Drinking tea/coffee in classroom

icebergiceberg

Do you think staff (teachers, SNAs) should be allowed to bring in a cup of tea to class while they are working? Is it a H&S issue? Do you think it is unprofessional? A kind of lowering of the tone.

Or do you think that staff are entitled to do this, that it is not an issue and that it is no different from, for example, having a sip from a bottle of water?

What is the situation in your school?

solerina

I don't have an opinion either way, however if you are a teacher who stops students drinking in the classroom then you certainly shouldn't drink anything in the classroom.

The only reason I would consider bringing a drink with me would be if I was on for the entire morning and hadn't a break at all.

mirrorwall14

I have brought one when i'm on several classes straight but to be honest I completely forget to drink it even when I do and it goes stone cold

Edit: mine has a lid

Lady_North1

SNA here. I do sometimes bring my tea back with me but only if I've not had my full break, have to be back in class and it must be a mug with a lid. Not allowed "open" cups in classrooms.

Don't see an issue with it really. Certainly don't think it's unprofessional.

icebergiceberg

Lady_North1 wrote: »

SNA here. I do sometimes bring my tea back with me but only if I've not had my full break, have to be back in class and it must be a mug with a lid. Not allowed "open" cups in classrooms.

Don't see an issue with it really. Certainly don't think it's unprofessional.

Is there a policy about this in your school?

seavill

I don't particularly see any big deal once people aren't taking the you know what with it.
Rarely (once or twice a year) I would bring a cup of tea with me to class if I don't get a chance to have a break sometimes just get caught up dealing with something or having to meet with someone.
Recently I had to bring my lunch into class with me as I had a match during break time and wasn't given any time off had to go straight to class. I didn't ask was it ok. I didn't particularly care if it was I hadn't eaten since breakfast (missed small break too) and was in class the rest of the afternoon.

To me teaching is different in a way that you don't always get a break things don't always happen at a convenient time. In the example about with the match even if there had been a rule against it I still would have had my lunch in class.

r93kaey5p2izun

There is a policy of no hot drinks allowed outside staffroom in my school on health and safety grounds. I don't think it's at all unprofessional though unless you somehow allowed it to interfere with teaching and learning but that could apply to hundreds of things.

Lady_North1

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Is there a policy about this in your school?

Only policy is your cup must have a lid. Teachers don't do it much. I might once a month or so.... If I don't get my break I'd bring my cuppa to the room. It's kept out of kids way, on my desk, lid on mug.....

evolving_doors

I dunno, I know teachers who do it but I think its wierd drinking tea/coffee and teaching at the same time. Although im kind of ritualistic in that ill only enjoy tea/coffee when im on my own and no-one is bothering me.

Come to think of it I detest students sipping water during class too... its ridiculous nonsense. Quite a few students would easily drink a pint of water by 11pm and then be looking to leave to get refils pleading dehydration... in my day... etc.

sitstill

I do it the odd time if I haven't had a chance at break or on the days that I have 8 or 9 in a row. I wouldn't eat in class however, that is a bit unprofessional.

mirrorwall14

i've had my lunch in my classroom the odd time when supervising students practising music at lunch. Its only because I get no lunch break otherwise and Im not teaching them, just making sure nobody breaks the music equipment

byhookorbycrook

For me, I wouldn't but if it is because someone had no break, yes, otherwise, I don't see the need.

icebergiceberg

I am not sure either. I may be old fashioned.

I would be somewhat taken aback if my solicitor took out a subway and started chomping on it whilst sat in front of me saying that his/her day didn't go as planned/had too many meetings/other people were late etc and that (s)he had not had time for a break.

Moody_mona

icebergiceberg wrote: »

I am not sure either. I may be old fashioned.

I would be somewhat taken aback if my solicitor took out a subway and started chomping on it whilst sat in front of me saying that his/her day didn't go as planned/had too many meetings/other people were late etc and that (s)he had not had time for a break.

