My daughter just started Kindergarten and has come home with yellows for talking. I assumed she was talking during class but when I asked her she said it was at lunch. I didn't believe her that she got in trouble for talking at lunch but one of my friends whose kid goes to the same school said she heard they could not talk during lunch either. So my 5yr old is expected to be silent ALL day long (it's a full day kindergarten from 745-225) and only able to talk at recess? I would have issues being quiet that whole time and I'm old! lol.
Anyhow---has anyone ever heard of this? Am I the only one (well besides my friend who has a kindergartner too) that finds this absolutely ridiculous? Supposedly the reason is because kids don't eat their lunch. ummm....she still comes home with half her lunch. No big deal she just eats when she gets home.
Whoa. That is crazy! I have never heard of anything like that before! Lunch is about eating but also about socializing and getting a break from the classroom. I would talk to the head of the school and find out what you can do about this policy. Sometimes all it takes is someone to ask the question and then they will consider changes.
Well, they have to cater to the worst offenders...the ones who would yap and yap and yap and never eat.
It's like that at our school a bit--the first and last 5 minute of lunch AND recess are in silence. Woo-hoo.
I think it's ridiculous and I think the kids will quickly learn to eat in the time given.
So...yes I have issue with that too. As well as the endless "walking in a STRAIGHT LINE from point A to Point B!
Kids stopped being kids when they weren't allowed to run on the play ground any more. Everyone is so sue happy and so worried about being sued that kids just can't play any more. It is so sad.
I used to teach and I think this is crazy. Its probably a school policy designed with the good intentions of providing kids enough time to eat - they may only get @ 30 minutes in the cafeteria, which could end up being 15-20 minutes eating time.
Walking in line, means walking in line.. no dancing ect. And yes, her hands should always be at her side when in a line.. Imagine if every child dragged to touch the walls, they would be a mess. (she doesn't do this at home does she?) Also many times there are classes passing in the hallways with adults walking in the middle of these lines.. this is one of the basics expected in any school. Also in most schools there is no talking in the halls, because classes are taking place. This is also just a basic rule in the schools.. Just work with her about the Why of these rules.
Wow, the only time I have heard of this happening was at a middle school after a huge food fight. It was for a month, They also had assigned seating, but then they told the kids they could again have their freedoms, but not to abuse it again..
I agree with you, if the kids keep their levels at a low roar.. it should be acceptable.. They need to have some time to visit.. Heck even at home we speak at meals..
Socialization is just as important as traditional learning.
At first I thought maybe your daughter went to catholic school.When my Grandfather died we had the dinner in the church basement/lunch room for the school there and the kids werent' allowed to speak if there was a funeral lunch going on. But since this is not the case that is crazy. I could see the first 10 minutes or so to make sure they eat but the whole lunch period??? But I bet your daughter is not silent all day. I helped out in my sons K class last year and they have time where they are allowed to talk but agree the lunch rule is ridiculous. I would complain and get the other parents to do it to. If the children don't eat then they are the ones who are hungry and eventually they will learn to eat and socialize.
I'd call the school to confirm and if it's true, complain. Sounds more like a prison camp than school. That's really cruel and unusual punishment to expect children, especially very young children, to be silent ALL DAY. Recess is usually only half an hour. It'll be interesting to see how focused they stay as the year progresses. I'll bet in no time, there will be a lot of 'reds' being issued.
And on another note...why does everyone think this is a private school issue? I went to private schools and had way more freedom than my public school counterparts. The private schools in my area had open campus and hour lunches...with talking and socializing.
I would be looking for a more child friendly center. We definitely want our children to learn and eat well, but the thought of them not being able to socialize is sad. Isn't that part of maturing also!?!? Social skills are a HUGE part of learning in my book too.
When my daughter was in kindergarten, they couldn't talk at lunch. My daughter would have to put her head down for talking, not have time for lunch because she couldn't eat with her head down, and sneak food from her lunch box during class. At this school, the bus picked her up at 7:30 and dropped her off at 4:00. I was pretty ticked about this but my daughter never learned to stop talking during lunch. I figured that even though this is ridiculous, maybe she'd just stay quiet during lunch. Anyway, I knew that I was going to continue homeschooling after I finished school that year so I just put up with it. BTW she's graduating from HS this year so this was a long time ago. Anyway, when I was in school, we were never forced to be quiet at lunch. I'm an adult and I keep forgetting to be quiet when I'm in the library every week with my kids. I always think when I'm leaving "OOPS, I forgot to be a good example for my kids..." and that's the LIBRARY! I wouldn't do well at lunch!
