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Monday, August 24, 2020

“Instructional Lunch” Should be a Deal-Breaker | JD2718

“Instructional Lunch” Should be a Deal-Breaker | JD2718

“Instructional Lunch” Should be a Deal-Breaker



“Instructional Lunch” is a rally bad idea. It is a huge flaw in the NYC Department of Education’s blended learning plans for September. Students in most schools will not go to a cafeteria (where the whole school would mix, theoretically letting a spread event involved the entire student body). Instead, students will eat lunch in their classrooms while a teacher teaches.
The blended learning plans call for masks – except for lunch. A dozen or so children in a room with an adult will remove masks, and eat lunch. The DoE documents don’t mention that they will eat in silence, but I assume that’s because they want to make the principals the bad guys.
Here’s Mulgrew’s description (from an August 8 email to members):
Instructional lunch for students: Using the Breakfast in the Classroom model from elementary schools, many students will have instructional lunches to maximize their class time and minimize their contact with children outside their own class groups. Since not all types of instruction can happen during student lunch, school communities should discuss the types of instruction that can effectively happen during this time. You will still have a duty-free lunch, so in many cases a different teacher will teach your students during the instructional lunch period.
Imagine being the cluster teacher assigned to cover “Instructional Lunch” all day.
Later clarification has the teacher in the back of the room, looking at the students’ backs as they eat.

What is the motivation for “Instructional Lunch”?

The Mayor and Chancellor desperately want to open schools. Hell, most teachers would rather teach in CONTINUE READING: “Instructional Lunch” Should be a Deal-Breaker | JD2718