The reason I tried to get as many comments as possible about eating in the classrooms of the school you attended was this. After having been associated with the BI School in my very MINOR capacity as the steering wheel for the cleaning and maintenance crew, I noticed events that have not yet ceased to amaze and confuse me. To wit; the carrying out of food of all descriptions, from the cafeteria and into the classrooms!!
After watching this for a few months, I finally asked, "what's the deal with this practice"? I was told that it had been allowed to happen, kind of by acts of omission. There are some children that because of monetary constraints weren't getting to eat breakfast before coming to school. There is a State mandate that says that if you accept money from the state for your school, you must provide a nutritious breakfast for those children, a mandate that I am in FULL ACCORD with! Over time more and more children began eating there and paying for it out of Mommy and Daddy's pocket. It became more expedient for the 'rents to send the kids to school with a couple of bucks than a lunch bucket, and that is also just fine with me. Where it becomes a problem is when the food leaves the confines of the Cafeteria! This is because when they, as well as others came as "late arrivals", they couldn't finish eating before it was time for class, they were allowed to carry it to their classrooms to finish.
Enter now the fact that a lot of this food sits in the classroom from early AM till at least noon and even till dismissal time at 1421 hours. Many times during the day, small to large bits of this food get dropped on the floor to be ground into it and the spaces between the flooring. There it sits, becoming the incubation nurseries for who knows what kind of little germies!
One day while discussing with a School Committee member the possible different floor covering options to be used on the elementary room floors, I asked that we consider reverting to carpets as had been done in the past. Immediately came the reply about the fact that there were a lot of children that had allergies and that the carpets "MIGHT POSSIBLY" exacerbate the problem. That particular problem can be seen as a non-starter as hospitals routinely have carpets installed and the allergy problem mitigated by the types on carpets installed! And riding atop that small hitch was the problem of food being constantly dropped and ridden into the carpet and all the associated ills(no pun intended) that go with those occurrences.
My come back too that was to obliquely make a comment about NOT eating in the classroom. Apparently it wasn't heard or was silently dismissed out of hand.
So after doing a few days of searching through all the maintenance magazines that the school regularly receives, and doing a lot of hours of on-line searching and reading, I personally came to the conviction that a carpet was the only way to go to rectify all the ills connected with the conditions of the rooms as presently constituted. In this vein, I have written a short discourse to be presented to the School Committee on the reasons why I, as the Steering Wheel, recommend the switch back to a high end carpet, and how we as the, "implementers of cleanliness" would go about maintaining that level of spotlessness!
Referring back to the top of the rant, parents have got to take back some of the responsibilities of raising their children. That would include making sure they are adequately fed before school if they are financially able, and if they are not,
getting them to the school early enough for them to consume the food in the cafeteria! The food ALL OVER the building has to stop! Besides being unsanitary, it makes the place look like a shit-house as food is ROUTINELY dropped all over the place! TIFN
More cheating…
8 hours ago
60 comments:
Are you saying some kids parents can't afford breakfast at home but can afford to buy it at school ?
Families are asked to fill out a form at the beginning of the school year to qualify for low income help to provide breakfast and lunch at the school.There are many kids in this community that don't have what they need and some that have too much. It's a good program so they have what is important so they can function in the classroom and not be hungry.
Anonymous,
I think you might be focusing on the trees for the forest. Everett has already stated in his posting that he supports the programs. They are worthwhile and, unfortunately in this day and age, still very necessary. I think we are all more than willing to nationally support the nutrition of all American children.
What Everett was referring to, if I may, is simply that the children taking advantage of this program, whether because of finances or ease, need to get to school early enough to eat their food in the cafeteria so they aren't bringing said food (or portions thereof) into the classroom. It's hardly a grand expectation and not at all a derogatory comment on families who are unable to provide nutritious breakfasts. It has very little to do, actually, with the food program and everything to do with personal responsibility for one's surroundings.
Warbler here seems to speak the truth.
Now Everett you know that ceramic tile, linoleum, and such is very easy to clean, like with a shop broom and a mop and maybe a buffing every twice a year.
Now I realize carpets would be a great idea, but they should come along with a maintenance plan for at least one steam cleaner, since that's the only way you can clean down to the pad. From outdoor carpet to Berber and thicker csrpet, that's the only way to maintain it.
