Naveeh, Staff Writer
March 8, 2026
Art Cred: Naveeh
Imagine trying to pay attention in class while your stomach growls. Many students come to school hungry, and it makes learning almost impossible. Students cannot learn on an empty stomach, which is why schools should allow snacks in class. Here at Hill Campus of Arts and Science students can only eat during lunch and are not allowed to eat in class. Because of this rule, multiple kids are hungry during class
When asked about eating in class, 7th grader Josie says, “I think it should be allowed to a degree, like if you’ve been caught leaving crumbs or whatever, you shouldn’t be allowed to.”
This rule first took effect two years ago, and was voted on by the teachers from the school, so if you want to blame anyone, blame the teachers who taught here two years ago. Since then, an ongoing mice problem has increased the food talk.
Hunger causes low energy levels, headaches, and poor focus. Olive O, 7th grade student, says she has gotten so hungry during class that she can’t focus. A small snack can keep students alert and ready to learn.
For kids with medical needs like diabetes, and low blood sugar, eating on time is not a choice, it is a necessity.
Mr. Runyon's thoughts on eating in class are, “I don’t like it when kids eat in class.”
He continues, “I find it to be distracting for the other kids because somebody takes something out of their backpack, [and] now I got like 8 kids out of their seat trying to get ahold of some food. Middle schoolers are not well known for their ability to clean up after themselves, and so I find food on the floor often, and I don’t really want mice and bugs in my room.”
Some may worry about mess or noise, but simple rules like only allowing small, quiet snacks can solve that problem.
Hungry students struggle, but fed students succeed. Food fuels the brain, and a well-fed mind builds a stronger future.
So far, teachers and students have not yet been able to come up with a compromise. If kids can’t eat in class, soon we’ll be sharpening pretzels instead of pencils and turning math class into a cooking show. Feed the students, or the only equation we will be forced to solve is 'chips+hunger=chaos!'