Taking out a subway and chomping on it isn't drinking tea or coffee. Is it eating food you were talking about instead of drinking?

seavill

What would you propose if you don't get any break working from 9-4. Teachers do have rights too despite the fact we let ourselves be walked over. It's the same with toilets most jobs you can go to the toilet when you choose ours you have to wait 2 hours

The difference being the solicitor would let you sit there for 10 mins unfortunately we can't do that.

the_pen_turner

for all the people saying that they would because they got no lunch or break , what would you do if a student did it

seavill

I have allowed students eat their lunch down the back of the room in the past if for some reason they never got a break like got back from a match late. I don't see the problem. People should be allowed eat their lunch it is not healthy to expect people to go that long without eating.
A bit of common sense goes a long way

mirrorwall14

In my case it was either eat my lunch while supervising them or cancel the entirely voluntary opportunity I was providing them to practise

icebergiceberg

Not having the opportunity to take breaks is illegal, as I am sure the Organization of Work Act or whatever it's called would testify.

Why have teachers accepted this?

seavill

Because teachers in general prefer to give their time for the benefit of the students rather themselves.
Like I said my opinion on the odd occasion what difference does it make if a student or teacher had to eat their lunch if they didn't get time for whatever reason.
If someone goes in every day doing it and it effects their teaching. That to me is a different conversation

Aineoil

I supervise on Mondays and Fridays. I don't bother with a hot tea or coffee - not safe around junior or senior infants.

Lunch is an apple, banana or something that can be held in the hand to munch at easily.

My problem is that there are a few parents out there that don't provide a lunch for their children. I work in a very middle class school.

Confusing?

evolving_doors

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Not having the opportunity to take breaks is illegal, as I am sure the Organization of Work Act or whatever it's called would testify.

Why have teachers accepted this?

Extra curricular at lunchtime... It's a vocation thing

icebergiceberg

Moody_mona wrote: »

Taking out a subway and chomping on it isn't drinking tea or coffee. Is it eating food you were talking about instead of drinking?

I was talking about drinking but the conversation has developed and moved on Mona.

Now, part of the discussion is about how teachers and more particularly schools manage time.

Aufbau

I'm one of those who didn't allow students to drink in class. It's rude and they had enough time between classes. I'm also of the opinion that it is unprofessional for a teacher to drink water, never mind tea/coffee, while teaching. On occasion I've asked a colleague to sit into my class for a few minutes if I had to.

You definitely shouldn't be expected to bring your lunch etc into the classroom with you because the management decide to use up your break time. On occasion our Principal would hold information meetings at small break, two minutes at start to get your tea. Since I had to wait to see my students out of the lab before locking it, those two minutes would be long gone. On occasion, if I had a full morning of class, I'd sit in the staffroom afterwards to have my break.

the_pen_turner

Aufbau wrote: »

I'm one of those who didn't allow students to drink in class. It's rude how is drinking water rude, you don't know what the student was doing before your class and they had enough time between classes. I don't get where you get that idea. the teachers in my school has the same delusion(no offence I hope). we often had metalwork at one end of the school followed by maths at the other end . if you left on the dot of the bell ringing you would be late and in trouble by the time you got to class. on several occasions we were 10 minutes late for class because one teacher let the time slip buy and had to finish or give homework I'm also of the opinion that it is unprofessional for a teacher to drink water, never mind tea/coffee, while teaching. surely keeping hydrated is good for you teaching and learning ability On occasion I've asked a colleague to sit into my class for a few minutes if I had to.

You definitely shouldn't be expected to bring your lunch etc into the classroom with you because the management decide to use up your break time. On occasion our Principal would hold information meetings at small break, two minutes at start to get your tea. Since I had to wait to see my students out of the lab before locking it, those two minutes would be long gone. On occasion, if I had a full morning of class, I'd sit in the staffroom afterwards to have my break.

.

icebergiceberg

the_pen_turner wrote: »

for all the people saying that they would because they got no lunch or break , what would you do if a student did it

That's an interesting question and raises the issue of children's rights. Shouldn't children be allowed to eat a sandwich in class (due to a school management cock up) as much as a teacher/SNA?

I do think it is ok for staff to swig from a bottle of water. It does clear the throat etc. There is no danger of scalding a student either.

