DS having school lunch sat on the floor, AIBU?

[Honeybadgerdontgiveashit]

Long story short, building work as DS school has over run massively during summer holidays. Class rooms and hall remain unfinished.
Fair enough, no surprise, but these things happen.

School dinner pupils are eating in the halls, packed lunch pupils are eating packed lunch sat on the classroom floor.
This could go on until christmas.

His teacher was unable to offer an explanation as to why they could not sit at tables and chairs in the classroom. I suspect just so it saves them wiping them afterwards.

AIBU in thinking this is a bit off? He is in year 1, I'm not usually a germ freak, but this doesn't seem right to me. When I asked his teacher if she would eat her lunch sat on the floor everyday she said Yes! Of course I would and looked at me like I was mad!

Please tell me if I am being unreasonable, as I have PMT, and I am really not sure.

Thanks

[NiceTabard]

Well I guess that's the way it will go. Either the cleaners will be able to raise it or they won't. I don't really understand how this school's idea is going to work out well for anyone.

[kilmuir]

Get the pta to buy some cheap plastic tablecloths

[FreckleyGirlAbroad]

In my school the year ones eat their fruit and milk on the carpet every day. Why would packed lunch be any different??? I would have no problem sitting down with them to eat my packed lunch. I don't put any food directly on the floor. I'm sure the kids will love it and many school lunch eaters will probably want to swap to join in the big picnic!!

[CaterpillarCara]

I sat on either the floor or the ground outside for every lunch of my entire school career (abroad).

It honestly wouldn't bother me one bit.

And I have managed to learn table manners, thanks!

[MidniteScribbler]

Given the choice, most children CHOOSE to sit on the floor. It's part of being a kid.

And to the person who said tht school is where they are supposed to be taught table manners, what a load of crap. Teach that at home! A child isn't going to grow up unable to go to naice places becausethey sat on the floor to eat their lunch. You have to take some responsibility for the raising ofyour own children.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Midnite What a crock. Kids would choose to sit on a pile of old shite if we didn't tell them it wasn't sensible. Floors in public buildings are filthy...not the place for small children to eat because they drop their food, pick it up and then eat it.

[SnapCackleFlop]

How would you feel if you bought lunch at Starbucks or Costa and were told to sit on the floor to eat it. Or were told to sit on the floor to eat in work and no you weren't allowed to eat at your desk?

[NiceTabard]

There are people who really see no issue with large groups of small children sitting to eat lunch (including drinks, spillable sticky stuff etc) on a carpeted floor every day, with no-one cleaning until that evening, and with people walking all over it in the meantime? For 4 months?

Really?

I mean, really really?

[CaterpillarCara]

If there were only tables covered in paperwork (so it made no sense to eat there), and a large carpeted area free, then I would find it fine to eat on the floor at Costa or Starbucks.

Sitting on the floor has a lot of postural benefits and many. many cultures do it.

[MidniteScribbler]

I will often join the kids sitting on the floor to eat my lunch. It doesn't bother me at all.

[CaterpillarCara]

I did it for thirteen years of primary schooling! As did everyone at my school!! And many other schools and cultures.

So yes, really really, I do think that it is fine.

If you are worried about the dirt on the floor, then get the kids to change into indoor shoes (plimsolls?) for the duration of the building work or put a picnic rug down. It is hardly an insurmountable problem!

[NiceTabard]

You all ate on a carpeted floor? What was done to clean up afterwards?

I can't see how this isn't going to end up the most godawful mess!

[NiceTabard]

It's going to be grim, surely?

[CaterpillarCara]

Well, it was along time ago but I don't remember it being an issue. We took more manageable food than these days I think - ham sandwiches, apples, dried fruit, biscuits, sushi. We only drank water from the drinking fountain. I work in a lunch hall now and the amount of messy food that children can neither manage nor open surprises me. I guess people send it because they know adults will clean it up!

But given this school is in a short term fix, then having a few months on the floor and parents making the effort to send food that won't make a godawful mess doesn't seem a huge disaster.

[CaterpillarCara]

Yes, there are tables which are covered in books and paper and have trays below them with books and paper. Much more irreversible to get them mucky than a rug, surely?

[NiceTabard]

I think that you are right that school packed lunches have changed - children do tend to have a drink of water in a cup and fruit and yoghurt are quite common.

The lunch you describe would probably fall into the "unacceptable" camp, these days!

Incidentally the tables in reception / year one at DD school are kept clear when they are not being worked on - stuff gets put away. And they don't keep anything in trays underneath? It is possible that set-ups vary around the country I suppose.

And it's not a rug it's a carpet. And I also don't know how OP is supposed to change the entire culture of the school re. shoes and supply picnic blankets to be put down (by who) which will need regular washing (by who).

[HildaOgden]

Firstly,don't worry too much about kids and dirt....they eat their own snot,no need to be too precious about them.

Secondly,I think it could be fun,they'll remember the term they had to 'slum' it.....it's the nearest they will get to surviving the trenches.Children eating their ample food on a carpeted floor truly is a first world problem.

Thirdly...the floors are cleaned later in the day by the cleaners,I'd imagine the teachers prefer spending their time actually teaching the children,instead of cleaning up their crumbs.

[CaterpillarCara]

True - it could just be a fixed carpet, not a rug. I was thinking of my childhood classrooms which were carpeted but also had rugs which could be removed (perhaps because we ate in there!). The classes I have worked in here have had the same though.

The last school I worked in had table cloths and picnic rugs for fruit time. Have to admit I don't know who washed them, I assumed the cleaning staff.

Agree the OP possibly can't change the culture and work practices. But her Head should be able to and probably should if he/she has a difficult period coming up during the building works. One would hope the school community would understand the need for change for a short time, and I was trying to provide some things she could suggest rather than just saying "it's not on" - because clearly the school are in a bit of a fix.

[NiceTabard]

You see that all makes sense caterpillar!

I hope that OP's school gets it all straight.