OPINION: Class too Long? Lunch too Short? KHS Opinions on Lunch Times

In a small survey to students and administrators about lunch times, many different areas of opinion came up. Read this article to see the KHS community respond to changes in lunch times.

A few students gave the expected response: that lunch should be longer. Ian Gaudet said, “Lunch should be one hour with a 1 hour recess period.” This would make the lunch time 2 hours, which would be a 90 minute increase from our current lunch time.

Some teachers like Mr. Klein, an English teacher, don't like the idea of a longer student lunch time. Klein explained, “Students have enough free time during the day to keep the 30-minute lunch because the students don't use lunch effectively.” This answer is strict, but understandable. Many students do not use free time - study periods, PRIDE, and more - appropriately, which would make a longer lunch useless. 

Other teachers would like the idea but aren’t sure whether it is possible. Mr. Raheb, another English teacher, agreed, adding, “It would be nice if students had the opportunity to take lunch outside… maybe down by the football field. That would require more hall monitors or supervisors, though, so I’m not sure we can do 

that.”

Mr. Raheb believes that this would be hard to do because during lunch, hall monitors are  tightly staffed. It would be hard to pull hall monitors out of the school to monitor the other students who want to enjoy some time outside after lunch. Hall monitor Missy McCusker said, “Lunch should stay 30 minutes long, but students should have the option for free time during lunch with supervision and some outside privileges.”

Some students preferred alternatives to eating lunch in the cafeteria. Evan Kozey, a junior, said “School lunch should be 30 minutes long with 10 minutes of outdoor eating.” Another student, Phillip Purcell, agreed with Evan, saying, “Students should have the option to go outside for lunch.” Both of these ideas provide just a little extra free time or time for getting some exercise or just relaxing. I agree with both of these options, but the one I agree with most as a student in KHS is Jace Basinet. Jace’s idea of lunch is “Students should get a 15 minute recess added on to the 30 minute lunch.”

This idea doesn't seem far-fetched, like Ian Gaudet's idea of a 2 hour period. Most students would support the idea of a little recess/free time at the end, and a 15 minute addition would be reasonable for either playing outside or to just having free time to do whatever you need to get caught up on.

Will Killingly have a chance at changing the lunches? One area school, 

Woodstock Academy, has 1-hour community lunch periods during the day, according to woodstockacademy.org. But other schools in the area, like Plainfield High School, have similar 30 minute lunch periods, according to Plainfield.K12.in.us. What does this mean for Killingly? There is a chance that Killingly could change its lunch schedule and allow outside time or more time for lunch in areas around the school, but the possibility is slim.  If lunch times change or additions will be made, we will keep you posted. ■