OT: Do I have a right to be worried? RE: school

[Magpie]

So - you would be ok with your child going out to gym class in Jan - outside??

Sorry, its just hard for me to understand this, i guess i was very lucky- growing up my (public) elementry school had a large gym and a separate large cafeteria/auditorium.

I understand about having different luches, etc.. but it seems that it should be run better so that the last kids in line don't have only 5 min to eat.. that's not fair to them. (Or healthy).

Absolutely. I live in Canada, and the kids go outside in all weather - except pouring rain, or if it's colder than minus twenty Celsius (uh, -4 Fahrenheit for Americans). I think it's healthier to get them outside. As long as they're moving and well-dressed they'll stay warm. And they enjoy the snow and ice! Outside gym is the best kind. My son's class plays a game called "Manhunt" in the field which is basically Hide and Seek.

When a child shows up inadequately kitted out for the weather our school will keep that individual child inside, usually sitting in the office until recess is over. When that happens the kids are pretty sad! I still remember my daughter's tears in first grade when she didn't have the right sneakers for gym (worse - she had to wait for the weekend until I could buy new ones).

Now the lunch - that's a different issue! I definitely think you should go and observe what's going on at lunch.

 

[Nicolepa]

I agree that this is crazy. For one,i can not believe that all children have the necessay outer wear to be protected from these elements and these children have got to be uncomfortable not only outside but the rest of the day, wet and cold in school. CRAZY.

We are in the south and extreme cold temps are NOT the norm and there have been times when school has been called off due to these extreme temps because every child does not have proper outerwear to protect from the weather.


I am laid back on most things but I would have real problems with this one.

Well this is Seattle, so all the children definitly have fleece lined rain jackets. That is just a must in this area. Honestly it's higher on the must buy list than a warm winter coat. If we kept them in when it rained they would never get to go out. Rain is just a fact of life here, and being wet just isn't a big deal for us.

My son takes his jacket off every day on the playground. He literally loses his jacket 1-3x a day. The last day it was pouring rain I found his jacket on a bench in the playground. The kids just don't care if it's raining.

 

[momz]

if it's above 30 and below 90, the kids go out (unless rain or lightening). Also, the lunch thing is pretty typical for my child as well...and she goes to a "new" school. i was surprised about the outside-in-the-cold play also, but now i know what to expect and i dress her appropriately. sounds like the school is doing the best they can considering the circumstances of being displaced for construction. i'll bet when her "new" school is complete, they go outside for gym/recess also. (blows the stink off as my grandmother used to say).

 

[dunbarfamily]

Just jumping in here...

I can understand your frustration and why you are upset. Up here in Michigan's UP, the kids go outside to play unless it less than about 15 degrees. We just dress them up extra warm, and they aren't out real long, only about 10-15 minutes. By the time they have their snowpants, parkas, gloves, hats, and scarves on, they usually come in sweaty. lol

When I was in elementary school, we too ate in the gym.

If I was you, I'd check to be sure your daughter is given enough time to eat. If you can't get them to change how long they give her, could you make a cold lunch for her, assuming she could sit as soon as she walked in rather than standing in line. This might buy her a few needed minutes. Just an idea!


Good luck!

 

[Gillian]

My son always says he doesn't have enough time to eat. He's just slow, but is getting faster (2nd grade now).

The kids at his school go out in most weather 2x/day at least. I like it. They do have to have the right gear. Many kids leave snowpants at school during the winter, and maybe boots.

 

[Aristomommy]

Our DD8's school lunches are about 15 minutes long. I volunteer as a lunch mom twice a month and most kids who buy have even less time to eat. I always wondered why it's so rushed, but our lunch room is a multipurpose room (not the gym though).

As far as playing and P.E. outside, our school sends out a newsletter in the fall that all children MUST have snowpants, hats, gloves etc. appropriate for winter recess. Here in Ohio, the weather can get very cold, but kids are fine as long as they dress in layers. DD usually wears snowpants over her other pants so it's easier to undress and not get hot during the day. Most kids don't mind it, the parents sometimes object tough.

