There is a common debate on whether lunch tables should be assigned, or student-picked. Most reasons for a seating arrangement at lunch has to do with inclusion and making friends. These things could also be avoided in other cases.
It is believed by some that having assigned seats at lunch eliminates the stress and worry of trying to find a seat. Experts agree that developing social-emotional skills is very important and should be prioratized. The table talk at school lunch tables gives students the opportunity to get closer with peers and demonstrate how to make conversations with others in the future. Breaking down groups allows students to blend, encouraging meeting new people and making new friends. With all ages and social groups, this overall benefits the school’s culture.
On the other hand, 98% of teens say they have one or more close friends, while only 2% say they don’t consider anyone to be a close friend. Some ways to make kids feel included are providing different options in completing assignments. Suggesting many ways to go about the students’ learning helps the kids feel responsible for their learning and comfortable with their atmosphere. Another way to include all, is to have recognition of the students’ personal life out of school. Having games and fun activities can include many and help bring school into a positive environment in kids' minds. All of these ideas are things schools can do to help kids feel comfortable, welcome, and included in school without changing a seating arrangement.
In my opinion, I think including students in ways that are more controlled by teachers is much more effective than hoping the kids at lunch tables are kind and encouraging to others. What do you think?
Do you think there should be assigned seats at lunch? Why or why not?
Would blending all social groups encourage new friendships?
What are some other ways to include all students?
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/28/teens-friendships-and-online-groups/
https://appletasticlearning.com/how-to-make-students-feel-like-they-belong/
https://www.k12dive.com/news/assigned-cafeteria-seating-can-improve-school-culture/565825/
Replies
I do not think we should have assigned seats at lunch. I think there is plenty of other ways to get kids involved besides at lunch. High schoolers should be able to make their own decisions. I understand some people have a hard time making friends and people that want assigned seats should be able to get them but the ones that don't should have some freedom.
no lunch is the one hour we can talk to everyone in our class blennding all social groups would be bad there would be more fights.I dont think we should put studetns with other students who dont like each other unless we want more fights.
That's definitely a possibility with the amout of fights there already are. Blending certain social groups would be more beneficial than others, that's for sure. In the long run there would probably be some bonding between the students, which is the wanted outcome.
I think there should not be assigned seats during lunch because most people have different classes then their friends. Some students don't do well talking to new people. Some people have drama with other people and if they were sat together the other people at the table could be uncomortable with the drama. The two people could fight and yell at each other causing a scene.
I think that it gives students the opportunity to get closer with peers and have conversations with others. Breaking down groups allows students to blend, encouraging meeting new people and making new friends. But i think that having students blend they will learn that isn’t ok for them to be themselves
I think that we should not have asigned seets. I think that it is dumb, I think once you hit highschool you should be ablel to choice where you sit and with who. I think it is to much for them to keep track of all the kids and that it would do more trouble than good.
There should not be assigned seats at lunch. Almost every class has assigned seats and lunch is like the students break. Students should be able to have fun and get to talk to their friends expecially if they have no classes with them. Usually when you assign seats its awakard and you usually don't make a new friends. Its useless to do.
I agree, having the break from seating arrangements in class is totally nice. Students should have the opportunity to choose if they'd like to have fun and talk with their friends. It is awkward at the beginning for sure but hopefully it would get better eventually and people would start talking.
I think that the pro of assigned seats is people making new friends. But there are more cons than pros. What if the quiet kid got sat by none of his friends? Would the other kids try to be friends with him? What if students got sat by people they don't get along with. There is just too many complications and we should let students sit by who they want.
That's very true, I agree. Kids that might have LESS friends than most, more than one, but few. Could feel even more left out with seating arrangements because they aren't with those few friends that they do have. There are many complications along with people just want to sit by their friends.
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