Rhode Island school bans talking at lunch - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 01-26-2007, 10:27 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070125/...s/silent_lunch

R.I. school bans talking at lunch

By JUSTIN M. NORTON, Associated Press Writer

Thu Jan 25, 6:22 PM ET

WARWICK, R.I. - Class, from now on there will be no talking at lunch.

A Roman Catholic elementary school adopted new lunchroom rules this week requiring students to remain silent while eating. The move comes after three recent choking incidents in the cafeteria.

No one was hurt, but the principal of St. Rose of Lima School explained in a letter to parents that if the lunchroom is loud, staff members cannot hear a child choking.

Christine Lamoureux, whose 12-year-old is a sixth-grader at the school, said she respects the safety issue but thinks the rule is a bad idea.

"They are silent all day," she said. "They have to get some type of release." She suggested quiet conversation be allowed during lunch.

Another mother, Thina Paone, does not mind the silent lunches, noting that the cafeteria "can be very crazy" at the suburban school south of Providence.

Principal Jeannine Fuller did not immediately return a call seeking comment, but a spokesman for the Diocese of Providence described the silence rule as a temporary safety measure.

Spokesman Michael Guilfoyle said the school does not expect complete silence but enough quiet to keep students safe.

Lori Healey, a teacher at the school who also has a son in third grade, said "silent lunch" means students can whisper.

"They know it's not for punishment," she said. "It's for safety, and they'll be the first ones to tell you."

Stacey Wildenhain, a teacher's assistant at St. Rose, said her 7-year-old son does not mind the policy. He told her: "The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get out to play," she said.

Amanda Karhuse, of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, said that students should not run wild during lunch, but that they also should not have to remain silent.

"It seems kind of ridiculous in our opinion," she said. "Kids need that social time, and they just need time to be kids at that age."

The principal's letter also spelled out other new lunch rules, including requiring students to stay in their seats and limiting them to one trip to the trash can. Any child who breaks the rules will serve detention the next day.

Paone's 6-year-old son, Joey, said he accepts the changes, but some of his classmates were having trouble obeying the rules.

Kara Casali, who also has a 6-year-old son at the school, said the rules against talking will be tough to enforce.

"I can't imagine having a silent lunch," she said.

___

On the Net:

St. Rose School: http://www.saintroseschool.com/

Yahoo! News/AP-January 25, 2007

Georgia's on my Mind · 01-26-2007, 11:44 AM

umm...I went to this school. wow.

Mr. Cranky · 01-26-2007, 12:12 PM

It's ridiculous. They should have special table for the kids who can't talk and chew at the same time and let the other kids be kids.

gilligan fanatic · 01-26-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Cranky

It's ridiculous. They should have special table for the kids who can't talk and chew at the same time and let the other kids be kids.

That sounds funny, but it would do the job.

It's like I can't eat and walk at the same time. They shouldn't ban food at my school because I tripped once.

Chelsea · 01-26-2007, 01:00 PM

This is quite possibly the most ******** thing I've ever heard of.

THIS is what's wrong with parents and schools today.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 01-26-2007, 01:58 PM

We used to have silent lunches at our school too when we didnt use inside voices. Not for a week though.

Lee · 01-26-2007, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by Seth:
This is quite possibly the most ******** thing I've ever heard of.

THIS is what's wrong with parents and schools today.

Blame the school but don't blame all the parents in this case. Some of them
disagree with the new rule.

EmoJoe · 01-26-2007, 03:49 PM

lunch is ABOUT talking.

PrettyinPink55 · 01-26-2007, 07:56 PM

Oh man, that's just ridiculous!!!

Ireneparalegal · 01-26-2007, 08:04 PM

If they didn't talk WITH FOOD IN THEIR MOUTHS, THEY WOULDN'T CHOKE TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!

Michael [hXc] · 01-26-2007, 08:05 PM

Whoever made that rule apparently doesn't know that lunch is not only about eating. It's a time to socialize with friends freely, which cannot be done during class or in between classes.

Mr. Television · 01-26-2007, 08:06 PM

When I was in elementary school I was in some classes that couldn't talk during lunch. People took names and if you talked you were paddled. That's the way it was back then in NC anyhow.

Courtnee · 01-26-2007, 08:29 PM

This is the kind of thing that makes children bring guns to school

dawsongirl · 01-27-2007, 01:20 AM

ha...that wouldn't work for a second at my school. If the kids get so loud that the lunch ladies can't hear them, we'll occasionally try to do just whispering, or a couple minutes of no talking. Hardly ever works. But then, you know, after being yelled at all morning to shut up, lunch/recess is the only time to talk. And even adults would talk in that situation.

friendsfan77 · 01-27-2007, 08:45 AM

I also think that this is utterly ridiculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe®

lunch is ABOUT talking.

