Almost suspended for the stupidest reason....

iherzi · 02-14-2008, 04:56 PM

At my school we aren't allowed to eat [at lunch] anywhere but the cafeteria or outside the school. There are obvious problems with this ridiculous rule, one being that there isn't enough space for our school assembly [we have 2 different ones each time].

I also have social anxiety issues and I can't handle large groups of people so eating in the cafeteria is out of the question for me. So I ignore the rule.

Today I got sent to my VP because "I've been disrespectful towards the school and the administration". He told me that if I was caught again I would get suspended. Even after I tried explaining my problem to him he said "It doesn't matter. You are not exempt from the rules."

No, I shouldn't be exempt from the rules but this rule is ridiculous! Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can stay away from the cafeteria during lunch but not get suspended?

Oh and there are no places that I could hide btw. We have like a million hall monitors.

Miss Silvestris · 02-14-2008, 05:01 PM

You probably should've talked this over with your VP instead of just breaking the rules. I'm not saying it's a good rule (it's not) but you can hardly be suprised at him being a bit ticked off by it.

Woswill · 02-14-2008, 05:06 PM

You didn't tell us where you were

Me thinks you know you were in the wrong

iherzi · 02-14-2008, 05:48 PM

^I was sitting in the hallway in the basement.

Newjack88 · 02-14-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

I also have social anxiety issues and I can't handle large groups of people so eating in the cafeteria is out of the question for me. So I ignore the rule.

not the solution. your school is actually right in not becoming an enabler to this disorder; you need treatment. go get therapy so that you can overcome your anxiety.

skp · 02-15-2008, 02:50 PM

I don't think he's in such a bad condition that he needs therapy, Newjack.
But I agree that he needs to get over his anxiety. Or, if it's that big of a deal, just buy lunch out, or get a friend to drive you to eat out.

Schmoomcgoo · 02-15-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

No, I shouldn't be exempt from the rules but this rule is ridiculous!?

You're right, you shouldn't be exempted, but it IS a ridiculous rule.

Quote:

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can stay away from the cafeteria during lunch but not get suspended?

Maybe ask around and find out how others you don't know about might be getting around it; you may find a place or you may find some sympathetic souls who make eating in the cafeteria more bearable.

Anon_Person_1 · 02-15-2008, 03:44 PM

Okay, solution: go to a counselor, get diagnosis of anxiety disorder, bring to VP, then sit in basement, library, whatever

kevin63138 · 02-15-2008, 04:35 PM

Are you taking any medicine for anxiety?

made4uchicago · 02-15-2008, 04:39 PM

if you have a good enough relationship with a teacher, ask him/her if you can eat in his/her room so that you don't get caught.

Newjack88 · 02-15-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

I don't think he's in such a bad condition that he needs therapy, Newjack. But I agree that he needs to get over his anxiety. Or, if it's that big of a deal, just buy lunch out, or get a friend to drive you to eat out.

idk, if he can't even eat lunch with his peers... that's pretty abnormal whatever way you look at it. it also doesn't sound like his anxiety is manageable. if it were a manageable case he'd be able to suck it up and eat in the cafeteria with everyone else but that's not the case.

catsushi · 02-15-2008, 07:52 PM

Hey, I totally understand. I HATE our school cafeteria...it's loud, crowded, messy, and I can't stand to be in there. I can completely understand with wanting to eat lunch in peace, especially when school is loud/stressful as it is, already.

However, the school's legitimate concern is that they don't want kids wandering off in private places to do drugs or other unmentionables.

My advice is:

a) Talk to your parents about this, have them write a letter or talk to the VP about this rule. Having some parental pressure might be the thing.

b) Ask a teacher if you can eat in the privacy of one of their classrooms. A lot of teachers at my school are pretty chill about doing this, as long as we clean up after ourselves.

c) Or for the extreme way out, get a notice from a doctor for a disorder that will give you a legitimate excuse.

Good luck!

Mike1234 · 02-15-2008, 10:56 PM

My cafeteria is not bad, but there is this one hallway where quite a few students sit and eat. It's allowed, and they have teachers around to make sure it's ok. This provides a good option for those who don't want to eat in the cafeteria, even though I don't really understand how the hall is any better. Also, when its nice out, people eat in the courtyard. I like to do this too, because it's such a beautiful courtyard, it's like a little park with benches and everything. So that's another popular option.

Prothero · 02-15-2008, 11:16 PM

I go outside and say I'm waiting for my mom to pick me up if I need to be alone for a while. Sometimes I don't like to be around 1000 noisy kids and I need some time to think alone.

Temporary solution might be to go to the bathroom and wait it out...otherwise just go find a table with one of your friends.

TheVeganActress · 02-15-2008, 11:46 PM

I'd eat a big breakfast and wait until after school to eat.
maybe take a really SMALL snack that you can quickly eat in the bathroom (I mean tiny and inconspicuous, like a small granola bar or handful of trail mix).

you'll survive without lunch, it's really not bad.