Freedom to Choose

By Michael Grayson

Students who go to MS.890 are no strangers to the strict phone policy.  Students at MS 890 would like to have the option to either go outside for recess, go to the gym, or just stay in the cafeteria for the whole lunch period. It is frustrating for some people to feel forced to go outside even though they may not want to. Different people can tolerate different temperatures and for some it’s too cold, or too warm or they just don’t like the wind or maybe their allergies act up when outdoors. Sometimes they just want to stay inside for other reasons. 

Lunch Duration

Some students feel like they want a longer duration of their lunch time and that one 47 minute period isn’t enough to eat lunch and go outside. Maybe there should be two periods instead of just one. If that is impossible, students should have the option to go upstairs and do something with the teachers or join another class that’s going on during their lunch period.

Sometimes, students could finally be starting a game like tag or basketball and, once they actually start, it’s already time to go back inside which could get very annoying. Another way this issue can be resolved is by being allowed to stay outside longer rather than being forced to go back outside without having a choice at all, especially for students who start the period at recess.The alternative can be where you go inside the lunchroom for the whole period. Maybe it’s too cold and you don't want to go outside so you just stay in.

Pros/Cons

The pros of being able to go outside are, more recess (Doing outdoor activities) and being able to do as much as you can until it’s actually time to go back outside. You could enjoy the time you have. Or maybe you like staying inside in the gym or cafeteria. Inside the gym, you could do the same outdoor activities without facing the weather. In the cafeteria, you could just eat and socialize.

The cons of this could be that maybe if you’re only outside, you may not be able to eat or forget because you’re having fun doing what you’re doing. That could lead to you being hungry. Additionally, if you didn’t eat at lunch, many teachers don’t allow you to eat in their class which results in you waiting until after school or NIA. This could cause headaches, low focus, low energy, stomach growling, etc. This stops you from doing the best you can in your classes causing you not to focus and not pay attention. Maybe you went to the cafeteria however, but it’s warm so you’re stuck with the heat which results in you feeling lightheaded, dizzy, confused and in some cases you pass out. This could lead to either serious cases or just minor cases that drive you crazy. Regardless, the lunch period is a big issue for students, and we are not satisfied. It is up to our teachers and staff to figure out a better way and give us some choice. 

Interacting with PS889 Kids

Another important lunch period issue is that the school aides don’t let us interact with the elementary school children at all. They don’t let us talk to them, ask them something or sometimes even look at them!  I think this could be changed because it feels weird not being able to talk to other students that are in the same building that we share together. Maybe if middle school students wanted to help the younger kids by showing them how to throw out food in the correct bin or develop correct behavior, that would also be really cool. However, if they don’t let us even look at them, how are we going to help them at all? The lunch period is also a good chance for middle school students to earn volunteer hours and become role models by visiting the 889 school classrooms. They can help elementary school students by reading to them or helping them with their work. This lunchtime is a wasted opportunity for the school to come together as a community, and make us feel like we are a part of something bigger. 

In summary, MS890 students feel a certain way about the lunch period. They feel bossed around during the only “free” period in the day that they can actually have outside of class.  We call on the school to take into consideration the different options we have come up with and give students the freedom to choose what they do with their lunch period.