Lunchtime Detentions?

[louisea]

DS was given a full lunchtime detention last week. He said that he wasn't going to argue against it even though it was another child in the class talking and not him.

I didn't have a problem with the detention but I wasn't happy about lunchtime arrangements. Apparently a lunch time detention means that the kids don't get a chance to eat lunch. They are supposed to go and get a sandwich during morning break to eat during the detention. If there classes over run or the lunch hall is busy they end up not eating any lunch that day. Is this normal practice in secondary schools or is it worthwhile trying to tackle the school about this?

Sounds fair enough to me.

If he has a detention why not give hom a packed lunch that day, then you will know he has eaten.

The school has a Kosher kitchen so the kids are only allowed to take fruit and water in to the school. All other food has to be purchased from the cafeteria. I can't guarantee that they will eat because of the chaos in the dining hall.

Perhaps you ought to dig deeper. Although there may be exceptions, it's not normal for a teacher to give a child a detention for just one offence of talking (even if he wasn't on this occasion). After all, the teacher normally has to stay in to supervise the detention. This was quite likely the latest in a series of offences, which individually may be minor irritations, but accumulate to the point where they are affecting the class's progress. Why not have a word with the teacher, to clear the air if nothing else?

I'd let it go. Chances are there will be no problem getting sandwiches on detention day anyhow. But I can feel my 'tough, get on with it" side coming out, because he won't come to any harm from one hungry afternoon.

Blimey, I think I'd be more miffed at the 'not allowed to bring your own food' thing than the detention, tbh! That's shocking.