Hope you didn't mind ne saying that. /sammie
To the first anony, No, not saying that at all!
Guess I should have re read the post a couple more times. Warbler did a first class job of interpreting my ramblings. It is ALL about the floors.
Sam, we have tile,asphalt on 90 percent of the floors in the school. The four rooms I am talking about are the original hardwood floors with gaps big enough to lose a small kid. In order to put down a ceramic or an asphalt tile floor, another subfloor(top floor?} would have to be installed first. I don't think the floor joist system could withstand the added weight. They are only 2x 10's and are a little springy right now!
What about buying a vinyl mat to be put down in a designated eating area? That way it could be mopped, and nothing crumbs fall in the cracks.
Why not just keep the food in the cafeteria, where it belongs.
Restrict food consumption- casually known as eating- to the cafeteria during the hours determined for said meal.
I'm tired of people confusing public places with their living room and who said you can keep the feed bag on ALL DAY?
No wonder we struggle with the epidemic of obesity.
Hmm, Everett, need to do something about that floor in the 4 rooms. Can you look at it from below, without tearing up anything?
You're right, if the floor has any movement to it, being "springy," you can't put down any kind of tile or sheet vinyl, as it would not last long. This sounds like the upstairs of the old part of the school to me, if I was guessing.
The right way to do it would be to make sure those beams are good, put down some plywood, and pour lightweight concrete on top - something like "gyp-crete" or whatever they call it. When you put down 5/8" plywood and and inch and a half of conrete, of course all the doors must be re-mounted.
It would be quite an undertaking but worth it. The concrete is fire-proof as well. /sam
Hi, I was doing some lookback on the Block Island paper. I used to visit BI all the time and had some very close friends who were islanders.
I looked at many issues over the years. Who on earth does the cartoons in the paper? Whomever it is personifies the locals as being idiots. You all are drawn to be always at the bar and drunk and stupid. Sorry to see it.
Hopefully I can get there this Spring!!!
JME
What I would like to know is why these kids can't ride the bus. It's a cluster fuck every morning and afternoon up there. Parents parking all over the place making u turns, chit chatting in the middle of the road, it's a joke. Ev you want some rules enforced,good luck!
Well here goes nothing. What is SUPPOSED to happen up there with the cars dropping off and picking up kids is: Cars come in the very first driveway opening, pick up the kids and drive away by making an immediate left turn and then go either way after getting to the main road. Buses ONLY get to use the other entrance till they leave with the kids on board. What actually happens is just as you described it above! Parents get out of their cars in the driveway and leave them there while they go hunting for the kids!The town pays good money for the buses and, and they are ALWAYS ON TIME! Parents come dragging their kids in to school in the morning long after the buses have deposited their load and departed! It amazes me why kids are chauffered (sp) to and from school twice a day what with the price of gas and the fact that the buses for the most part pass in close proximity to the kids abodes! All of my grandkids either ride the bus or they walk, and they will have to suffer the consequences of their actions if they are not where they are supposed to be, and on time. We continue, as a nation of doting parents and grandparents, to coddle our kids into thinking they are entitled to every possible amenity there is out there! Remember the four mile walk too and from school every day through six foot snow drifts we used to have to contend with? I don't know how some people expect their kids to survive in this dog eat dog world without exposure to some adversity in their young lives. Mommy and Daddy aren't going to be there to hold their hands and wipe their noses and asses for ever. Time for some parents to wake up and face reality! TIFN
The walk to and from school was uphill both ways.
ROFLMAO!!!!!
I remember walking the snow and frozen slush in CT when it was 8 degrees and blowing 30. Had to walk backwards, but I made it. Of course, I had already delivered the morning papers on ice skates, so I was used to it. In the afternoon I walked a long mile home and then grabbed a cookie and a snow shovel - I had work to do!
Everett, I left ya the translation on my blog ... it has a bad word in it. /sammie
What parents and the school should be doing is preparing the kids for college and a life off of block island.
I guess that last comment hits a little to close to home but it is the truth and apparently nobody want to address it. This is afact of life here now, a simple matter of econmics. Block Island, a great place to raise kids but they can't live here.