Our elementary school had a no talking at lunch too, they actually even dimmed the lights for it as well. It wasn't the whole time, just when the cafeteria got crazy rowdy so we had to sit quiet for about 3 minutes in silent time with the lights dimmed. I am guessing this is when she got in trouble, during a brief no talking break. I highly doubt the entire lunch period is no talking. I would call the school and ask what the duration of quiet time during lunch is. Better yet, visit her at lunch. We are allowed to eat lunch with our kids anytime.
Now, IF the children are required to be silent during all lunch, I would probably complain not only to the principle, but I would even go to the superintendent, I would also contact the parents organization and try to have it changed through the parent's voices.
Not that I agree with it but children can become quite loud and rowdy. I think they probably do this to keep the lunch lines moving and kids sitting down to eat. Think about it if your kids are excited do they sit right down to eat? So I can understand if the school does this at the beginning of lunch but the whole lunch period? That's a different story.
The preschool my girls went to last year required lunch time silence for the first half of lunch (about 15 minutes) in the 3-4 year old class. I didn't realize the rule until about 4 months after my kids entered that class. One of my girls shushed the other at dinner. When I inquired, she explained that their teacher shushed kids during lunch because talking wasn't allowed. That bothered me SO MUCH!! I went in and talked to the teacher, who explained she had that rule so that the kids focused on eating, not talking. Even with the explanation, I didn't like the rule.
It's one of the (many) reasons we switched to a new school this year.
I was punished as a child for talking at lunch time This isnt new.
Dont assume she is forced to be quiet in class all day ASK the teacher nicely about what times during the day is she socializing with her peers? Most schools allow students to chat quietly at snack time, most Ks have activity centers where students are playing in small groups. there could be two times during the day that students are using materials in small groups and encouraged to interact. If this is a decent school, then math time is not paper and pencil but exploring with materials and discussing findings. After a story or activity the class should discuss. Some teachers use a technique called "Turn and talk" or "Pair-Share" where each child is to turn to the child next to him/her and discuss something, to allow more oral language in the room. They may have Buddy reading time where they sit and read or look at books and tell stories with a partner. They should have a Show and Tell type Share time to practice their language skills, and develop questioning skills. Most (full time) kindergartens have an extra 15 minute outside playtime early in the year and late in the spring when the attention spans are not as long. IF this is a decent school then language development is a HUGE part of kindergarten and lunch is one of the few times they are quiet. Also ask how long is lunch? and how long is recess? It used to be 30 minutes and 30 minutes but lately schools are cutting that down to provide more academics, maybe they have a very short lunch time? maybe kids who finish quickly are allowed out and get extra recess?? Also please dont stress over Yellows. a Yellow could be the same as you saying "Dont jump on the couch" I mean if you've ever told them dont jump on the couch then you dont HAVE to say "the rule is not to jump on the couch it is bad for the couch and you could fall and get hurt." Yellows are not bad, just a warning.
My daughter just started Kindergarten this year and they have the same rule. I've never been told she's gotten in trouble for talking at lunch, and I don't even think my daughter has even mentioned this rule to me. I guess it's not a big deal here.
I'm sure they have their reasons or all the parents would be complaining already.
My SD used to get in trouble for not sitting at lunch, but never for talking. That and recess were the times TO talk during the day. How many adults eat lunch in silence? How much fun is that? I think it's overboard. They should encourage the kids to eat their lunches before recess but not speak at all? Too much for little kids. I could see no dancing in line, but don't touch the wall? I'd want clarification on that and the lunch thing.
Friends's daughter was constantly in trouble in her first preschool where they just couldn't deal with a child that didn't sit perfectly still all day. They moved her to a different school and she is excelling. It's not always possible to change schools, but sometimes it's worth considering.
My son's school does this as well, and it really gets to me. It is school, not prison, and I cannot imagine most adults doing well under these conditions, let alone 5 year olds!