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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS having school lunch sat on the floor, AIBU?

345 replies

Honeybadgerdontgiveashit · 13/09/2013 17:30

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

OP posts:
NewNameforNewTerm · 14/09/2013 12:21

In our school staggered lunch would mean extending lunchtime by another 45+ mins. That would mean more £ in salaries, cancelling lunchtime clubs or excluding those children whose lunch sitting doesn't fit with the time of the club, any lunchtime teacher's meetings cancelled because all staff couldn't get there.
It is not just as simple as stagger lunchtime.

You might feel some posters are spoiling for a fight, are you sure you are not spoiling for a fight with the school? Are there other issues with school that are adding to your feeling that they "can't be arsed" and your response to this is clouded by other things?

Original poster
Honeybadgerdontgiveashit · 14/09/2013 12:30

No not in the slightest, I really love the school and he's really happy there. Wiping a table takes 5 minutes, doesn't have to be staggered, there are also spare class rooms that could be used. I feel how I feel, some people agree some don't. The ones that do agree have responded in a much more adult articulate manner, which makes me think I am right in bringing it up. Thanks

OP posts:
curlew · 14/09/2013 12:34

But WHY is it such a bad thing? And even
more, why is it OK ocasionally but not often.

Bowlersarm · 14/09/2013 12:37

Hmm OP I think you've just picked on the posts you think are 'articulate' because they agree with you.

You say 'I feel how I feel' and are clearly sticking to your guns with no chance of anyone changing your mind.

Did you start the thread anticipating everyone saying "quite right Op" and now you're defensive and rude when they haven't?

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 14/09/2013 12:40

Children sitting on the floor is demeaning???

Just when you think you've heard it all... Grin

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 14/09/2013 12:42

The ones that do agree have responded in a much more adult articulate manner, which makes me think I am right in bringing it up

Ha ha ha ha ha - really? What you mean is, those of us who don't agree with you are just inarticulate animals Grin

Rufus43 · 14/09/2013 13:26

Agree with madeof and new to a certain extent. The school would have to hire more lunchtime staff ( which I think is preferable) and in a lot of schools staggering lunch would be incredibly hard (if not impossible)

However, I do think that four months is much too long, once in a while fine.

And the whol demeaning thing? I think most adults would find it demeaning to work on the floor or hold meetings on the floor.....infant school children are frequently on the floor for lessons

CaterpillarCara · 14/09/2013 13:26

Wow, how rude and ungrateful OP. I didn't agree, but I did think I was articulate. I spent quite a lot of time over my messages because I was genuinely trying to help you engage with the school on this in a constructive way.

kali110 · 14/09/2013 13:35

If you don't want to be called unreasonable then dont post on aibu. You asked for opinions, not everyone is going to agree with you. Only person being rude is you.

JakeBullet · 14/09/2013 13:49

I wonder if the "packed lunch sat on the floor" system will be for weeks on end...or if more likely that as work is finished this will change.

In any event these children are eating their lunch out of clean packed lunch boxes and as long as they are not putting the food to floor before adding it to their mouths then I cannot see a massive problem.

Not ideal long term obviously but for a short period of time I can't see that this matters. The school are likely to have had a risk assessment done before making this decision taking into account the floor being unclean etc.

NewNameforNewTerm · 14/09/2013 14:02

As an aside a building project that was planned over a six week summer holiday does sometimes over run. Everyone here realises it is out of school's hands and is a real pain for all involved. But a six week project that is going to over run and be well over three times as long as originally planned needs some looking in to. What has gone so terribly wrong? Projects like this have architects and project managers. As a teacher I'd expect the LA / head to be kicking up a fuss and wonder if there are penalty clauses.

lljkk · 14/09/2013 14:31

I prefer sitting on floor to furniture most the time.

The school HAS cleaners in daily, right? What evidence is there that the floor must be filthy? Confused

Wouldn't it be great if we all had shorter summer holidays & then even more children would end up with lunch in odd places due to building works overruns.

VerySmallSqueak · 14/09/2013 14:36

YABU.

I would have no problems with my DC's sitting on the floor in the circumstances.
I would have no problem with me sitting on the floor in the circumstances.

I should think there are millions of people who sit on the floor to eat.
When they have food to eat,that is.

insancerre · 14/09/2013 14:47

are the teachers sitting on the floor to eat too?
I think YANBU if there are tables that can be used.
I really don't get the argument that teachers are too busy to wipe a few tables. They could be leading a group circle time whilst wiping the tables- it would literally ake only a few minutes.
Where are the lunchtime assistants? Isn't that part of their role?

Gravious · 14/09/2013 15:02

I think you know you're being unreasonable.

He's sitting on the floor. Who cares?

I doubt he does. Why would he? It's just what happens.

Did you know that he probably (gasp) sits on the floor during lessons as well?

I think you're going to need to grow a thicker skin, OP, otherwise you'll be the one that the teachers talk about in the staffroom.

insancerre · 14/09/2013 15:12

honeybadger
I agree that children should be afforded the same respect as adults.
I expect that the teachers would be up in arms if the staff room had no tables or chairs for the staff to sit and eat at.
I wonder what OFSTED would say? I wonder if there was an inspection if the arrangements would be changed?

zzzzz · 14/09/2013 15:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaterpillarCara · 14/09/2013 15:46

Our school had no staff room due to building works - so no tables and chairs. I heard people looking forward to when it is resolved, I did not hear anyone "up in arms". Building work is disruptive and unusual situations take over. (and before anyone asks, no I didn't see them sit on the floor to eat in the staff area. The allocated space they had was tiny and a corridor, so it would not be safe to sit down, they'd be in the way. I suspect some of them might have though, given room, in preference to eating standing up).

SirChenjin · 14/09/2013 15:50

I think you're going to need to grow a thicker skin, OP, otherwise you'll be the one that the teachers talk about in the staffroom

Hardly.

valiumredhead · 14/09/2013 15:57

For starters it's a bit easier for kids to sit on the floor than adults. Good grief Hmm

TiggyD · 14/09/2013 17:10

Ever have picnics outside? The very spot you have just eaten your picnic may have been the exact spot that the previous night a badger wanked.

lljkk · 14/09/2013 17:52

snurk, it's beach use that makes me laugh. It's hygienic enough usually because salt kills all germs, but it's still basically playing in the dirt all day. How many people would never do that anywhere else?

curlew · 14/09/2013 17:59

Op- does your child sit on the carpet for circle time?

valiumredhead · 14/09/2013 18:04

Credit teachers with some degree of sense, IF the carpet starts to get messy I imagine they will review the situation as they won't want a messy carpet.

itsametaphordaddy · 14/09/2013 18:07

How the fuck is it demeaning? Not ideal but hardly a major issue for a few months. Children sit on the floor for lots of things. I'm a teacher and I sit on the floor for lots of things too. I would be quite happy to have my lunch on the carpet with the children. I used to sit and have fruit and milk on the floor with my reception children when I taught the little ones. Not in the slightest bit demeaning.

You are utterly pfb to think it's demeaning.

I love how our thoughts about children have changed so drastically. They are demeaned if they are asked to sit on the floor? FFS. Absolutely pathetic. Bloody cotton wool country. Fucking pisses me off.

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