Well not all, not all. I moved back to an Island after many years of college, being a working stiff, and raising a family - basically poor as dirt. I finally got a consulting business going. My partners love to travel - I hate it, so here I am on my little Island. But you're right, it took 25 years of running away ... but you can come back. Some of the locals acted like I never even left!
/sam
Sam have check real estate prices on BI lately. Starter home $1,000,000. Good luck kids.
Actually, two years ago I was looking at one of two BI "fixer-upper" houses in the 650 range, but decided it was over-valued, to say the least. I moved to another island for 210.
So you're right.
So Ev how goes the war on crumbs?
Funny how Everett said there were cracks in the foor boards, and you could lose a small kid through 'em!
You bring this subject with island parents in person and they get very quiet, just like this blog.
I started this whole post to get a feel for how people might feel about a change in how things were done in the school with regard to the usage of food in the building.
It WAS NOT meant to be any sort of condemnation of any parent on how they conducted their family lives. That is NONE of my business. This was undertaken solely on my part, as a way to help reduce the impact of the food being carried all over the building and being spilled/dropped/left there to be cleaned up later by the cleaning crew. Whose time I might add, can be better used doing other needed things.
This is all part of the job that I was asked to do, and that was to bring the old building, and the new, into a level of cleanliness and good repair that it had not enjoyed in some time. When I went up and looked at the place after I had had some conversations with a few School Committee members, I was appalled at the level and depth of, well, call it what is was, "filth" to which the place had slipped too! It was, to put it succintly, a shit hole! And with five grand kids currently in there, I didn't want them to have to continue in that mess for the rest of their time in school. A selfish reason perhaps.
And to the above commenter, I have noticed a distinct coolness in greetings from some of the folks who may have felt singled out. I named no one,and wouldn't/couldn't, as I have virtually no idea which kid belongs to who unless they are holding hands!
I have sent a letter to the SC regarding this whole question and now it is up to them to act on it or not. To those of yo who feel strongly about the situation, in either direction, a letter or comment to the members of the SC might be in order to let them know what the wishes of the taxpaying public are. TIFN
So why does one teacher have his own private parking on the north side of the school?
Hello Boss,
Not that I don't love swabbin' the decks like ye ole' days in the navy.....but I prefer using Henry....hmmmmm who is this from you may be wondering????
I agree with your research on the carpet. Considering all of the heat "issues" and noises that can some times come from the down under (basement floor), why not insulate the elementary rooms? Super hi-grade!!! I hope we are not covering the woods floors with armstrong floor cover like all of the new building. The ware and tear is deadful. (im all about the job security) but that flooring needs to be stripped and stripped and stripped until what is left??? Plus it isnt very cozy.
Anyway, the food in the classrooms....kiddies need snack time!! big kiddies too..just wondering when there is time???? too much learning going on up there.....hahaha I do know that a car can't run without gas........let them eat cake!!
There is no need for food to anywhere but cafeteria. The kids do not need snack time. School is forlearning and obeying the rules not getting special treatment because their parents have no backbone. I can't believe the teachers and supervisors allow this to continue. We paid alot of money for the school and to have it trashed by a bunch of spoiled kids enabled by some lazy ass adults is a disgrace!!!
Ev why not call the dept of health and get an inspector over here see what they have to say about sanitary conditions.
THE PLACE IS NOT REALLY THAT BAD! yes, kids DO need to have snacks! Most humans do.
As far as the "DOTING parents" comment, everybody has a different circumstance. Some parents may have kids in both the big school and the pre school. They open at different times. That is why driving is easier. Yes, the bus is always on time but the kids get picked up so early to be @ school at 7:40ish. To get the kids up, dressed, jackets, shoes, backpacks, make lunches, get out to the bus stop and have another on a different schedule and get yourself ready for work and on time........it is alot to do in a short period of time. (and early) (this is even trickier if a parent is single) What are you thinking now??????...get up earlier......sure.....then have a 7.5 hour day at school with only a 25 minute lunch break...come on!!! What if they do sports afterwards??? oh and after that, homework etc..it is a long day for little ones!!! (and parents)
Yes parents can over do it with parking and picking up their kids....well, that is great b/c we can see other humans and communicate with other parents. WE NEED THIS. Their is a police officer there too if it really becomes a problem. Don't believe it has!! If we do not pick up our kids, (they bus it) how do the kids get to the next part of their day....esp if we need to give them an out of the school snack???
my point is there are many sides to this block island coin!
