Lunch is serious business here at North Atlanta High School. For years, students have avoided eating in the cafeteria for multiple reasons. The overwhelming noise, the filth left behind by the lunch prior, the battle down the stairs, the aggravated lunch monitors, and so on. Both teachers and administrators noticed students bunching up on the second floor or staying on their floor to eat between the lockers. After multiple attempts to keep everyone in the cafeteria, the administration caved: Students are now permitted to eat on the floor that their third period is on.
As soon as the lunch bell rings, starving students sprint out the door, shoving all who get in their way. This includes those who sit on their floor, oddly enough. Students sit on top of lockers, in between the lockers, underneath the stairs, on the benches next to the stairs, and more. Many want to avoid having to shove themself down multiple floors to eat lunch, including senior Anna Kate O’Kelley. “Honestly, I am way too lazy for the long trek down from the tenth floor to the third,” said O’Kelley.
Although students are no longer restricted to just the cafeteria, some students still choose to eat there. Is it the aroma of fresh pizza that draws people in the double doors, or the socializing prospects? Extroverts such as junior Harley Hull enjoy eating in the cafeteria. “I find it interesting to see what my friends have for lunch and trade my snacks,” said Hull, “but more importantly, I like to people-watch.”
With the additional lunch seating option, there has been an increased need for hall and lunch monitors. These jobs are no easy task. Between students attempting to sneak out the cafeteria doors, sit on different floors, or having to scream at students who are messing around, no teacher happily volunteers, and those who do are most certainly brave. Strangely, according to most hall monitors, there have been little to no issues with this new freedom, while issues still remain in the cafeteria. Ultimately, what’s important is that the floors stay squeaky clean and students remain safe. “In the beginning, students would roam around to other floors, but other than that there have not been issues,” said 10th floor hall monitor Shirley Guiteau. “And I’m not complaining!”
Although students still wander around or sit elsewhere for lunch, the attempt of the NAHS administration provides more freedom to students. Hopefully, the issues of lunch will fade and the stampede down the stairs will die down as we progress into the school year. Whether in the cafeteria or on floor eleven, students sure do love lunch!
