Washington school districts oppose state's 20-minute lunch time proposal

[@dawnwessel8459]

20 minutes is too long for kids to sit!? I remember having an hour for lunch and recess as a kid. This is horrendous!

[@Stormnorman15]

Same! We had lunch and then recess. Most importantly we were given time to be... kids! When did they change everything?

[@ChristopherSEA]

All schools should be required to give 30 minutes lunch break!

[@stephenspencer4672]

Kids should get 45 minutes to an hour for lunch. The teachers could use the daily break too. When I was in kindergarten we had lunch and then a nap. An hour for lunch gives kids a chance run around outside for a while.

[@MsTery-ul7pw]

Unrealistic, maybe those who are suggesting this do the same with their lunchtime.

[@CMcDoug317]

My kids also tell me that they don't have enough time to eat. After 2nd grade they don't get snack time. I understand the need to get curriculum and recess crunched in, but hungry kids aren't going to listen or focus on their lessons

[@tsuzuki15]

Lunch is already $3.50 and my daughter complains that she hardly ever has time to finish her lunch.

[@marcusinfinity9386]

Just like Olympia planned

[@bluejedi723]

so adults get 30 minutes for lunch, but our kids only get 20? Make that make sense

[@1783W]

Imagine kids having a break in school. Can’t have that. Would be too much of a waste of our taxes.

[@tessab566]

How about the way Japanese schools do it-the students serve lunch to their peers and students eat in the classroom. They are responsible to clean the classroom after lunch.

[@marcusinfinity9386]

Can't do that in usa. Lol

[@RCenal]

20 minutes for lunch Hell people who work in jobs outside of that get 30 minutes

[@jlee5649]

My 7 year old says her lunch is too short. After waiting in line for lunch, she says they have to hurry to eat lunch.

[@randeledmonson9699]

Wow, things have changed for the worst in the last 45 years. We always had an hour to eat and play at lunch time until high school. It dropped to 45 minutes then. I can't even imagine kids being treated like machines. No wonder kids hate school!

[@Sonja-j7u]

Should be up to the parents not some superintendent who’s well overpaid

[@mematt8955]

30 minute minimum. plus two 15 minute recesses. any less is child abuse. making kids sit still and be quiet all day, 5 days per week so their parents can go to work is already abuse. it is more like a prison system.

[@sulbin78]

Seeing administrators fighting against this proposal shows it really is about the bottom line/dollar, and not what is best for kids. Kids need a break. They need to relax and talk to peers/socialize. If space and coverage issues could be overcome during the pandemic (COVID), it could happen now. Having kids eat in 8 minutes isn't going to magically make them able to read. Kids need a chance to gain interpersonal skills more than ever. And yes, I have worked on tight schedules for schools. You can make a priority happen. Kids are not the priority.

[@luvnina01]

You know how long sometimes you have to wait just to get your lunch? By the time you sit down, lunch probably be over soon. Also some students might still be taking their tests or quizzes even though class is over, so by the time they finish they only have a limited time to eat their lunch.

[@AC-gu7rg]

So they want school kids to only have 20 minutes to hurry up and choke down their food , unbelievable !

[@sulbin78]

And 20 minutes is what they are arguing against. It's less than that now in many schools. Superintendents need to be willing to pay local para-educators a decent rate, and decent hours to cover this, and principals need to make scheduling happen.

[@TheReapersSon]

If they want to treat students like they're in the military, they should just cut the pretense and turn all schools into military academies.

[@naesenh.2162]

I remember lunch being 30minutes in my day wtf how do they have time to socialize with friends anymore?

[@Hiking_chef]

We got 30 and this was 89-02

[@sevalle]

Every time I see a video or read an article about all the things happening in schools makes me more and more happy to be homeschooling my child

[@devonmarr9872]

I wish we all had the money and time and social circles to do this bust sadly the vast majority of parents dont.

[@sevalle]

@@devonmarr9872 Time is relative, we both work and do majority of our teaching in the evening after work, our kid does her independent school work during the day while we are working. As for cost, it isn't that bad, this school year we spent around $1200 for the whole year's curriculum, our first year of homeschooling after pulling from public school was expensive as we bought too much, it was a big learning lesson. Now we are fortunate that we both have hybrid work schedules and one of us is always at home but again we don't do school lessons during the day but in the evening and schedule around other events such as sports and whatnot

[@stacycamacho59]

Alright... 15-20 is too long yes BUT I digress: kids dont even have that long to eat especially if it takes 15 minutes in line!!!!! My 6 year old is in kinder.. he says he has around 4-5 minutes to eat lunch and can eat maybe 1-2 things and unable to anything else before being sent outside. In high school in the 90s-early 2000s we had 45 minute lunches. That way we had enough time to eat. A new group would come in around 15 minute mark for theirs. Those who got to lunch early were done by that time. It took around 30 minutes to get everyone served for each group. When i switched schools my last two years they wouldn't have enough lunch left over by the time those who were at the end of line.. it was a complete shock. You would have a couple 50 kids unable to eat lunch.

[@RCenal]

No 15-20 is not too long By the time they get to the cafeteria wait in line for food eat the food and hurry back to class No that's not enough time Lunch for kids should be at least 30 minutes

[@susantully1533]

Wow. So kids don't deserve to have a break for lunch?

[@lifelavie13]

20min?????? no!!!!! they are not in the medical school!

[@abbielynn5656]

This is atrocious. If the teachers are getting 30 minutes. Our students should have 30 minutes. There's no way a third grader is going to complete their lunch quicker than in an adult. I remember having 45-minute lunches as a kid. What is happening???

[@salahuddinyusuf]

Dumb question but can the kids take their food to class?

[@sulbin78]

Depends on the district, school, and classroom teacher. Some are a firm no. Some mark down kids as getting a breakfast (for free), so they can hold back that "free food" for another hungry classmate.

[@RCenal]

Oh absolutely not Thats what sucks too

[@NWforager]

it was way longer wen i was a kid . but then we weren't getting in so much Trouble too .

[@Daffytheduck7514]

BS! Fire all those school administrators. Another reason to support private schools.

[@SmellGood-qq6uj]

Private schools could have a rule like this.

[@Daffytheduck7514]

@ huh? The rule hasn’t been implemented, it’s being suggested because the news called out most public schools in WA have less than 20 minutes. The rule proposed at least 20 minutes.

[@mayspondmogul]

In France children are served 4 course meals wit actual chefs fine dining ending with a creme Brule for 1hr and they can talk and grow

[@AlleyCatNinja]

Probably the only thing in France to be envious of.

[@kelsey7731]

What a RIDICULOUS thing to not have figured out in 2025. 😂😂😂 no wonder these people dont know what a woman is.