As an impartial off-Islander, that last post made some sense to me. It is really not all that bad, most likely, other than as a school volunteer Everett probably gets to see the stuff hit the floor more than most of you folks. Working on some small kind of improvement ain't such a bad idea - just don't take it the wrong way, as it is no great shakes.
-Sam
I know I'll be sorry I said this but, "back in the day when" My generation didn't have the snack thingy's and I suppose that is the reason we all grew up to be such a bunch of dumb asses!
A lot of good comments but, this was supposed to be about food in the classrooms! That's all!! All the rest of a lot of the comments,are strictly about organization and time allotment!
I know I'll be sorry I said this but, "back in the day when" My generation didn't have the snack thingy's and I suppose that is the reason we all grew up to be such a bunch of dumb asses!
A lot of good comments but, this was supposed to be about food in the classrooms! That's all!! All the rest of a lot of the comments,are strictly about organization and time allotment!
No snacks, no food in the classrooms, pack the lunch the night before. Get up earlier and get your shit together. stop making excuses.
The school is not a mess. Far from it.
There may be some crumbs around, but nothing a teacher with a broom and dustpan couldn't handle; If the administration just made a couple of rules like:
1. No food leaves the cafeteria.
2. Teachers who allow snack time must sweep up afterwards (or have the kids do it).
Then the problem would all but dissapear.
Like many problems there are very easy solutions to this.
Kids do need a healthy snack in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon to get through the day. For that matter, most adults need a little snack during the day! (BTW I see alot more overweight adults around this island than I do children. )
Children today, on Block Island and everywhere else, have a lot more work to complete during the day than we did. The government, both Federal and State, puts all kinds of demands on what students need to know, and by what point they need to know it. These kids are being tested constantly. In addition, they have more after school sports, music lessons and the like than most of us had as well (not to mention homework!). This is all good. But don't expect that a third grader can perform all day with just a PB&J sandwich and the trimmings at 11:20 a.m. (that's just about the time some adults are grabbing their fourth coffe and a muffin at the Orange Cat or the Depot)
Maybe it's boredom that's leading you to complain about the school and the parents because some of these complaints are just weak! Please, why do you care where the parents park, and why is it any of your business who drives their kids to school or why?
This town has some real problems with solutions not as easily solved as crumbs on the floor. Why don't you all focus on something a little more worthwile?
JME
The cartoons in the paper are always of a bar scene because that is where the artist spends his time. We're all hoping the BI Times will drop him soon.
He can somebody say exactly WHY kids are eating in classrooms? Is it study hall time or something? Is it the occasional cupcake party (like Valentine's Day) or somebody's birthday?
Or is it just kids eating all the time in the classrooms while being instructed?
If the latter case is true, I'd have to agree with Everett ...
It is the latter!
Hi Pinko, You made me LOL 'cause that IS the way things go around here. I did notice one interesting thing in the paper yesterday though. It was in the story about the Town Hall. They are putting tile on the floor in the public spaces, and CARPETS IN THE OFFICE'S, THE KIND THEY USE IN COLLEGE,S!!!! Where the hell DO they get ideas like that? Someone had their thinking cap on in this instance. TIFN
As a parent with kids in the grades you are referring to, I have a few observations to make. I'll admit until recently I was one of those parent who dropped off and picked up every day. When you have a child in Kindergarten or First grade, taking the bus can be intimidating to say the least. And for the Kindergartners, the full day is already pretty long. The Block Island school, and many others around the country used to have a half day program. Some still do.
You have to remember that 5 year olds are taking the bus with kids 12 years older than them, and everything in between. It's probably loud, and overwhelming for certain personalities.
After reading this blog, and some of the posts, I thought, "hey my kids are older, lets give the bus thing a shot again." And aside from periodic complaints, it's been great. I get a few extra minutes in my day, I avoid the disorganized parking situation, and I save money on gas.
I still pick my kids up once a week or so, and we don't always make the bus in the morning for a multitude of reasons I won't bore you with. But we're trying. (And they always have breakfast at home.)