However the danger to computers is still there I acknowledge. Some students would also throw your bottle around (oh yes they would) and cause all sorts of problems. I often go long stretches, often the whole day without eating. I still would not eat in class in front of students. I am able to do that but I recognize that not all staff are and that it posses a H&S risk for some eg pregnant staff.

mirrorwall14

I wouldn't consider drinking water myself or the students drinking it to be rude to be honest. I've worked in plenty of private industries where it is standard practise to have water available at all times and most meetings/presentations would provide jugs of water. We are working in an environment where our voice is critical and drinking regularly is very important for that.

I would also agree in relation to "common sense". If my students have just arrived back from a match then I will let them eat their lunch, I'm not going to say they can't.

RealJohn

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

In my case it was either eat my lunch while supervising them or cancel the entirely voluntary opportunity I was providing them to practise

Was putting it off for ten or fifteen minutes not an option? Presumably, if you didn't have time to eat lunch then neither did the students.

RealJohn

seavill wrote: »

What would you propose if you don't get any break working from 9-4. Teachers do have rights too despite the fact we let ourselves be walked over. It's the same with toilets most jobs you can go to the toilet when you choose ours you have to wait 2 hours

The difference being the solicitor would let you sit there for 10 mins unfortunately we can't do that.

I would propose that you tell whosver's in charge of covering your classes when you're at a match that you need an extra fifteen minutes and that they need to cover the first fifteen minutes of your class. Lunch break isn't just for the purposes of eating. You need a break too and, while a lot of the time a match is a nice break and a pleasant experience, sometimes it's stressful and not a break at all so it's not fair for them to assume you don't need a break.

mirrorwall14

RealJohn wrote: »

Was putting it off for ten or fifteen minutes not an option? Presumably, if you didn't have time to eat lunch then neither did the students.

It was a series of students not the same ones for all of break so it didn't affect them in terms of eating their lunch

RealJohn

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

It was a series of students not the same ones for all of break so it didn't affect them in terms of eating their lunch

Fair enough. I still don't see why you wouldn't put it off for fifteen minutes for your own sake though, unless the point of eating lunch in front of them was to emphasise that you were losing your lunchtime to do it (because I know from experience that some students seem to think that if you're there at all then you're under obligation to be).

doc_17

Aufbau wrote: »

I'm one of those who didn't allow students to drink in class. It's rude and they had enough time between classes. I'm also of the opinion that it is unprofessional for a teacher to drink water, never mind tea/coffee, while teaching. On occasion I've asked a colleague to sit into my class for a few minutes if I had to.

You definitely shouldn't be expected to bring your lunch etc into the classroom with you because the management decide to use up your break time. On occasion our Principal would hold information meetings at small break, two minutes at start to get your tea. Since I had to wait to see my students out of the lab before locking it, those two minutes would be long gone. On occasion, if I had a full morning of class, I'd sit in the staffroom afterwards to have my break.

Your principal using your breaks for meetings is the one who is being unprofessional there. I would happily miss out those meetings and have my break in my classroom.

And if you sit in the staff room after break time then who minds your class?

I have no problem with students asking to take a sip of water. I also have no problem drinking water myself in class and do it every day in nearly every class. Small sips! And this business of it being a health and safety matter is an interesting one. Drinking water is now a health and safety issue in a standard classroom? Really? Are we going completely insane?

Canadel

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Come to think of it I detest students sipping water during class too... its ridiculous nonsense.

Aufbau wrote: »

I'm one of those who didn't allow students to drink in class. It's rude and they had enough time between classes. I'm also of the opinion that it is unprofessional for a teacher to drink water

Wow. And we wonder why people show resentment towards teachers. Entirely perverse behaviour and would be seen as such in the vast majority of work places, including lecture halls at third level and any school I ever attended.

acequion

Canadel wrote: »

Wow. And we wonder why people show resentment towards teachers. Entirely perverse behaviour and would be seen as such in the vast majority of work places, including lecture halls at third level and any school I ever attended.

And your point being what exactly? The discussion is not about other workplaces,it's about classrooms, with varying viewpoints which is normal and nothing whatsoever to do with this fabled "resentment towards teachers"! Or are teachers no longer allowed to express their views, in your opinion?

Canadel

acequion wrote: »

And your point being what exactly? The discussion is not about other workplaces,it's about classrooms, with varying viewpoints which is normal and nothing whatsoever to do with this fabled "resentment towards teachers"! Or are teachers no longer allowed to express their views, in your opinion?

