Lottie, This is an age old issue, kids not having enough time to eat. I worked in the lunchroom at our elementary K-5 for several years. This issue arose often in that time. I would invite the parents to come down and observe and that usually took care of the issue. It does not seem like enough time and for a few students it really isn't. The K-3 group usually talk and mess around instead of eating. Our monitors help with this nudging them to eat and then talk. The 3-5 kids already know the ramifications and have little problem getting their lunch down. We never denied a child time finish their lunch.
The other issue is what do you as a PTO officer do about it. I have had several things come up at meetings and I can tell you that I give the parents the information to properly lodge their complaint. How to go through the chain of command at the school and in the district. These really are not PTO issues but individual complaints. People go to the parent groups expecting their support and I can see where PTA/PTOs can help at times, but for the most part parents just need to be empowered. If this was a school wide problem (one of the bathrooms is always out of operation, or the water fountains do not work etc...) then of course I imagine your assembly could work together to help resolve the problem. Just my take on it.
Sorry to hear of your problems but when things come up like this at our PTO, I refer then to site council or the supers office. This in my opinion is not a PTO issue.
Good luck in finding an answer. Our school would have the 6th grade take there 15 minutes outside first while the 5th graders were eating and then go in to eat while the others are going outside.
Of course this works for K-5, our middle schoolers do not go out at all.
Our middle school has both 5th and 6th graders going to lunch at the same time. This means approximately 200 students are eating at the same time together which also means that the majority of the students who purchase a lunch spend most of their time waiting in line. The school allows the students to go outside the last 15 minutes, weather permitting. This now means that a good majority who did buy a lunch now will take a bite or two then join the rest outside. My complaint is not in allowing the students to go outside, but instead, not allowing the grades to eat separately, or at least staggered, so that all students get at least 10-15 minutes of eating time before rushing outside. The assistant principle shot me down when my concerns were voiced at our PTO meeting. She also assured everyone that the children are given plenty of time to eat and if a child opts to go outside instead of eating that is his own decision. I have spoken with a few parents (not too many) who are upset with the current situation. I think most parents aren't aware of the problem. The parents who come and visit during lunch are eating with children who brought their lunch. My true problem is that my own child doesn't even buy a lunch so it never affects him. As PTO pres. I need to know how and who to fight. I would love to have articles on nutrition and amount of time a child should be given to eat. Our 7th and 8th graders eat separately. When asked if the grades could be staggered 10 minutes we were told that this would interfere with teachers breaks (?) I don't think it's healthy to make children eat in 5 minutes (sometimes less). Help.