Now for the snack thing. My son comes home with math homework, that I, with a bachelors degree, can not do without the cheat sheet the teacher gives us. These kids are doing more in second grade than I did in fourth grade. He comes home mentally exhausted, and proceeds to clean out the pantry. He usually has a sandwich, an apple, and some other snack before he eats his dinner at 6pm. And he isn't fat. He's a growing kid, and he is constantly hungry. I believe if he weren't given his mid-morning snack, which from what I understand is crackers of some kind, and juice, I think he would probably have a much harder time.
My daughter, gets the same.
I am guessing that snack may not be the culprit. The breakfast may be. Milk, sticky cereal, etc.
Maybe a start would be offering breakfast up until 5 minutes before the school bell. And have them eat in the cafeteria. If they know they have a cutoff, maybe they'll eat a little faster, or get there on time to get it.
I also think that during the day, a dustpan and brush in the classroom to clean up little messes could help maintain a more sanitary environment.
Kids should be learning how to clean up after themselves along with the three R's.
It is not my impression that the teachers are strapping feed bags to their mouths for the duration. Both my kids said they eat snack once a day, no snacking whenever they like.
My final idea is this. You know how the gym floor has that high gloss thick coat of whatever on it? Could we pour a layer of that stuff over the surface to level out the cracks etc. I think carpets are more of a breeding ground for germs and allergens.
Carpet comes in all different kinds. Commercial carpet can be installed over a foam pad or directly on flooring - the latter is like indoor/outdoor carpet.
The kind with a pad, like those used in most homes, is difficult because dirt goes through the rug fabric and into the pad. In wet or humid areas, the pad can actually grow mold. Food particles, dander, and other allergens can be trapped in the pad and no amount of vacuuming will take it out, even steam cleaning.
So the kind of carpet treatment is important, and use of a pad is generally a bad idea in commercial areas. In all the houses I've lived in, we always threw away the carpet and put down tile, since my wife and kids are allergic to mildew and other contaminants. FYI,
/Sam
Since so many people have commented on the "parking problems" caused by parents I have a problem that relates more to parking than food:
Adults attending meetings at the school at night seem to park exclusivly in the FIRE LANE in front of the school. The parking lot sits empty, as do the spots to the north. Why doesn't the fire department or the police department do something about this?
It is certainly as much a fire hazard at night as it is during the day, right?
How about one fat member of the school commitee who parks his truck in the fire lane. He should park in the ferry lot and walk to the school he could use the workout.
Wow. Who pissed in your chocolates and flowers Valentine?
Someone may have been out to sea just a little too long. Time for some stateside R&R and an attitude adjustment.
I don't like people who as a way of life work for 4-5 months of the year and collect unemployment for the rest of the year. It's not just chubby there's alot of them out here. They work the system because they feel entitled to,but we all pay for their lazy asses. What example does that set for thier children.
Anonymous,
Welcome to Block Island. You may well be one of the few people with a year round job, and if you are, well, congratulations! I hope you got vacation time and benefits with that great job of yours.
Unfortunetly, due to the seasonal nature of our tourist economy, most people out here work fewer than 8 months of the year. During the majority of those months, many are working up to 90 hours a week, and in some cases, more.
I think it's great that someone who packs all their working hours into 3/4 of the year is generous enough with their time to serve on town boards and volunteer their time to others.
Due to your rude name calling, we can all figure out who you are talking about, so, FYI, when that person closes down his summer business he runs his winter business.
If you are going to sit back and insult those who appear not to work, why don't you start with some better targets, like our first warden, or all the people who rent their houses all summer instead of holding a job.
Wait. None of that is any of our business, so we don't care. So why don't you get a second job because you have too much time on your hands.
What winter buisness?
Our anonymous friend has negated his/her valid point with useless namecalling. If you had just said, "Why do members of the school commitee park in the fire lane?" THAT would have sparked some meaningful conversation on a legitimate gripe. Instead we have turned our discussion to how big your mouth must be to fit your foot in it.
The parking/drop-off situation at the school is a three ring circus, and much like last years construction induced set up, is dangerous.
Aside from a map handed out defining what spots are for what, no one is enforcing the rules, and there is no one outside acting as a crossing-guard/ saftey monitor/ traffic director.
