking contests all the time. I wonder if I can still

shoot

> a pea off my fork three tables over? ;-)

> Cheryl in VA

>

March 19, 2001

> Teachers got a break while

> we were in music or art class, but not at lunch time.

My mother is a Kindergarten/first grade looping teacher in the Buffalo city

schools. Her kids come in at 7:30am for breakfast (because these kids can't

get breakfast at home) and they leave at 4:30pm (with a few kids as the

exception) because the school offers " daycare " because when they didn't,

these kids would end up on the streets until Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Aunt,

mom, whomever got out of work. They don't have art or music or gym

because the Buffalo schools can't afford it!!!!! My mother has her masters

in " brain compatability " so she does a lot of gross motor and fine motor

and other such activities with them and she bought a CD player and an old

computer for her classroom (no TVs, music players - not even a tape player,

or computers in her entire school!!) out of her own pocket!!! She has

almost 40 children in her class this year (first graders!!)!! Her lunch

break is 20 minutes and that is her only break during the day!!! It's sad,

but she loves it and I don't understand why!! I teach at a religious

school, 4th grade inclusion class, and I love it! But I only have about 15

kids in class and we have all our materials provided and much more!! True,

there are some very bad teachers in this world (I had a few in my own

time!) but there are some very good teachers in very bad schools at the

same time!! Anywhoooooo... I just thought it was interesting how things

have changed! When I was younger we always had art, music, and physical

education... what has happened???

Cheers!

Sara

http://www.DSyndrome.com

March 19, 2001

During World War II, when I was in grade school, we had extended day care as

well because Mommies was at work in the defense plants while Daddies was off

fighting the war. The teachers at my school ran the daycare.

There have been so many cuts to education over the past 20 years, that

programs such as music and art fall by the wayside. Have you seen the move

" Mr. Holland's Opus? " It's a crying shame.

I too had some really bad teachers. A couple of them were hateful and cruel

even.

granny

---

" Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must

in time be utterly lost. " -- Walt Whitman

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: They should be perfect!

>

> > Teachers got a break while

> > we were in music or art class, but not at lunch time.

>

> My mother is a Kindergarten/first grade looping teacher in the Buffalo

city

> schools. Her kids come in at 7:30am for breakfast (because these kids

can't

> get breakfast at home) and they leave at 4:30pm (with a few kids as the

> exception) because the school offers " daycare " because when they didn't,

> these kids would end up on the streets until Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Aunt,

> mom, whomever got out of work. They don't have art or music or gym

> because the Buffalo schools can't afford it!!!!! My mother has her masters

> in " brain compatability " so she does a lot of gross motor and fine motor

> and other such activities with them and she bought a CD player and an old

> computer for her classroom (no TVs, music players - not even a tape

player,

> or computers in her entire school!!) out of her own pocket!!! She has

> almost 40 children in her class this year (first graders!!)!! Her lunch

> break is 20 minutes and that is her only break during the day!!! It's sad,

> but she loves it and I don't understand why!! I teach at a religious

> school, 4th grade inclusion class, and I love it! But I only have about 15

> kids in class and we have all our materials provided and much more!! True,

> there are some very bad teachers in this world (I had a few in my own

> time!) but there are some very good teachers in very bad schools at the

> same time!! Anywhoooooo... I just thought it was interesting how things

> have changed! When I was younger we always had art, music, and physical

> education... what has happened???

>

> Cheers!

> Sara

> http://www.DSyndrome.com

>

March 19, 2001

<< We have about 160 kids in the elementary lunch room at a time and there are

3-4 monitors >>

That is about what it is at our school. If there are sp ed students eating

at that time, they sit at the tables with other kids and aides either with

them, or near by. (Up until I made a stink, the sp ed kids all sat at a table

at the back of the cafeteria.).

Our cafeteria has a couple of big stop signs hanging and all the aides have

around their necks. Most of the time they are on the yellow side, but if it

gets too noisy, or at the last 5 minutes of each shift, it is on red, meaning

NO TALKING. This encourages kids to stop talking and finish eating. As far

as manners go, how can we enforce good manners if all families are not using

them? What is a priority at my house, may not be at your house and how can

you make ALL follow YOUR rules.

I think that they focus on major issues and social issues more than basic

manners. A couple of years ago a teacher started a Miss Manners program,

where she passed out tokens for those using good manners. I protested

because, no matter how Mav tries, he can't chew with his mouth shut or he

would suffocate, and either way, his best is not going to measure up to her

standards, (which she let everyone know) AND because it was totally unfair to

the children who were not taught at home to use a napkin. I took my concerns

to the school board. The program then came under scrutiny and other parents

found out what was going on and it got shut down.

I think we need to be careful what we expect of our kids at lunchtime, and

what is socially acceptable. While I won't accept blowing bubbles at home, I

certainly can see a whole table of typical kids getting a kick out of doing

it at school ...and getting some release from the studies at the same time.

And while they should be told not to do it... it shouldn't be a punishable

crime!

March 19, 2001

Both my daughters are in the same school. Adelena (w/ds) goes to lunch with

her class, her teacher and the aide. I would be annoyed if her teacher came

to me with such pettiness.

