The other day a little girl tried to take some of my sons lunch in the cafeteria. He tried to get it back and he did and she took it again. So he tried again and he said a bad word to her. He got it back and then she took it again. So he again started grabbing it from her and he said another bad word. When I picked up my son a little boy in his class told me that he said a bad word. My son got upset that the boy told me. There was a sub and she noticed he was upset so she asked why he was upset who I was and why he would be upset to go with me. So I told her that he was upset b/c he knew he was in trouble for saying bad words. She said that yes he said two bad words. So when I was talking with him to see why he said them he told me the story.And that he is not allowed to get up in the caft so he couldn't tell the lady in there what was happening. So I told him if that happens again to raise his hand and if she doesn't respond to get up and tell the lady and if he gets in trouble I will deal with them. I also told him that saying bad words was wrong and not to say them.
The next day I talked with the caft lady and told her what happened. She said she wasn't in the caft the day before there was someone else but she would keep an eye out. I also talked with his teacher since he had a sub the day before and I wanted to let her know what happened. She said that she could not really do anything since their lunch time is her off time and she could not do anything. And that some parents don't feed their kids right. But she said she would remind the kids not to share lunches.
When my son came home he said the girl tried it again but he just let her have the snack b/c e was full.
So on Mon I am going to talk with the principal. But I was wondering if what the teacher said was true and that what happens during lunch she can't do anything or if that was just an excuse for her to do nothing.
Well shes a bit worthless now isnt she! And yes thats just an excuse to do nothing cause apparently she didn't care! Teachers are responsible for their kids the whole time school is in cession. Now they do get a lunch break but if something happens they are to deal with it and if older kids get time out during lunch they are to eat in the room with the teacher watching over them. So yeah...she is worthless. Talk to the principal and bring up with the teacher said as well. Good luck!
I think this is a bit harsh. I think that if school policy is that the teacher has to handle discipline issues while she's on break, the school policy needs to change. If she is not there to witness the behavior, how is she to know what really happened?
No, she's not worthless. She just has her hands tied. I think you are correct in going to the principal. He/she should be able to discuss the issue with the lunch staff, who it seems like are willing to keep an eye on the issue.
Quoting jj_horn2004:
Well shes a bit worthless now isnt she! And yes thats just an excuse to do nothing cause apparently she didn't care! Teachers are responsible for their kids the whole time school is in cession. Now they do get a lunch break but if something happens they are to deal with it and if older kids get time out during lunch they are to eat in the room with the teacher watching over them. So yeah...she is worthless. Talk to the principal and bring up with the teacher said as well. Good luck!
I don't have much to say besides yes speaking to the principal is good and maybe since they cannot get up from their seats during lunch, having him sit somewhere that isn't near her.
Our teachers do not eat lunch with the students either, so I can understand that she isn't involved in the lunch time issues. She could however, reiterate to the students before going to lunch the rule about not sharing food and to eat only your own food, etc. You need to speak to the principal and to the cafeteria staff who are in charge of the kids at lunch. They need to be aware that there is an issue that needs to be addressed with this little girl. If she simply needs to be watched more closely and "reminded" of the rules more often, that shouldn't be too hard. And definitely start with letting the staff know that your son should be able to sit next to other students. If this girl is taking food because she is not being fed adequately (not enough food in her lunchbox), the school needs to look into that to make sure that there are no neglect issues (as opposed to she just prefers your son's lunch).
OK let me clarify for you the TEACHER is not worthless. She is doing her job. She is not in attendance over lunch. In my son's school there are usually two school assistants (monitors) in the lunch room as well as another 2 to 4 PTSA mom volunteers who help make sure the K-2nd grade kids are not sharing food. Its not allowed at our school too many children with allergies. We assist them when they have spills, when they have problems opening their milk or other food, etc... Kids are not allowed to get up until the whistle blows to go outside. Then it is up to the kids to get up, bus their trays and go outside or to continue eating. Now while that is the policy it is perfectly acceptable and expected for students to get up to ask for assistance, with their food or another student. I know that as a volunteer I am not allowed to have anything to do with disciplining students. That is all up to the lunch room monitors. Rarely unless a student must be escorted to the principle does anyone involve the teacher's in any issues that take place in the lunchroom and that is usually just to tell the teacher that the student is in the principle's office.
If that situation had happened in my son's school on the second time that had happened and it was brought to the monitors attention the child would have been escorted to the principle's office, missing recess and escorted back to the classroom. Our principle would probably called this parents if this is apparently an ongoing issue.
Unfortunately since she has done this to your son twice now and she has gotten away with it she will probably target your son more frequently. I wonder why with 5 children sitting around her she is targeting your son specifically. The principle or the lunchroom monitor are the more appropriate people to take your concerns too. There isn't much the teacher can do for you in this situation except to contact the other child's parents about the issue.
The teacher is lame for not wanting to get involved. Who cares if she is at lunch. OK, she did not see it, and the lunch ladies should handle it, but the teacher should address it too. It is not ok to bully kids and that is what the other child is doing to you child by taking his lunch. I would tell the principal that you want it to stop and that you are not going to let kids bully each other and she should not run her school that way. Then, I would speak to every lunch lady and tell them that this child is taking your kids lunch. If it does not stop, I would visit during lunch one day and tell the girl myself. If the girl does not bring a lunch to school that is something the lunch ladies need to observe and report to the head lunch lady or teacher. If the child is not eating, someone needs to call home. Maybe the child is throwing it away, maybe they don't have any money and need to apply for free or reduced lunch. If the kid does not have a lunch the people in the cafeteria should at least give your a p and j sandwich until the problem is resolved.
The lunchroom at my kids' school is a free-for-all except when the principal is there (which she can't always be). The lunch room monitors do nothing. They walk around with their arms folded and pass out straws and spoons. My son had his head beat into a table the first week of school and he was crying and went to a monitor and she did absolutely nothing. I asked the principal why the monitors do not do anything and she said "I don't know, that is a good question. I'd like to know the answer to that myself." Sheesh! She's the principal.
The teachers don't care either and I think it is sad when the kids go to lunch and they get picked on, or in the case of the original poster, their food is taken by another child and they get no help from the monitors and no help from the teachers when they arrive. I agree that the teacher is lame if she finds out there is a problem and that the kids have attempted to get help from an adult, and they choose to say "well, it's not my problem--didn't happen on my watch."
These are KIDS. Don't you think they deserve to have SOMEONE care?
Sister's kids' parties and events....too much...need advice
- LovinSweetsMama
on Nov. 21, 2009 at 9:48 AM