Education Issues Debate

I received this email from my DS's school today.  Do you think these rules are reasonable?  I feel they are too restrictive during the lunch time.  I'm not saying the kids should run wild and be hooligans, but this to me seems too far in the other direction.  I will also add that the lunch room is not around classrooms at the school. It is next to the gym and is pretty secluded from the rest of the school.

Lunch Expectations
There are a few new expectations in the lunch room this year. These have been revised and are being reinforced daily! Parents can help us out here at school by reminding students to make respectful choices regarding their behavior in the hallway, in the lunch line, and in the lunch room. We want the lunch room to be a relaxing experience where students can chat with other students and eat a good healthy lunch. This can help them be focused in the classroom when their brain needs to be running at peak performance.
With as many students as we have eating lunch at one time it is imperative that students remember to keep voice soft and to use their best manners. Our cafeteria staff works hard to serve our students and we want to appreciate all they do by saying “Please” and “Thank you!”
If you choose to join your child for lunch on a special day – please be aware that you will sit with your child and their friends wherever they would have sat even if you weren’t there. There is NO separate table for parent & visitors.
Here are the expectations for the lunch line & cafeteria:

In the lunch line
• Silent in hallway
• Wait at the carpet line before getting tray until there is room on the line for your tray!
• Silent in the lunch line (unless talking politely to an adult)

In the Cafeteria during Lunch
Remember to talk softly!
Eat!
Stay in your seat!
Pick up after yourself!
Enjoy time with your friends!
Choose to use good manners!
Treat everyone with respect!




Privilege for respectful behavior
Students in grades 2-5 are allowed to sit where they choose and save 1 spot for a friend to come and join them. This is a privilege and students have to show respectful behavior to continue to choose their seats.

Consequences for disrespectful behavior
1. Individual students who cannot be respectful will be given behavior ‘tallies’ which will affect their conduct grade.

2. If a grade level as a whole is disrespectful, they lose their privilege to choose their seats and their seats are assigned for 1-2 days depending on grade level and behavior.

Respectful behavior will help our students be the best possible (name of school) citizens!

My guess is this school has had some problems in the past and they want to establish guidelines so it won't get out of control again.

That being said, it's unacceptable to punish an entire grade at a time.  Let's say there are one or two kids who do the right thing even while the rest of their classmatesgo beserk.  Those kids should be REWARDED, not punished!

I understand the restrictions.  Some of these public schools are packed in like sardines and lunchtime becomes completely chaotic.  Screaming, running around, etc does not make a relaxing environment for any of the kids.  And if the lunch ladies have to hear these little, soft spoken kids, they can't hear over tons of talking and screaming. 

A lot of times kids police each other.  If a child causes another to lose priveleges they will often start keeping each other in line.

What do you object about being respectful, talking not shouting and cleaning up after yourself?