Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Education Law Blogs -> BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog

Education Law

: BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog

Make time for lunch

Students at New York's Briarcliff High School will be adding a much needed "class" to their daily schedules next fall...lunch! The New York Times reported this weekend that next fall everyone at Briarcliff High School will be required to take a 20-minute timeout midday. "Mandatory lunch is intended to reduce stress on teenagers so caught up in the achievement frenzy they barely have time to eat or sleep," said Principal Jim Kaishian in the story. BoardBuzz supports the school's new plan for students, who currently can be found skipping meals for extra study time or eating snacks during class. This past year of the 665 students at Briarcliff, 12 percent of the students had no break time during the school day, and another 30 percent had classes during the entire time the school cafeteria remained open. The article notes that the while many of the parents are all for it, some students aren?t looking forward to the new addition to their fall schedules. Students have complained about longer lines in the lunchroom and less time for after-school clubs and homework. The Times tell us that making time for lunch is just one way that administrations are working to reduce the stress of students. Other ideas include starting school later and limiting the number of AP classes that a student can take. In an interview earlier this week, Madeline Levine, a psychologist and author of ?The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids?, commented saying, ?Kids who are not eating, or eating under stressful circumstances are not cultivating healthy eating habits. We want to send the message that a big part of growing up is how to manage yourself and not just getting good grades."

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on May 27, 2008 (boomark / email).