Another view: Short lunch periods force students to eat quickly

ANOTHER VIEW

Short lunch periods force students to eat quickly

Studies say it takes at least 20 minutes after eating to feel full. For local elementary students those 20 minutes are all they have to get into the lunchroom, go through the line and eat.

Cape Girardeau public schools food service coordinator Lisa Elfrink said the elementary cafeterias was not designed to handle the high volume of students who go through the lines.

"We constantly feel like we're having to tell them to hurry up and eat," she said.

Second-grader Hannah Elledge said the teachers and parent helpers in the lunchroom tell the students that they have five minutes of quiet time so they can eat.

She says sometimes she has to eat too fast.

"I sometimes have time to eat all of it, but sometimes I have leftovers," said third-grader Cari Godbey.

Fourth-grader Dylan Wachter said he does not have enough time and is mad because he does not get to eat all his food.

Elfrink said she would like to see lunch time last at least 25 minutes.

"The only solution is to extend the day and that is going to be a monumental task," she said. "I think that somebody is going to have to make us do it for us to be able to do it."

-- Aurora Meyer