Are your children allowed to talk in the lunchroom at their school?

Question

My son and his friends told me this weekend that they are not allowed to talk during lunch at school. I am planning to talk to the teacher about this this afternoon. I think the boys are probably exaggerating and have just been told to keep quiet in there, but I was curious to know if other schools do that. I think it is rediculous not to let the kids talk on their lunch break.

Answer 1

My daughter is in second grade and I have been to eat with her in the lunch room on numerous occasions. Yes, they are allowed to talk but take that with a grain of salt. I sometimes want to pull all my hair out with frustration with how strict they are in there. My daughter had to go to the table where they detain those with bad conduct all for singing "cha, cha, cha" during the Happy Birthday song. If you are ever unsure of what is going on at your sons' school, do not hesitate to email the teacher or go in and see for yourself if you have the time. He may be exaggerating but it may also be that they are really strict to a level that takes all of the pleasure out of lunch time. I hope that this is not your situation. Good luck in getting this resolved quickly!

Edit--------------------------------------------------------

Don't listen to that moron who downed you for sending your son to public school. If you did send your son to public school you are in good company. Not every one has the money to send there children to private schools and not all private schools are good. You obviously care about your son and his well being in the present and future. You wouldn't be worried about his treatment as school if not. I am sorry that he answered your question.

Answer 2

I hope the kids are exaggerating! that would be pretty awful if they're not. I can't imagine my son being able to sit through lunch without talking to his friends. I do however understand asking the kids to quiet down & eat. I know it bugs me when my son brings home over half his lunch uneaten, saying that he didn't have enough time to finish. All parents know that what that really means is that he was goofing around with his friends instead of eating.
If I were you, I would definately call the school just to see what their lunchroom policy on talking is.

Answer 3

I would not be suprised to find out that some psycho teacher has tried to do this at one time or another. School is the best place for kids to learn social interactions. They need to be able to talk with each other. People feel much more social when eating together. Talking is completely natural under these conditions. Keeping the kids from talking during lunch is not helping them. I can understand trying to keep them from getting too loud or rowdy, but to completely ban talking is not right. I bet the teachers get to talk with each other while they are eating.

Answer 4

I think it depends on the school. I'm a teacher's aide w/ lunch duty.

Kids can talk quietly while eating their lunch; however, when they are finished we ask they sit with their hands folded.

I do allow them to talk quietly, but if it gets too nosy......then I say, " No talking, hands folded on the table"

It's really hard to control a lunchroom full of kids. Once a few kids, even 2 or 3 get really loud, then they all think they can. I don't think it's bad that the school asks them to be quiet. I don't know why as a parent you are upset by the "no talking" rule.

Talking, playing and chatting is for recess and for certain times in the classroom. If asking the kids to be quiet, keeps order it's a good thing.

As a teacher's aide, I'm required to do lunch duty. At my school, we have very very few parent volunteers and only a handful of aides.

So, there are about 100 kids in one lunch period and only 3 or 4 aides. Often, the aides stay with their classes. Especially, if the kids are special ed, pre-k or kindergarten.

The other grades often get left to be on their best behavior. If they get out of line, they might be asked to remain quiet.

EDIT

Also, they might be asked to remain quiet to keep the peace. I find the kids can socialize/talk well, when they are eating. But, the second they are done and the tray they cleared away.......they get bored or antsy.

My class gets 30 mins for lunch, but usually finishes in 15 or 20. That leaves 15-20 with no structure. This can get ugly. That's when the "he said/she said I'm stupid......we aren't friends." or my favorite......."he hit me"

Answer 5

Two years ago we moved to a new area and at this school, my son was in the third grade -- they couldn't talk either and my son told me that this "mean man" watched over the table and made sure nobody talked and if they did, they would have to sit by themselves. I went up to the school and no one had time to talk with me. They made up every excuse. I finally had a talked with his teacher and she told be she was too stressed out to talk about. Finally the Asst. Prin. called me back and said it will soon change.
Long story short -- it did not change -- more ugly problems happened -- so I changed schools. I am now "allowed" to have lunch with my children and pop in any time to make sure all is going well.

Kids need to be kids. Hope it works out well for you and your son.

Answer 6

My son is in elementary school. They are allowed to talk quietly. The last few minutes of lunch they ask them to be quiet. I think that is just a way to get them to calm down before heading back into the halls.

Answer 7

At my sons' school they have a traffic light in there and if it gets to loud and the light goes red they have to all be quiet for 2 minutes. As long as it is yellow or green they can talk quietly.
I think this works well considering they have to get the kids to eat and all in a short period of time.

Answer 8

Our kids have been in schools where that was the policy. The idea was that if they are talking and playing they aren't eating. It seems that it was the schools that had the tightest lunch schedules that wouldn't let them talk. You can talk to the teacher if you want to, but don't expect it to change.

Answer 9

Well it depends on the class. If the class behaves then they can talk...if not then they have to sit quietly and eat. So it could be possible. Plus my kids only get about 20 mins to eat so Im sure the teacher would rather them eat instead of talking. But it wouldnt hurt to ask...you never know.

Answer 10

I think they are exaggerating a bit, they probably have to talk softly and if the students were too loud they may have been told not to talk period! My daughter is in the 2nd grade and that is the rule in her school.