School Children & Lunch Breaks in Stornoway
Posted: Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
Comments
apparently the school canteen is not big enough to accomodate all the children which is why so many eat in town (and don't appear to know what bins are for!). With the proposed closure of other island secondary unit surely this is an issue that needs to be addresses before the school role increases considerably.
JS from Lewis
Again we have people wanting to tell us what we should do with out kids lunch-time. Kids go to school to get taught, to learn things, by all means, teach them about good foods and bad foods, although they seem to flip-flop a lot ( the food stuff) but don't lock them in. It's a school, not a prison. It is all about choice, if you want your child to go to school dinners, then that is your choice, but if I want my child to go into town to get whatever it is she wants for lunch, then that is my choice, or hers. I wish people would STOP telling us parents what to do, you may think you know better than me, but I know differently. Cheery.......
Tws from A Different Angle
TWS, the notion of someone even attempting to tell you what to do is surely crazy, so I'm not, but I am a parent, too, so which lot of 'us parents' are you representing? But how far does this exercise of choice go? For an extreme example - what about your child and alcohol, fags or drugs, should that be up to your child, you, or the big bad state? Drugs and crap food have more than one thing in common - they both kill, and they both cost the NHS a huge amount of totally avoidable expense. So, tell me where 'choice' begins and ends. Personally, I don't think soem choices should be available.
Peatstack from At lunch
what happens when the kids go out of school in the lunch break and has an accident or does something against the law,who is responsible?? parents or the school? over here its the school that is responsible
carol from no kids of school age
I sometimes wonder how my parents managed to bring us up, without all the advice we now get on how to treat our kids, what they should and shouldn't eat. How did my parents manage it? The thing is to teach kids about "MODERATION", everything in moderation. I don't want my kids eating too much processed food, I'd rather they didn't eat any of the garbage, but we taught our kids about moderation, and although Boy is diabetic it has nothing to do with his eating habits, and Little Herself has a sweet tooth, but she is always out'n'about swimming, running, gymnastics, basketball, netball, and her favourite subject at school is PE, so no worries there then, on the bad food intake front. If they teach kids about moderation, and show them how their burger is made, then maybe the kids will decide for themselves. As for drink, smoking, and drugs, they're illegal for kids under a certain age, so if they do them and get caught they face the consequences. I'm not having a go at YOU Peatstack, it's just that every other day, there is some govt. dept. telling you what you should or should not be doing, and it's gotten to the overload with me. Cheery......
Tws from The Donald duck
Have to admit to being with tws on this. When I was at school (Kirkwall Grammar) I spent half my lunchtimes 'doon the street'. It's just part of the whole choice thing. Sometimes my lunch wasn't the healthiest of meals, but I've learned the best way - by experience. Now the hardest thing I have to face is letting my own kids learn that way too! It's so much easier as a parent to have control, but that really does not help teach Life Skills.
Ruthodanort from recoveringfromtheshockofagreeingwithtws
Naw, I'm not having a go at you either TWS. I think your points about moderation and exercise are right, too. I was in the butcher the otherday (not a Tommy Cooper joke this) and they had a fine display of offal and other organs for sale. Explaining to the boy what tripe is, and about how to heart, brain etc brought back memories of the diet I had at the hands of my Irish grandmother - very rarely it seems was there anything recognisable by today's standards as being meat - that is, flat, rare slices! I have managed to pass on the boy a love of game type stuff - venison, pheasant and rabbit, all of which are cheap as well and very lean.
Peatstack from In the Spa
When I were a lad, mjc will tell you how long ago, we were not allowed out of school at lunchtime unless home was near enough for lunch to be taken at home. I don't recall any outrage. School dinner was not compulsory, a signiicant proportion of kids brought a packed lunch. I do get a little peeved at the continued use of spurious human rights arguments. Too often they are a cover for ultra right wing philosophy, we need to remember that absolute freedom means absolute anarchy.
