Sitting on the floor to eat lunch

[becky080770]

I don't know if I'm being too fussy but our secondary school has recently undergone significant growth in pupil numbers. I'm not worried about academic standards as I feel they have recruited a significant number of teachers to cope with the growth, but other aspects, such as space and facilities have not been attended to. One of the issues I have is that there is not enough table/dining hall space for the pupils to be able to sit at a table and eat lunch at the table. Whether the kids have a packed lunch or buy food from the canteen (which is too small but another subject for another day) many, if not most, children are forced to sit on the floor to eat their lunch. AIBU to think this is demeaning, does nothing to encourage good table manners and generally not appropriate. Our school is fee paying but I would have an issue even if it wasn't - I think this is inappropriate in any situation and, in this one, is just another reflection that the school has not shown enough forethought, beyond academic considerations, about its growth.

That's ridiculous. Our school does sessions for lunchtime

I would've thought they could do staggered lunchtimes.
Or have those on packed lunch eat in their form rooms (if they would prefer).
I would also expect the school to tell you what they are doing to deal with the situation, and when they expect their plan to be implemented.

Our secondary is the same, although it's not an issue due to sudden growth, it's always been this way. It's a joke.

If you buy your lunch in school you can eat in the canteen.

If you go out into town to buy your lunch you have to eat the whole lunch and dispose of all wrappings outside the school gates - even in the pouring rain or snow. (This is despite the fact that they actively encourage kids to go out for lunch because the school doesn't have enough provision for every pupil to buy lunch in the school building.)

If you bring a packed lunch you eat in a corridor - you are supposed to stand to eat - no sitting on the floor as it's a safety hazard and people could trip up over you. Some kids have taken to eating in the toilet blocks apparently just so they can sit down.

The school's solution? - To blame the kids for being unhygienic and tell them to have more pride in themselves. No actual solutions like creating common rooms for them to eat in, or opening up with main hall or anything like that of course.

That's terrible. No way I would be paying fees for a school that does this.