Silent Working Lunch

[ConcernedParent38]

Jurisdiction

South Carolina

SC in Greenville County School District has a policy of silent working lunch for students not finishing classwork and sometimes homework. Kids with IEPs are disproportionately affected. My daughter has an IEP and last year she was told if she didn't do some work at lunch that she could get a zero on an assignment. Another time she was told she would be sent to the assistant principal's office if work wasn't done at lunch. She has an IEP that allows her extra time to complete assignments as well as additional accommodations. She came home hungry and asking to eat her lunch. She had points deducted for late assignments, was told to clip down on a behavior chart for giving the wrong answer to a question in class, and didn't receive help with organizational skills she was supposed to get under her IEP. Due to not receiving that help with organization, she lost points for not turning in completed assignments, not being able to find nearly completed assignments that she had to start over, and not bringing homework, project, and study material home. The situation wasn't better until much time had passed in the school year. Her points were never given back to her. Later in the school year when she finally was able to complete the day's work in normal time, she was not permitted by her teacher to join in on a fun class game/activity at the end of the day right before break. For once she was done in time to join the others in the game, but her teacher made her sit out and do nothing. She suffered a lot last year. Other kids were humiliated too.Now she is in middle school and that school has a policy of working lunch too. I asked that she not ever be given working lunch and offered to have her work in the mornings and at home instead and the school agreed. Things are better for her so far in her new school. Still, all of these kids in the district don't get to eat an already rushed lunch....especially if they have IEPs. IEP kids don't have equal access to lunch time and are, in effect, punished for having a disability. Don't these kids deserve better? My daughter is really sweet. She is quiet and a little shy at school. She has never been in trouble for a behavior problem. She can't help that she has ADD inattentive type, a learning disability, and trouble with some daily functioning. All of these children deserve help. Parents aren't even notified when their kids are given this punishment.

 

[army judge]

Discuss your concerns with your elected school board official, ask to allowed to discuss your concerns before the entire school board.

More voices get more attention, so organize concerned parents to get interest in your topics. Get the parents to attend school board meetings and become vocal and active in local educational matters.

 

[ElleMD]

I am not sure what your question is here. The IEPs of other students are confidential. If their IEPs include spending part of lunch on schoolwork, or do not exempt them from a school's policy of such, there isn't anything you can do about it. Another student's learning challenges may or may not have any impact on this at all. It did on your kid so you appropriately addressed it in your IEP. Other kids and their families may prefer the work be done at lunch over early in the morning or at home.