Hyper-Borean from The schoool yard
i think these kids should be kept in school especially if they cannae mind their manners. They go around in their groups, using foul language, not getting out of your way reagrdless of how many times you ask politely. Yes that might be a sweeping generalisation but most of these kids seem to need a good kick up the derrier. They may be real nice kids at home but add them with their friends and you just don't know what they turn into, until you have seen it with your own eyes
annoyed town user from 'groupies'
There is no outrage H-B, but we have moved on since you were a lad. When I was at school ( I did go sometime) we would maybe one day the chippy, next day the school dinners, and there were shops that sold filled rolls, so really we kept local shops in business. In Stornoway, Somerfields stopped letting the kids in, but noticed that their sales slumped greatly, so they changed their policy. The Arts centre, I believe, doesn't allow kids in unless they are attending an event or with adults. If they make a loss, due to the inadequacies of the management, it's ok, because we ( the local tax payers ) will step in to help out. Blanket bans never work, they are almost impossible to enforce and you alienate the kids even more. Let them learn for themselves, guide them, tell them what is good and bad foodstuffs, teach them but don't force them to do anything, as they will go the other way. Just my humble opinion, oh and H-B where did you park your Penny-Farthing when you were at school.......
Tws from Another Viewpoint
Ooooh cheeky, Tws. Schools used to be able to get away with that kind of thing in HB's day (and mine). I went to an all-girls grammar school in the centre of Manchester which was run along the lines of the punishment block in an army camp. Only prefects were allowed to go out at lunchtime, and our uniform was so distinctive that we were easily spotted. No one seriously protested, either, we wouldn't have dared ...
Jill from EK
Change is not synonymous with progress tws, I suspect the difference in truancy figures over the last half century will bear me out.
Hyper-Borean from Back in the old cynics tun
Hyper-B.: I took a packed lunch. Either that or go hungry. Home was seven miles away, and eating out at the local pastry shop etc. was out of the question. The Christian Brothers College was private, but I was one of the few (the only one?) not always able to afford socks to go with my tennis shoes: somehow I did not resent others having fancy pastries and lunches. I beat the sh*t out of the rich kids in academics. Thank you, Lord, for ambitious parents and Irish Christian Brothers.
mjc from NM,USA
I both agree with the keeping pupils in school during lunch time and in uniform.Children under the age of 16 remain the parents responsibility. Its in their best interest that they eat healthly in a controlled environment. Unfortunately the Nicolson Institute cannot provide catering facilities for all. I as a parent would expect the school to take care of my child from the time he/she steps on to the school grounds in the morning until until he/she finishes school at the end of the day. That includes lunch time.
Fir Chlis from Isle of Lewis
I can identify with what you say mjc. I had school dinners,because they were actually good value if perhaps a bit unimaginative. My parents scraped to keep me in school uniform which meant blazers started too large and ended up too small. Sadly in UK the Brothers had delusions of grandeur. The school was run on English public school lines and the majority of the pupils were fee paying. I always felt that some of us scholarship kids were less well regarded.
Hyper-Borean from Behind the bike shed
I went to high school (10th year to 12th year) at a school that had a closed campus, i.e. you had to eat in the cafeteria. This was alright with me, because I had several ice cream sandwiches for lunch every day. Just because you eat on campus doesn't mean that you eay any healthier.
CVBruce from CA,USA
Hopefully you are big on salads now, CVBruce. Tsk, tsk, such an ice cream diet for a growing boy!! Did you tell your parents?!
mjc from NM,USA
Just because you eat on campus doesn't mean you eat any healthier. It would if the only choice were healthy, as indeed it was when I was at school.
Hyper-Borean from The school canteen
Freedom of choice, eh Hyper-B.? An offer hungry kids can't refuse ...
mjc from NM,USA
I'm still trying to work out how an icecream sandwich works...you must dribble a lot...or eat superfast.
Flying Cat from a big fat choc 'n' marshmallow slider
I took a Thermos flask to school with me everyday. it kept hot things hot and cold things cold unfortunately not both together my tea and choc ice were ruined. If you keep kids in school at lunch break I hope us teachers will not have to look after the brats. It is a place of learning and not a prison. I had school dinners when I was a brat, and that was a long time ago now, oh retirement is looking better every day.
Mona Lott from Near The Lewis
Indeed it was mjc, in the 50s at least. Choice was eat or go hungry but there would have been no sympathy from the adult population who had only just got over wartime rationing. In the 60s by which time I was at the secondary school choice was introduced but chips (french fries) were only on the menu a couple of times a week. Ice cream sandwiches would have been a step too far for the menu planners though.
Hyper-Borean from The back of the queue
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