Having an open lunch at Washburn Rural High School sounds really cool, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider before making it happen.
One of the positives that open lunch would give students is more freedom to leave campus and eat where they want. This could make lunch more fun because school food isn’t always the best, and having more choices would allow everyone to have an opportunity to eat something they like.
It would also help with the crowded cafeteria since not everyone would be there at the same time. Another advantage of an open lunch is that it could help students learn how to be more responsible and manage their time wisely. Encouraging students to take a step to be more grown-up.
But then there are some disadvantages to think about, too. One of the biggest worries is safety. If a lot of students leave campus, many will drive with friends and will be in a hurry to get food, which could cause accidents or unsafe situations. The school could get in trouble if a student gets hurt or does something wrong while they’re off campus during lunch.
Another disadvantage would be getting the students back to school on time for the next class. Fairness becomes a big problem, also. Not every student has a car or money to buy food outside of school, so lunch wouldn’t be equal for everyone.
A good way to start easing into off-campus lunch would be to let seniors or students with all A’s and good behavior try it first. This way, the school can see if it works without letting everyone leave and go at once.
Open lunch could be a great thing if it’s done carefully and with rules to keep everyone safe and treated fairly.