iPads banned at lunch
At both Lunches 1 and 2, iPads have been taken away except on Fridays. Monday through Thursday, students in these lunches may not use their iPad at the regular tables. They may only use it for homework at the special homework tables. They were taken away around a month ago when Dr. Buchwald stepped on the stage and made the surprising announcement at the lunches saying that students were no longer allowed to use their iPads at lunch because of how bad the grades were, but what everyone wants to know is why this would happen and how it relates to the iPad use at lunch.
First, change your perspective and look at things from a different angle. When you look around you see kids sucked into their iPads and not eating their lunch, then you see those kids grades drop and not focus in class. This is one of the main reasons why iPads were taken away at lunch. This is also what Dr. Buchwald sees when she looks in the lunchroom, besides the multiple reasons they were taken in the first place, it took time to make a decision like this. When the leadership staff group of VMSS met this topic would come up multiple times and finally they decided to try this out in lunches 1 and 2 and compare it to lunches 3 and 4. However, when they decide if they will give back this privilege or not will be decided by what students think and do about it.
Obviously, there are different viewpoints involved in this issue when you consider who was using their iPads for certain things. Dr. Buchwald addressed one aspect of this, saying, “We offer tables for people to do their homework at.” Many students didn’t know about this, needed to do their homework, and couldn’t. Students may want to sit by their friends while doing it, and by looking at the tables you can see that they would only be able only bring a limited amount and many people need to do their work.
So why can’t the iPads be used by everyone at lunch if so many people need to do homework? “Some people were using their iPads for gaming and other things, while the iPads are for academic use only,” Buchwald said. Mr. Gallagher, an eighth-grade teacher and lunchroom supervisor, said, “I think it’s good that students can have face to face interactions. We don’t get enough of it in this day and age, and it’s essential.” That was the common theme among students and staff that were interviewed, that face to face interaction is absolutely critical in this technological age.
I think it’s good that students can have face to face interactions. We don’t get enough of it in this day and age, and it’s essential.
— Mr. Gallagher
On the contrary, some students disliked the policy. Seventh grader Ava Newsom stated, “The policy is stupid, what are we even supposed to do?” Many students who enjoyed showing their friends their work or who needed to put something in their iPad during lunch cannot anymore without moving to one of the homework tables. This can also affect people who don’t have as many friends. They have nothing to do at lunch on top of having no one to talk to. The lunch administration team may say this would help them make more friends, but what if they are more introverted and only talk to a few people? Taking away a comfort and asset from them at an otherwise scary part of the school day could make them not enjoy school even more.
Then there are the people who weren’t affected. Many students didn’t use their iPads, however, they still have views about it. Seventh grader Ellie Stumbo said, “People should be able to use it if they need too.” Students that were interviewed spoke about how they use their iPads sometimes in conjunction to communicating to their friends, using it as something to talk about or putting a reminder on to do something after school or at home.
The views on this matter differ over the school, but we all know something that Mr. Bronson, one of the counselors at VMSS made very clear when interviewed. “Lunch is about communication between students and their peers and building a community within our school,” he said. That is something that most, if not all can agree upon at our school.
Lyric Schowalter • Jan 19, 2021 at 8:40 am
I don’t really know what to think of the ban. I do dislike it at times but after this explanation, I understand and respect it more. Also, on Fridays students can use their iPads during lunch, but some get away with using their phone. This personally effects me because I don’t have a phone and my friends at my table do. Just a note.
Sub to pewdiepie • Feb 14, 2019 at 8:15 am
I think iPads should be aloud because I like showing my freinds cursed images and making them choke on their food.
Jonathan D • Feb 13, 2019 at 10:23 am
I agree the lunches should be separated by their grade.
Abdi.H • Feb 13, 2019 at 9:25 am
I think that a person who has good grades and eat their lunch can use his or her iPad during lunch.
A Student • Jan 23, 2019 at 8:08 am
Maybe people can get to use the iPads for others uses every other day.
