An open campus lunch policy is more than just a break from school, it is an opportunity for students to develop independence and have the chance to make healthier choices. While this benefits students, it also relieves CHS staff from a heavier mid-day workload and allows them to have a less crowded campus during lunch.
An open campus lunch policy consists of letting designated students leave campus during their lunch period to get outside food. Having this privilege is important because many students refuse to eat the school lunch due to the lack of options and their own personal limitations or dislikes.
Students may decline school lunches for a variety of reasons, but when asked, 34% of students say that they do not eat the school lunches due to disliking the school meals, and 22% say that the line for school meals is too long.
These percentages of students highlight the significant barriers that stop students from eating school lunches. If students are dissatisfied with their on-campus options for lunch, they may prefer to leave campus which promotes balanced options and student responsibility. By allowing students to explore off-campus options for lunch, schools can encourage them to make healthier choices that better align with their preferences, leading to increased satisfaction among students.
A highschool in New York conducted a study which revealed that 99% of students are in favor of open campus lunches. The overwhelming majority approval for open campus lunches indicates a strong desire among students for the freedom of choice that comes with an open campus lunch policy.
CHS has a total of 2,290 students, with a ratio of one teacher to 23 students. If all 2,290 students stayed on campus during lunch, the quad would become overcrowded, and the lunch monitors would be severely outnumbered. Having a majority of the upperclassmen leave campus for lunch lessens the amount of students the staff have to monitor.
Having an open campus lunch policy demonstrates the staff’s trust in students, leading to significant improvements in academic and overall school life. Allowing the students to have the freedom of leaving campus for the duration of lunch shows that the administration believes in the students’ abilities to manage their time. To illustrate this, a n MU study has found that having a good teacher-student relationship and mutual trust encourages students to have better focus and commitment in their studies.
CHS has an abundance of restaurants and stores all within a five minute drive. This close proximity helps students get to their last period classes on time, and even makes it possible for those who ride electric bikes to still enjoy the freedom of open campus lunches. While the students benefit from being able to buy food and drinks during lunch, these local stores benefit from the extra customers as well.
Having an open campus lunch policy fosters a sense of responsibility and trust between the students and staff. By easing the midday workload for staff and reducing campus overcrowding, the policy benefits everyone involved. Allowing students this freedom demonstrates a commitment to enhancing the overall school experience and preparing them for a life beyond highschool.