Many mornings I have pulled into the so called "drop off" lane, (which as I understand is to be used to put your car in park, leave the motor running while your child exits the car, and then you drive away), I pull up behind the person in front of me, let my child out, and realize the person in front of me has exited their car to bring their child into school. I look behind me to see if I can reverse without running over someone elses kid to find the person behind me has also left their car to escort their child into the school, now cars are pilling up so people are using the other lane to drop off. Kids are running in front of my car and I am locked in on three sides by cars. On the few occassions that I have had to bring my child into school in the morning, I park my car in the parking lot, and walk in.
I really wish someone was standing outside to discourage people from parking in the drop-off only circle, and to make sure kids getting dropped off on the street because the circle is so inefficient, were safe.
For a while there has been a police officer on duty after school telling people they can't park on the street across from the school. Why can't we have someone doing the same in the morning? I think any other elementary school in the state is required to have a safety officer or staff member monitoring traffic.
And to answer the last question he runs a winter housewatch/handyman business.
How far from cookies in the classroom can we go?
Handyman- Housewatch give me a break!!! The only tool he knows how to use is a fork. I'm sure he reports any income from this, HA. Of course he is a registered contractor and has insurance,as you must obtain a building permit for any job valued over $500.
Okay folks, this enough of the name calling. If you don't like the guys, politics, life style, personal habits etc., meet him face to face and talk it out. This wasn't meant to be a forum for some to vent their personal displeasure with other folks. Any more comments of the sort will be yanked.
Like the comment from 1:59 said we are pretty far from cookies in the class room.
About the dropping off of kids at the school, I have no good solution other than if you want or have to walk your kid to the front door, How about pulling into the lane that leads to the dumpster in the playing field? Not onto the field, just the truck access "road"?
Any progress with the war on crumbs?
Bah, the firelane should be redone to better specifications. Was this a state fire marshall thing or just good intentions? Most often, schools are fronted by public and bus loading areas with some handicap parking. A fire lane is simply to be able to get a large fire truck through the middle.
If I was running things as Principal, I would see if even MORE food could be available to the kids if they want it, like some really healthy stuff. I would also institute a policy that "beyond this area, you could get detention for having food." You do have a cafeteria and common area, right?
This ain't rocket science, folks.
/sammie
Oh come on, let's live and let live. Some people were just born with sour grapes and I don't have time for all that boogie. All forums and boards have their secret little naysayer who is typically anonymous. They have a viewpoint and an opinion, and that is OK but let's ignore it, OK?
I mean come on, it is like we're trying to reform this devil of a person, and that just ain't going to work!
Let's try to fix our own problems and try to stay happy even when its cold, the money is running out, and tax time is right around the corner. I used to get so depressed this time of year. Now I've learned to roll with the punches and to laugh it off.
Try a smile, a thank-you, and making somebody feel good this week. You WILL feel better. /sam
So you all approve of working under the table and collecting unemployment. I think the term is fraud.
Well Ev it looks like you lost round one, at least according to the paper. I would like to know if these medical reasons are documented or just BS made up by enabling parents. IN other words are there doctors notes on file? I recently had a chance to walk thru the school and it is dirty. I would hate to see the homes of people who say it's not too bad. I say go with the health inspector route.
OK, Everett, ask the school nurse how many diabetics are enrolled in school. I can't think of many other diseases that would REQUIRE frequent snacks, can you?
/sam
Ignore the quagmire, stay the course.
Hey Everett
How about a new topic?
I'M Thinkin' about one but it gets harder all the time!! Just one more shot at this one though. There were two guys here today working on the school heating system and we got to talking about this topic. Turns out that BOTH guys wives work in two different school systems as teachers. One in Pawtucket and the other in Smithfield. Neither of those two cities allows food in the classroom, and these two guys know of no other schools in RI that do unless they are private or special schools of a type. So even though I got shot in the foot in the local paper, I still stand by what I have proposed to the School Committee. I just find it hard to accept that a kid of school age, if he had breakfast at home or at the school, can't survive till lunch time without a refill. Maybe some that have physical problems. If it is for an energy boost because they are tired when they arrive at school. Parents--- put 'em to bed earlier and they won't be in need of an artificial means of keeping the metabolism in high gear till noon! I'll be sorry I said that I'll bet!
Ev you are 100% correct its a joke that kids can't go from breakfast till lunch without food. I will bet that on the underling reasons that they want to allow this to continue, is because it will create work enforcing the new policy and might spark a confrontation. I think that the people in charge are just lazy and chicken.
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