 

[mapmakerj]

Our schools send the kids out unless it is below 10 degrees or the wind chill is below zero. We have to bundle them up so much in the winter it is hard to tell who is who out on the playground! LOL

 

[surfgirl]

btw, Lands' End has something called, "Fleece-lined Playground Pants" -- I know Lands' End prices are expensive, but for winter outerwear worn daily, it is worth it.

has anyone used them ? They look like a good option to me....

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I have to admit that this thread caused me to chuckle. I've been involved in public education for nearly 20 years, and I've never heard a complaint about the kids going outside for PE or recess. In fact, the only complaint I've heard about going outside is that our parents don't think the kids get to go out enough!!!

As far as the lunch issue goes, I hear far, far complaints from my teachers about their short 25 minute lunch than I ever do from the kids or their families. My teachers watch their kids go through the lunch line before they have their own lunch. Then, they must stand in line for the single microwave if they've brought something to be nuked. It can get a little mean.

 

[Caitsmama]

Well, you must have a terrific school system then.

But, i think 5-10 min. for lunch is unhealthy, above just being inconvienent. It's not good for the digestive system.

 

[marlynnp]

I'm sure your DD is hearing the aide say, "you have 5 minutes" and I'm nearly as sure that she probably has twice as long. It's a normal thing to tell little ones '5 more minutes' to get them to hurry.

 

[justhat]

My daughter is 3.5yo and started at her preschool at 18 months and they go outside unless it's raining heavily, snowing, or freezing. Yes, even the little ones. The kids love it and all come dressed appropriately so it's not a problem.

As for lunch, we can't buy lunch, but my daughter eats lunch at school once a week when she stays all day. They have 45 minutes after coming in from recess to use the bathroom, wash hands, unpack lunch and eat. My daughter never eats her whole lunch in that amount of time and always comes home with a good amount leftover. Today, for example, I packed a juice box, small container of grapes, string cheese, a bean and rice burrito (well, she needed to assemble the burrito herself as I packed the tortilla separately cause she complained that it got soggy once before, so add some time for assembly). Know what got eaten out of all that? The juice box and most of the burrito. Didn't touch the grapes or string cheese and she likes both of those foods a lot. She just ran out of time and she has nearly 45 minutes!

 

[Aliceacc]

It sounds to me as though you need to make an appointment with the principal and voice your concerns. That way you'll be getting the information from the source, not filtered through MIL.

I can see sending kids out in late fall with jackets and hats and gloves; my own kids love to play outside year round.

But there's a difference between that and sending them out when it's bitterly cold. RI can be COLD in winter... there's got to be some sort of Plan B to keep them within the state standards for Phys Ed. I think I would hit the RI State Board of Education website, find out what those standards are, and go to the princpal with a list of questions.

Also, a first grader who isn't being given time to eat is a PROBLEM and it needs to be addressed by administration.

 

[Zeebs]

if they have the appropriate clothing and are running around it shouldn't matter at all that they are having gym outside, a bit of fresh cold air doesn't hurt anyone. Growing up my school never had a gym we were outside playing sports (South Island of New Zealand plenty of snow around in the winter temps in the negatives at points if I left house with wet hair it would be frozen by the time I had walked the three mins to the bus stop). If they have them standing around outside doing nothing then I think there might be some cause for complaint but in my opinion I would rather my kids did gym in the cold than not do any exercise because it is "too cold" as this leads to over weight children. And it isn't cold weather that gives everyone the flu, colds coughs etc it is the fact that everyone is stuck inside breathing in everyone elses germs.

Cheers Kirsten

 

[dpwright]

Hi
my kids are in junior high and high school now but still have the no time to eat problem. They never buy lunch any more because they never had time to eat it once they had bought it.

As far as going outside - I'm from massachusetts so my view is different from the lady in Texas. Any day not snowing, sleeting or other such is a good day.
They only go out for 20 minutes or so. They go out longer than that to play at home don't they? If not, they should. And the poster who said that the germs actually live in the warm enclosed spaces is correct. Unless it's raining or icing or other really bad weather, dressed warmly, 20 minutes in 20 degree weather is okay for anyone, even good for them. It gets them having some physical activity, which too many never have, and releases energy so they can focus better when they get back to the classroom. They ski in those temperatures right? I say send them all out as long as they have warm coats, mittens, and boots.

 

[kldmom2000]

Another MA poster here....