Audrey • Jan 9, 2019 at 7:21 pm
I think people should be allowed to use their iPads during lunch because people need brain breaks. What if they just came from math and they thought a problem was really hard and they need a break? And guess what? In the real world, adults get half an hour breaks and they are allowed to go on phones and devices. If middle school is training for our adult lives, we should also be able to use devices during breaks. This can help us relax. We need a break. The staff and teachers aren’t being fair. I’ve even seen them eating in class and in the halls. We aren’t allowed to do that!
I rest my case and hope some people change their minds about this topic.
Imogen H. • Jan 8, 2019 at 7:48 pm
I agree that iPad’s should not be banned but if it’s taken away from lunches 1 and 2 it doesn’t seem fair to them. The people like me who are in lunches 3 and 4 sometimes use iPads but if 1 and 2 need to talk to someone else at another table they would need to get up to the other table and they might need to walk all the way across the lunch. I have done it before so I could say something to my friends and it feels like all eyes are on me and makes me uncomfortable. I would much rather text them. There are lots of other things that you might need or want iPads for but not able to do it! And what if the homework tables are full so you can’t do homework. I would much rather find a way to keep BlueTooth on forever than not be able to do homework. I for one can’t figure out how to turn off BlueTooth and never was interested. I feel sorry for those in lunches 1 and 2 and hope that the teachers will find a way to make both them and us happy.
A human • Jan 8, 2019 at 5:28 pm
I think taking away the iPads was a good and bad thing to do, the reason why I thought it was good it’s because people need more social interaction even if ur more on the introverted side you should step out of your shell a little bit and at least talk to one person and why I think it’s a bad idea is because of homework they say there are homework tables but if certain people are at homework tables and they are shy and only like siting by them self’s or with a certain group of people they shouldn’t be forced to sit by complete strangers that’s the part that is irratating and ms buchwald said it’s also good so we get more social interactions but as I have seen in lunch 3&4 they also use their iPads quite a lot so they preferably don’t get enough social interaction time throughout lunch or the day period and I think they should have the same schedule as us for lunch only so it’s fair but also so we can a fair a,Kung of social time as we all need but others might not see.
Anonymous • Jan 8, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Low grades and the fact that people are on iPads at lunch are unrelated. During lunch time, most people don’t do homework. Doing homework at lunch is not required. I am a straight A student, but I don’t usually do homework at lunch. Also, social interaction doesn’t affect it either. Someone might read a book instead of talking to other people during lunch and that is acceptable. Some people don’t like to talk much. That is the preference of the individual. Being on one’s iPad during non-academic, social time will not affect grades. If one were to bring up the argument that iPads distract from eating, then so would reading or socialising. Some people choose not to eat lunch regardless. It is the student’s personal decision. If they don’t eat lunch, that’s their problem. If they are hungry, they will learn to eat. If the school is going to restrict iPads because of these reasons, then why don’t they stick us in a seating chart, confiscate books, art supplies, and other “distractions”, and demand silence. Where you are and what you do at lunch (other than homework) will not affect your grades. I don’t game on iPads, but I do not believe that iPads should be not allowed during lunch.
Kaiden • Jan 8, 2019 at 11:49 am
So like basically I don’t think this is a good idea
Godzilla Peña • Jan 7, 2019 at 5:23 pm
I feel that this was a bad thing to do, the students that would work on homework during lunch, like me, that option has been put to a halt. I also thought that this applied to all lunches, leading me to this conclusion, my assumptions were right about many of the students in my lunch. These kids are almost 80% 7th graders, and they annoy me so much, it’s so tempting to, excuse my wishes, hit them or pull them back and tell them to go to the end of the line… but I’m not going to get in trouble for somebody eles’s stupidity. I really want to be swapped to 4th lunch tho, that would be nice…
Sara • Jan 7, 2019 at 5:16 pm
I’m lunch 3 I think the reson that we still have our iPads is because Dr Buchwald isn’t around our lunch normally, and there are tables of game players doing nothing but rotting their brains out! Even so, they gave us the iPads, they should be expecting it!
I rest my case