They did express their views and their views are perverse in my opinion. What is your point exactly?

wingnut

Aufbau wrote: »

I'm one of those who didn't allow students to drink in class. It's rude and they had enough time between classes.

I find 'rude' a very odd way to describe drinking water. I would allow students water in class but nothing else (no soft drinks etc). I would occasionally drink water in class while teaching it is good practice, saves the voice and keeps you fit and hydrated. Obviously if a student was using it as a distraction I would have the common sense to stop them.

On another note there are some teachers who leave used tea/coffee mugs behind them in classes and that WRECKS my head - now that I would describe that as rude.

acequion

Canadel wrote: »

They did express their views and their views are perverse in my opinion. What is your point exactly?

My point exactly is that you have no right to accuse people of being "perverse" just because you don't agree with them. That's inflammatory. Everyone has the right to express a view.

And as for my view re teachers drinking tea /coffee whatever in class. I think it all comes down to plain old common sense. No teacher makes a habit of sitting on his / her pretty ass sipping coffee in front of a class of 30 in today's school environment, but sometimes needs must. Ditto for allowing kids to eat if they haven't eaten due to matches etc

It's a simple matter of judgement and common sense. Certainly no big deal.

Canadel

acequion wrote: »

My point exactly is that you have no right to accuse people of being "perverse" just because you don't agree with them. That's inflammatory. Everyone has the right to express a view.

I didn't accuse people of being perverse. I described the behaviour as being perverse, which it is. Everyone has the right to express a view, but nobody has a right for those views to go unchallenged.

evolving_doors

Canadel wrote: »

Wow. And we wonder why people show resentment towards teachers. Entirely perverse behaviour and would be seen as such in the vast majority of work places, including lecture halls at third level and any school I ever attended.

Is it necessary for a student to have downed a litre of water in the 1st 2 hours of school?

Is it ok that more and more students 'have to' leave the class to use the bathroom rather than waiting till break time (or controlling the water consumption)? About 5 years ago I might have had 1 student leave a class for a bathroom break (at most). Now it's averaging about 4 per class at varying points in the class. Would it perverse to ask them to wait... I presume so going by the above post.

One of my students let it slip last week... i drink so much so I wont be hungry.

Why do you need to sip water every minute or so in lectures or workplace anyway?
Well.. I can tell you that a pseudoscience company (Brain gym)cooked up this 'dehydration' notion at the start of this century ... which basically was a whole load of pseudoscience unsubstantiated BS. But the crux of the 'theory' was that rehydration improved learning. Have a read of Ben Goldacre's criticisms of their 'science'...
"Drink a glass of water before Brain Gym activities. As it is a major component of blood, water is vital for transporting oxygen to the brain." Heaven forbid that your blood should dry out. (Source HERE ).

So.. no.. students don't need to be sipping water in every class for whatever reason, they'll survive till the break, they're not crossing a desert.

Asaiah

I am in my early 30's and thinking back to my primary and secondary school education, we never had a bottle of water in class, shop bought bottled water didn't exist then unless you filled your own bottle which no one did. We drank our milk at lunch and that was it. If we were thirsty we could ask for a glass of tap water.

I do find it strange kids continuously sipping bottled water during class. Why do they need it? Drink a glass of water if your thirsty and that's that.

byhookorbycrook

The hydration thing is pure marketing genius. This is Ireland and we are not dealing with elite athletes running a marathon. People sucking at bottles constantly drives me nuts.

evolving_doors

I could appreciate that teachers might need to sip some water occasionally as they talk a lot, but students... id say no and I tell them put the water away. Im not sure of any medical reason where a doctor would prescribe someone to drink 1 litre of water in school

Canadel

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Is it necessary for a student to have downed a litre of water in the 1st 2 hours of school?

Is it ok that more and more students 'have to' leave the class to use the bathroom rather than waiting till break time (or controlling the water consumption)? About 5 years ago I might have had 1 student leave a class for a bathroom break (at most). Now it's averaging about 4 per class at varying points in the class. Would it perverse to ask them to wait... I presume so going by the above post.

One of my students let it slip last week... i drink so much so I wont be hungry.