I agree.

01-26-2007, 10:27 AM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	Rhode Island school bans talking at lunch http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070125/...s/silent_lunch R.I. school bans talking at lunch By JUSTIN M. NORTON, Associated Press Writer Thu Jan 25, 6:22 PM ET WARWICK, R.I. - Class, from now on there will be no talking at lunch. A Roman Catholic elementary school adopted new lunchroom rules this week requiring students to remain silent while eating. The move comes after three recent choking incidents in the cafeteria. No one was hurt, but the principal of St. Rose of Lima School explained in a letter to parents that if the lunchroom is loud, staff members cannot hear a child choking. Christine Lamoureux, whose 12-year-old is a sixth-grader at the school, said she respects the safety issue but thinks the rule is a bad idea. "They are silent all day," she said. "They have to get some type of release." She suggested quiet conversation be allowed during lunch. Another mother, Thina Paone, does not mind the silent lunches, noting that the cafeteria "can be very crazy" at the suburban school south of Providence. Principal Jeannine Fuller did not immediately return a call seeking comment, but a spokesman for the Diocese of Providence described the silence rule as a temporary safety measure. Spokesman Michael Guilfoyle said the school does not expect complete silence but enough quiet to keep students safe. Lori Healey, a teacher at the school who also has a son in third grade, said "silent lunch" means students can whisper. "They know it's not for punishment," she said. "It's for safety, and they'll be the first ones to tell you." Stacey Wildenhain, a teacher's assistant at St. Rose, said her 7-year-old son does not mind the policy. He told her: "The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get out to play," she said. Amanda Karhuse, of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, said that students should not run wild during lunch, but that they also should not have to remain silent. "It seems kind of ridiculous in our opinion," she said. "Kids need that social time, and they just need time to be kids at that age." The principal's letter also spelled out other new lunch rules, including requiring students to stay in their seats and limiting them to one trip to the trash can. Any child who breaks the rules will serve detention the next day. Paone's 6-year-old son, Joey, said he accepts the changes, but some of his classmates were having trouble obeying the rules. Kara Casali, who also has a 6-year-old son at the school, said the rules against talking will be tough to enforce. "I can't imagine having a silent lunch," she said. ___ On the Net: St. Rose School: http://www.saintroseschool.com/ Yahoo! News/AP-January 25, 2007
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01-26-2007, 12:12 PM	#3
Mr. Cranky Loveable fuzzball Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 07, 2005 Location: Cranksville Posts: 651	It's ridiculous. They should have special table for the kids who can't talk and chew at the same time and let the other kids be kids.
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01-26-2007, 01:00 PM	#5
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	This is quite possibly the most ******** thing I've ever heard of. THIS is what's wrong with parents and schools today.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

01-26-2007, 01:58 PM	#6
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	We used to have silent lunches at our school too when we didnt use inside voices. Not for a week though.
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01-26-2007, 03:49 PM	#8
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	lunch is ABOUT talking.
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01-26-2007, 11:44 AM	#2
Georgia's on my Mind Senior Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Aug 19, 2001 Posts: 25,054	umm...I went to this school. wow.

01-26-2007, 03:27 PM	#7
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Originally posted by Seth: This is quite possibly the most ******** thing I've ever heard of. THIS is what's wrong with parents and schools today. Blame the school but don't blame all the parents in this case. Some of them disagree with the new rule.

01-26-2007, 07:56 PM	#9
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Oh man, that's just ridiculous!!!
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01-26-2007, 08:04 PM	#10
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	If they didn't talk WITH FOOD IN THEIR MOUTHS, THEY WOULDN'T CHOKE TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!
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01-26-2007, 08:05 PM	#11
Michael [hXc] dying. Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 29, 2004 Posts: 8,532	Whoever made that rule apparently doesn't know that lunch is not only about eating. It's a time to socialize with friends freely, which cannot be done during class or in between classes.
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01-26-2007, 08:06 PM	#12
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	When I was in elementary school I was in some classes that couldn't talk during lunch. People took names and if you talked you were paddled. That's the way it was back then in NC anyhow.
	__________________ Sonny

01-26-2007, 08:29 PM	#13
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	This is the kind of thing that makes children bring guns to school
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01-27-2007, 01:20 AM	#14
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	ha...that wouldn't work for a second at my school. If the kids get so loud that the lunch ladies can't hear them, we'll occasionally try to do just whispering, or a couple minutes of no talking. Hardly ever works. But then, you know, after being yelled at all morning to shut up, lunch/recess is the only time to talk. And even adults would talk in that situation.