Our schools always have outdoor recess unless there is a weather advisory (meaning that it's below freezing or if it's raining or snowing). My DD is in 2nd grade now and even in preschool, they made sure that we sent them with the appropriate outdoor attire for outdoor recess/gym.

As far as lunch/recess... our elementary school began having recess BEFORE lunch a few years ago because the kids were too anxious to get outside and play-it's worked wonderfully because the kids get all tired out and really work up an appetite for their lunch

 

[crisi]

Minnesota poster.

Our kids go outside every day unless its raining or there is a frostbite risk. That means they don't go out if the windchill is below zero. And they have since they were fifteen months old.

Most people think this is good for their health - sunshine and fresh air - and in winter in Minnesota we don't get nearly enough of either. And, properly dressed, my kids love to be outside in all sorts of weather.

 

[ajk912]

See if you can volunteer in the lunchroom for a day, it's a real eye opener and it only takes an hour or two of your time. Our school is always looking for lunchroom volunteers. At my kids's elementary school in VA, they get 30 minutes for lunch but the whole grade gets dismissed at the same time. So you have 5 classes times 25 kids hitting the lunchroom at the same time (well, they have like a 4 minute lapse between classes, so not quite the exact same time). If your kid packs, great, they have 30 minutes to eat. If your kid buys lunch, well, get in line behind the other 50 kids- you'll have about 10 minutes to eat when you are done. During meet the teacher night, the teacher discouraged parents from allowing their kids to buy lunch because they have no time to eat it. It's not like they can give them extra time to eat afterwards- it will cut into the 20 minutes of recess and then language arts.

 

[seashoreCM]

,And, on top of that, I have been asking my dd how lunch is going, (she enjoys buying lunch) and asked her how her hot dog was the other day - and she said that she threw half of it out! When i asked her why, she said she ran out of time eating... again, confused, i asked her why.
She said that from the time that she gets out of the kitchen from buying lunch, they sit down, and the lunch aid tells them that they have 5 min. She said this happens all the time.. (When she does bring lunch, sometimes she comes home with leftover food).. i told her she MUST be mistaken, that i am sure they give her more than 5 min. to eat... but she swears that that is what the aid tells them -- 5 min.
All that to hurry so they can have recess?!! So, when i go pick her up at ...i am gonna ask the aid what is going on, and if it's true. Although,i am freaked out, if she says it is.. i will have to hold myself back. : .

Don't hold yourself back on this one. Go explain, preferably in writing, that the kids should have time to eat, otherwise they will get indigestion and yes, bitten tongues and lips. It doesn't matter whether recess or another class comes next.

Kids are shortchanged on the No Kids Left Behind act when it comes to school lunches if they don't have time to eat.

There are no excuses other than a health problem or a disliked ingredient for a needy kid to fail to consume a school lunch each day, where in the case of the disliked ingredient the kid must consume everything else.

...they get 30 minutes for lunch but the whole grade gets dismissed at the same time. So you have 5 classes times 25 kids hitting the lunchroom at the same time (well, they have like a 4 minute lapse between classes, so not quite the exact same time). If your kid packs, great, they have 30 minutes to eat. If your kid buys lunch, well, get in line behind the other 50 kids- you'll have about 10 minutes to eat when you are done. During meet the teacher night, the teacher discouraged parents from allowing their kids to buy lunch because they have no time to eat it. It's not like they can give them extra time to eat afterwards- it will cut into the 20 minutes of recess and then language arts.

No need to see it first hand if your kid tells you this is happening and the school admits it. The school needs to make the time to eat, either shorten the class periods or stagger the lunch breaks or let the kids eat during class. Meet The Teacher Night would have been a good time to tell the school officials that the system needs changing.

Health hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/health.htm

PS: This is one place where I would instruct my kid (if I had one) to try to find a quiet corner and not stop eating and if a "discipline problem" happens, then go to the principal or PTA meeting and realy dish it out.

 

[jessica52877]

When I was a kid the same thing happened at lunch, if you bought and were last in line you had to eat super fast. Gym was lunch room and 2 different periods of lunch.

As for gym class outside, I want to say NEVER do I think that should be allowed. We did go outside for recess unless super super cold, can't remember temp, probably 20 and also stood outside until the bell rang at 8 am. Rain we stayed inside, snow we went out.