Learning Lunch benefits all students who need extra help
Bowling Green High School has always tried to increase opportunities to better its students. A recent example of these changes is the introduction of Learning Lunch, which is a system meant to encourage students to get all of their work done on time.
The system is fairly simple; when students don’t turn in their work, they are given a slip telling them to report to Learning Lunch. Students are then expected to get their lunch and report to a designated classroom during the lunch period to finish any uncompleted work. Once students are finished, they can return to the cafeteria to finish lunch like normal.
Unsurprisingly, many students are not happy with this system because it takes them out of their normal lunch schedule and forces them to turn in all of their work, even if they are content with accepting zeros for their missing assignments. However, many students have been completely unaffected by Learning Lunch by simply completing all of their assignments when they’re meant to be finished. For example, sophomore Tucker Strowe has never been to Learning Lunch, but believes the system is fair. Tucker said, “Learning Lunch is definitely a fair alternative to after-school detention.”
Kyle McGraw, an assistant principal at BGHS, said, “Zeroes are what really cause kids to fail classes, so we wanted another way to support our students and teachers.” McGraw also argues that Learning Lunch isn’t a form of punishment. Instead, it’s meant to give students a chance to sit down one-on-one with a teacher and discuss anything they may be struggling with that’s keeping them from getting their work done. McGraw emphasized the fact that the school has seen fewer students failing from missing assignments since the introduction of Learning Lunch.
This should show that Learning Lunch is effective as a reflective time for students who have fallen behind in their classes or are struggling with concepts, stopping them from getting their work done on time. Another positive part of Learning Lunch is that it does not affect people who don’t need the extra help and instead allows the school to focus in on students who need to develop any skills needed to catch up to other students. Anyone who thinks that being sent to Learning Lunch isn’t justifiable should realize that their actions led them there and that it is easily avoidable if they take the time to finish everything assigned to them.
By Hemi Bell
Learning Lunch highlights deeper problems in the school
High school students will likely agree that the most anticipated part of the school day is lunch. It's the only time during the regular school day to socialize and refuel for the remainder of the day. A recent Harvard study supports the theory that taking away any part of lunch for middle and high school students leads to students becoming “more unruly” and “less attentive” as well as negatively impacting student health. Why, then, did Bowling Green High launch the Learning Lunch program that basically does away with the students lunch period?According to principal William King, Learning Lunch is intended to “ensure that students complete assignments, which allows for a continuation of learning.” King said that there were “large numbers of zeros on homework assignments” and that “[the administrators’] goal at BGHS is that grades reflect learning.” However, Learning Lunch does little to discover why students aren't turning in homework, which seems to be the source issue, and any benefits derived from Learning Lunch are outweighed by the negatives.
According to the George Lucas Educational Foundation, the purpose of homework is to give students feedback. If students wait too long for feedback, they risk not learning anything from the homework assignment. Unfortunately, once homework is turned in, students may not get feedback quickly. Thus, the ultimate goal of a grade-boosting program should be improving learning through prompt feedback. When assignments aren't graded or returned quickly with feedback, it is missing the point.
Decreasing the length of lunch is perhaps the biggest downside to Learning Lunch. The administration has already decided to shorten lunch by ten minutes. After waiting in line and finding a seat, that decreases lunch to about 15-20 minutes. According to TeenHealthCare.org, “Without lunch, student's bodies begin to slow or even shut down as a way to save energy, impairing mental and physical functions...eating too quickly can negatively impact the digestive system.”
King said that at the end of the semester, he is “planning to evaluate the data and make necessary adjustments.” Two such adjustments ought to be the abolishment of Learning Lunch, an attempted cure without a proper diagnosis to find the cause of missed homework, and establishment of a system that ensures all work is graded quickly and effectively.
By John Woodring