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Zachary Dean


Career development 1mo
I am the deputy principal at an elementary school, and recently, parents of first-grade students have brought up a concern. The issue is that their teacher needs to eat small, frequent meals every hour due to her health condition, but young children find it difficult when the teacher is constantly eating during lessons.
I want to be sensitive to her health situation and avoid causing her stress, but I also want to address the concerns of the students and their parents. Could you advise me on who I might consult regarding this delicate matter?
Thank you for your guidance.

6   

  • Winni Watson

    1mo
    Best answer

    I'm a retired teacher, and in my opinion, we gravely underestimate our children's ability to understand and accept many things.
    This is how I would... handle this situation. In a very matter of fact way, explain to the children that the teacher does this because of her medical condition - because she HAS to, and NOT just to pamper herself.
    If the adults present and accept this as a matter of fact, the chldren will too. I've proved this over and over again over the years
    WE create the issues when we apply "adult" logic to a child's way of looking at things. We think that we have to provided an "adult" explanation, when, in fact, the child is perfectly able - and willing I might add - to accept the situation as a fact of life, and to treat it as such     more

  • Leo George William Smith

    1mo

    I think the student should always come first no exceptions. How old are these students?
    Unless this teacher is an expert at teaching discipline,... students should come first. more

  • Zahra'u Ibrahim Waya

    1mo

    Actually if the teacher is good you can do one thing. You can split her lesson into 30 minutes to have a break. Another person will over look the... class for 10 minutes break to eat her food in staff room to avoid the children to understand her health problem. At the same time you can advise her to seek medical care . more

  • Bukari Tunsung

    1mo

    You can let the parents know of her condition.
    Also seek consent from teacher before you make it openly known to them.
    If the teacher maybe not like... it that way, let her know the situation so that she can always find a place to take the food. more

  • Carolyn Cooper

    1mo

    Most teachers desks are positioned in the back, behind the students.

  • Wolf Jones

    1mo

    Make a power point chart that shows the mental health of the children , wellness or actions in the daily time frame of the eating habits & does it... keeps them ready to learn or distract or etc. more

    1

  • Julie Brown

    1mo

    I’m not and HR expert by any means but I am someone who was raised and grew up in an era where adults were not questioned. (Not saying a child should... not have a voice nor am I saying some adults decisions should have been questioned!).

    But why are we as a society letting 5/6/7 year olds determine what their teacher does? If it is not DRASTICALLY affecting the children’s learning system.. why is there such an uproar regarding her snacking?

    I mean I never questioned when ANY of my teachers ate at any age.     more

  • Jamey Murphy

    1mo

    Do not make any decisions without discussing with your HR. There is likely an accommodation that should/could be made for this situation as a medical... issue.
     more

  • J.D. Walker

    1mo

    This teacher is likely a Type 1 diabetic. Adjustments for ANYONE's sensibilities need not be made, as if either type diabetes gets out of control, it... can quickly kill you. Anyone complaining about this teacher needs to have several seats, because you are lacking in empathy and compassion. more

    1

  • William Patterson

    1mo

    Is this more to this story? Are the children complaining because they're told they cannot have snacks in the room? which is a classroom rule? Other... than that, change the classroom rules more

    1

  • Dennis Turner

    1mo

    There is nothing you can do if it is a medical issue you have to make an adjustment for her. Don't want the union on you!

  • MarieJude Smart

    1mo

    Are the meals something like sandwiches or a few nuts or an apple slice? A bigger meals cannot be consumed without other noticing. But few walnuts,... for example, or a slice of an apple or pear can be easily eaten with her back to the class. I believe that a teacher's health has a priority to children's comfort. After all many students wear their EpiPen belt without any problems. Health has precedence over a discomfort. more

    1

  • Tracey Mitchell

    1mo

    I think you should consult the school's nurse to address the teacher's health status with receiving snacks related to her health diagnosis. Then, I... would alert the students in her class about a health situation. I would assume if the teacher is comfortable with sharing her health situation. I was in that same situation with being hypoglycemic.  more

    2

  • Jummai Ibrahim Sagir

    1mo

    Advice the teacher to eat outside the class room, perhaps in the staff lounge or staff room. She should occupy the students with class work. Can... appoint someone to take control of he class before she comes back.  more

    4

  • Violet Baluka

    1mo

    the chdn may by kidding or just wish to share with her the meals.investigate

  • Martell Espinoza

    1mo

    Their just kids unless she's being over the top

  • Bill A

    1mo

    Don't make it a institutional issue, treat it as an isolated case if its only handful of students.

  • Mr. Biggz

    1mo

    Protein shakes or nutrient shakes in a bottle that could resemble a water bottle. There are so many good quality supplements that can provide that.

  • James Anderson

    1mo

    I’m not aware of any disorder where an individual is ordered to eat constantly. I believe this person took her order to eat smaller meals to heart,... distorting the actual order. However, I would direct the school nurse to speak with her. I wouldn’t turn this over to HR just yet, unless it appears this mole hill turns into a mountain. more

    2

  • Monograms & More

    1mo

    This is a definitely a personnel concern. I recommend seeking their guidance on a response for the families.

  • S.N. Sims

    1mo

    The teacher could allow snacking in class. As long as the kids don’t have messy snacks, it would make things easier. The kids won’t over eat. She’ll... find that simply giving them the option may be enough to alleviate the issue while simultaneously being able to take care of her health and not put her job at risk. A little compassion and consideration can go a long way in both directions.  more

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