Why do you need to sip water every minute or so in lectures or workplace anyway?
Well.. I can tell you that a pseudoscience company (Brain gym)cooked up this 'dehydration' notion at the start of this century ... which basically was a whole load of pseudoscience unsubstantiated BS. But the crux of the 'theory' was that rehydration improved learning. Have a read of Ben Goldacre's criticisms of their 'science'...
"Drink a glass of water before Brain Gym activities. As it is a major component of blood, water is vital for transporting oxygen to the brain." Heaven forbid that your blood should dry out. (Source HERE ).

So.. no.. students don't need to be sipping water in every class for whatever reason, they'll survive till the break, they're not crossing a desert.

It's quite obvious that in your world you are always right. But no article or argument will ever convince me, nor I imagine most rational people, that stopping someone from having a drink of water for an extended period of time is not absurd. And entirely perverse as I've already said. If a person's water consumption causes so much trouble for you in the classroom, the problem is not the person being allowed to drink water. Never was. Never will be.

Jimmy Iovine

icebergiceberg wrote:

Is there a policy about this in your school?

There was a policy on this in a school I taught in in England.

Aufbau

Canadel wrote: »

It's quite obvious that in your world you are always right.

Lol, projection or what?

But no article or argument will ever convince me, nor I imagine most rational people, that stopping someone from having a drink of water for an extended period of time is not absurd. And entirely perverse as I've already said. If a person's water consumption causes so much trouble for you in the classroom, the problem is not the person being allowed to drink water. Never was. Never will be.

Classes last for 35 or 40 mins - hardly an extended period of time especially when a student (or teacher) can easily drink from their bottle before and after.

the_pen_turner

Gebgbegb wrote: »

I could appreciate that teachers might need to sip some water occasionally as they talk a lot, but students... id say no and I tell them put the water away. Im not sure of any medical reason where a doctor would prescribe someone to drink 1 litre of water in school

I dis agree with you .

im sure a doctor could tell you several reasons to drink 1 litre

if the student (or teacher for that matter) is doing it noisily or in a distracting manner then its more the persons fault rather than the fault of them drinking water.

I drink a good bit of water everyday and you get used to it and need it. if you don't get that much water then you start to dehydrate and loose concentration or get headaches. at least I do.

if I was in your class and you wouldn't let me drink a bit of water then id leave and report you to your supervisors. you would be wasting my time as well as your own and distracting other students .

Canadel

Aufbau wrote: »

Lol, projection or what?

Classes last for 35 or 40 mins - hardly an extended period of time especially when a student (or teacher) can easily drink from their bottle before and after.

Lol, power trip or simply total idiocy resulting in suffering?

I would certainly call 35-40 minutes of anything an extended period of time. They can have a drink before and after of course but they should also be allowed to drink water while in class.

35-40 mins is a long time without water, never mind if someone didn't have a chance, or forgot, to have a drink before class. It's close to 3% of an entire day. If you have the same policy for every class and say a student has 7 classes per day, that's approx 20% of the day where a student is prevented from drinking water. It's perverse. And you could argue bordering on torture given access to water is recognised as a human right.

the_pen_turner

I know when I was in school 10 years ago our classes were in blocks of 3 so if you had 3 single classes you might get a chance but if you had a double or even a triple ( we had a few where different subject but in same room) then you never got out
we had so many books because we weren't allowed back to our locker between classes that if had even a small bottle of water on you it would push you over the limit and not be able to carry every thing. for one set of classes I had 14" of books.

icebergiceberg

I think that if the principal refuses to make timetable changes to allow staff to go to matches etc then you should not volunteer. This is to protect your rights. You have done nothing wrong.

However, if you choose to go on match, after the principal refuses, then you are not standing up for your rights. You have made that decision. You know you are not going to have a break. Because of that you should never be lunching in front of students in class when you are supposed to be teaching. Now that is really unprofessional.

The_Valeyard

Policy over cups of tea/coffee?????


If this is the worst thing happening in your school, consider yourselves blessed

icebergiceberg

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Policy over cups of tea/coffee?????
If this is the worst thing happening in your school, consider yourselves blessed

Yes ... but is it possible for a staff member drinking a cup of tea in class to accidentally scald a student? And if it is possible then the school should foresee that and have a policy about it.