School lunchtime reduced in order to watch videos -- WWYD?

[redheadbaker]

So, school just started this week (Tuesday). 

We had heard before the school year started that the way lunch is handled was changing. Previously, it was 30 minutes to eat lunch, and 30 minutes of recess. 

This year, it's 20 minutes in the gym, 20 minutes to eat lunch, and 20 minutes of recess. I had assumed the 20 minutes in the gym was more "recess" type of free play. It is not. They are watching YouTube videos on being a role model, etc. 

This is our principal's second year. I was not a fan of his last year. He is ALL about control. For example, our school's Color Day. It's a HUGE. THING. All day, outdoors, class games from K through 12th. He sent an email saying if any student was out of their seat in the bleachers outside of going down for their class game, they'd get detention. He has none of the warmth and .... just. ... humanity toward the students that our previous principals had (yes, plural. We've been at this school since 2019/2020 school year and this is our third principal). 

Should I wait and see if this continues? Or send an email now about the reduced time for recess? 

[charlatti]

I’d probably send an email asking about it — not necessarily complaining but asking what the rationale is and why the videos would be more important than physical movement at an elementary level (or really any level). Is this for the whole year? It sounds like wasted time, really.

[imimahoney]

I would probably ask my kids teacher why they are in the gym watching videos.

Not knowing anything about your school but it sounds like there might be a coverage issue and it's easier to contain the kids in the gym than outside. If that's the case, it might be hard to solve.

Hopefully it doesn't last very long!

[nicolewi]

At first glance, I don’t love it!!! I would definitely want more info.

[erbear]

I’d ask but honestly, that doesn’t seem like a big deal. 20 minutes is enough time to eat (most kids at my school are done their lunches in 10-15 and ready for recess) and 20 minutes to run around is not ideal but is movement. The videos sound like an SEL curriculum, which is important. I’d ask before I accuse.

[redheadbaker]

Sept 7, 2023 18:16:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

I’d ask but honestly, that doesn’t seem like a big deal. 20 minutes is enough time to eat (most kids at my school are done their lunches in 10-15 and ready for recess) and 20 minutes to run around is not ideal but is movement. The videos sound like an SEL curriculum, which is important. I’d ask before I accuse.

It takes them about 15 minutes just to get through the lunch line. 

[steamboat185]

Sept 7, 2023 18:17:43 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Sept 7, 2023 18:16:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

I’d ask but honestly, that doesn’t seem like a big deal. 20 minutes is enough time to eat (most kids at my school are done their lunches in 10-15 and ready for recess) and 20 minutes to run around is not ideal but is movement. The videos sound like an SEL curriculum, which is important. I’d ask before I accuse.

It takes them about 15 minutes just to get through the lunch line. 

Then they need to speed that up. Our school the kids get 15 minutes for lunch. The first 2-3 days is a shit show, but now they are all through in under 3-5 minutes- and we do free lunch for everyone so somedays it’s REALLY popular.

[erbear]

Sept 7, 2023 18:17:43 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Sept 7, 2023 18:16:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

I’d ask but honestly, that doesn’t seem like a big deal. 20 minutes is enough time to eat (most kids at my school are done their lunches in 10-15 and ready for recess) and 20 minutes to run around is not ideal but is movement. The videos sound like an SEL curriculum, which is important. I’d ask before I accuse.

It takes them about 15 minutes just to get through the lunch line. 

Yeah, that’s not enough time then. That’s what I’d lead with.

[VillainV]

I would want to know the contents of those YouTube videos….

[fancynewbeesly]

I would be curious about the videos but at the same time I WISH we had that long a long time. Ours is 35 minutes for lunch AND recess. So usually kids skip eating to go out for recess. I think it breaks up with 20 minutes to eat and 15 minutes for recess. And that may be the only movement time (except for gym once a week) that they get.

[redheadbaker]

Sept 7, 2023 19:22:03 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I would want to know the contents of those YouTube videos….

This was one of them: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwlhUcSGqgs

Cute (if very gendered -- no female role models mentioned and the comment "those girls are a little too loud"), but I'm not happy that they took away recess time to show it. 

[icedcoffee]

First I'd want to know where the idea/requirement for the videos is. Like I know sometimes the kids watch county mandated videos at school, it's just done as part of morning routine stuff so no biggie. So--are they trying to fit in a county requirement or did the principal decide they needed to add this. Then I'd be annoyed.

[redheadbaker]

One parent posted this from her conversation with the principal: "Also, one of the reasons given for this change was that the cafeteria was loud."

ETA: to elaborate, the school (K thru 6th) used to stagger lunches over a 90-minute period. K-2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th. The principal condensed this into 60 minutes because "he doesn't want to spend 90 minutes in the cafeteria every day." He claims they have been unable to hire lunch monitors, yet there are no such positions listed on the school's open jobs page. 

[abs]

Some people are principals that shouldn't be and this sounds like that. They are trying to get the whole school through lunch in an hour? Impossible.

I would have been deeply unhappy having lunch or recess cut short in elementary and would push back. 30 minutes isn't enough for very little kids as it is. 30 minutes for lunch in junior high really isn't enough either but I can't see a way they would ever get more.

[1yeartogo]

This sounds ill advised. There is a ton of research about the benefits of exercise/moving the body and unstructured play. Not to mention people getting sunshine/vitamin D. The less time I front of screens the better. With that said my own kids at they get almost no time at all to eat. I think it’s something ridiculous like 20 minutes for lunch/recess together.

[redheadbaker]

Got an email this morning, they are going back to 30 minutes for lunch, 30 minutes for recess.

[expectantsteelerfan]

That was quick! There must have been a LOT of parent outrage. I love hearing about parents standing up and bringing about positive change like that.

[wise_rita]

Ohh, I wonder if some other parents complained? But good to hear!

If the principal is a control freak I fear for what he'll lash out at to make up for this "loss" of his.

[redheadbaker]

Sept 11, 2023 10:30:48 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Ohh, I wonder if some other parents complained? But good to hear!

If the principal is a control freak I fear for what he'll lash out at to make up for this "loss" of his.

A LOT of people complained. At least a few dozen unhappy parents were discussing it in the parent Facebook group, and I know of another handful of people not active in the group that were unhappy, too.