Lunchroom Reform

As an intern I was assigned the daily task of lunchroom duty.  During this time I realized that I truly enjoy being in the lunchroom.  It provided me with the opportunity to interact with students and staff on a daily basis.  However, what was also quickly noted is that the lunchroom can rapidly turn from a beloved place into a disorganized mess.  It can be a place full of poor manners, loud voices, and a lack of cooperation and respect. 

Since I had the opportunity to be in the lunchroom from the beginning of lunch until the end I was able to observe all of the previously mentioned behaviors and more.  Teachers were dropping off and picking up their students at different times, there was no specified place for classes to line up, and there was no incentive to do any different.   There was an obvious need for reform but I was unsure of where to start.  Should I voice my concerns to the principal?  Additionally, would the principal support the needed changes?  And would both the administration and teachers like the changes?

To initiate the necessary changes in the lunchroom I discussed sending out a survey monkey to all of the teachers.  I thought this would give the teachers a voice in the decision making process as well as create buy-in from the staff.  However, during this process I was working with the vice principal who disagreed with sending out a survey to the faculty, and asked me not to.  This was tough because I felt very strongly about getting faculty buy-in; however, I know there are different ways of getting to an end product.  Furthermore, I believe the most important part of change is not how we get there but that we get there.  Thus, I moved forward with the suggested approach. 

The first step we took was redoing the lunchroom schedule and making it visible.  This allowed both the students and the faculty to know when lunch started and ended.  This would hopefully affect the drop off and pick up times of those coming early and late.  Additionally, we designated places for individual classes to line up.  Finally, the most important change that we made focused on the atmosphere of the lunchroom.  Instead of focusing on misbehaviors we began focusing on desired behaviors. 

What I learned from this process is that change takes time.  The previously mentioned changes took months to implement.  Teachers did not immediately buy-in; however, each agreed changes were necessary in the lunchroom. Additionally, I learned that no change is too small.  This seemed like such an insignificant project, but as I worked to implement changes I realized how important the smallest changes are.