I feel very fortunate after I read some of these posts. The only time

Adelena's teacher contacts me is if Adelena runs off, uses profanity, being

fresh(she likes to say no alot) and for good things like going potty

.......only the important issues. The teacher is well aware of behaviors

of children (ds & non-ds).

Maura

(lese 11 yrs & Adelean 8.7 yrs w/ds)

----Original Message Follows----

From: wildwards@...

bspyle@...,

Subject: Re: They should be perfect!

Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 09:58:09 EST

In a message dated 03/19/2001 9:01:13 AM Eastern Standard Time,

bspyle@... writes:

<< I would not allow a

child of mine to be exposed to such danger. >>

Maybe we should start a lunchroom poll .... how many kids here are in

lunchrooms with just the lunchroom monitor present?

Mine are in high school, different than elementary school, there are some

teachers sitting at their tables off to the side. That doesn't stop flying

food, or fights from breaking out.

Cheryl in VA

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/2001 5:26:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,

lowenthalrj@... writes:

> WHOA! Most schools around here don't even think of having the total

> enrollment at lunch at the same time--it's done in shifts

We do lunches in shifts too ... but with that many kids the shifts are

LARGE!! In middle school and high school they start lunches in some schools

at 10:30 am in order to get all the kids fed.

Cheryl in VA

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/2001 5:26:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,

lowenthalrj@... writes:

> WHOA! Most schools around here don't even think of having the total

> enrollment at lunch at the same time--it's done in shifts

Judi, I don't recall saying we had the total enrollment in during lunch.

In elementary school there were over 700 kids in school. In high school

there are over 2,000. They eat in shifts, with hundreds of kids in each

shift! My kids said if you don't get to the lunch room in time, you get no

seat. There are three shifts for lunch in their school.

We have the largest elementary school in the state here ... built to hold

1,200 kids.

Cheryl in VA

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/01 6:14:41 AM Central Standard Time,

bspyle@... writes:

> I disagree, Cheryl. The school lunch room should require the same good

> manners as home or a restaurant. If it doesn't, then something is amiss.

>

> granny

> ---

> Great idea but probably not enforceable.

March 19, 2001

Wow I thought I had it rough!!!! I'm a NYC teacher and we get 50 mins for

lunch and a 45 minute prep everyday. Our kids have art, music, computers,

science in a lab. This year I have to also teach gym to my class- no biggie!

About the lunchroom stuff- teachers have a " duty free " lunch which means not

working with kids on their lunch hour. There is one supervisor school aide

who runs the lunch room and then there are about 5-6 school aides who help

out. There are also many paras there to help out, so the lunchroom is very

well supervised. Although I think that the kids should have some freedom at

lunch- there are certain rules or decorum that must be followed in the

lunchroom. One would be something like no food fights and another is to

clean up after yourself.

As for my youth----- well i went home everyday for lunch the lunchroom was

one of my least favorite places in the world- I couldnt stand the smell!

~ Mom to amanda 10 1/2 DS and 6

March 19, 2001

About bubbles........

I love to blow bubbles in a drink especially iced coffee. My husband thinks

its gross. I like it because it kinda mixes it and makes it foamy! I think

some of the things he does are gross but they are too gross to mention

here!!!!

The kids blow bubbles in their chocolate milk!

March 19, 2001

Hi,

My son's schools lunch room is loud. There are atleast 300 kids and

maybe 6 adults. The kids are running all over the place. Monitors on

bullhorns. Parents are not allowed due to safety issues. Some man came into

the school looking for a worker. He was asked to leave. He left then

returned and stole a pocketbook out of an office.

there have been several incidences of men pulling up to kids in the area

and trying to get them into the car.

The world is changing and not for the better .

Maureen

March 19, 2001

In a message dated 3/19/2001 8:02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

gboughton@... writes:

> wow... so much strictness and rules wow...We went K-6 and no eating at

> school...we walked home everyday for lunch what grade was this in?

This was my children's elementary school Gail ... not that long ago!! ;-)

The lunchroom is very strict, kids have no free time in school today. No

talking in the halls, no talking in PE, no talking standing in line and if

you talk too much at lunch your class gets in trouble and all are punished.

How much more discipline can they take?

Cheryl in VA

March 19, 2001

Probably about the same number with 2-3 monitors PLUS usually several

volunteer parents or parents who just happened to be at school at that time

for some reason or were specifically there to eat lunch with their child.

Judi

Re: They should be perfect!

In a message dated 3/19/01 10:00:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,

wildwards@... writes:

> Maybe we should start a lunchroom poll .... how many kids here are in

> lunchrooms with just the lunchroom monitor present?

We have about 160 kids in the elementary lunch room at a time and there are

3-4 monitors.

nancy

March 19, 2001

WHOA! Most schools around here don't even think of having the total

enrollment at lunch at the same time--it's done in shifts and you know the

school is overcrowded when the kids go to lunch or come from lunch directly

from or to the buses.

When I was in elementary, we had about 80--130 kids at a time (more in the

middle of the lunch serving, less at the beginning and end), teachers ate in

the room, often either at the table their kids sat or in small groups

between the kids. The principal sometimes was in there too. They watched

and if anything got out of hand, they stepped in.