Mom upset about noiseless, military-style lunches forced on students at New Bedford schools

“I don’t know how many parents are aware but at Keith Junior High School and other schools, they have always been heavy on the students not speaking but now they are forcing noiseless lunches.

Recently my child was in trouble in school with some other children. They were forced to write an essay and denied recess due to ‘talking.’ The story isn’t about worked up children forcing conversation. These are brief conversations like the offering of a pencil sharpener as ‘breaking the rules.’

How do other parents feel about this? Why are they forcing our children to have a military experience at school? Why are they unable to socialize or even offer a kind gesture of a pencil sharpener? My son was forced to do these things for doing what I teach him to do every day! Do other parents find these schools are becoming a little much when it comes to our children?

Keep me anonymous please! Never know with these schools and retaliation. I have children in the public school system. Just want to see if I can get a few parents to speak out and voice their opinion. Most parents are not even aware of this silent lunch rule. The school claims it’s so children don’t choke! Seriously?”