As the lunch bell rings, students head outside to pick up their orders from delivery drivers, who have been instructed to wait outside the building. While this can be viewed as a problem, it’s clear that students want the convenience of being able to eat whatever they want by ordering from food delivery services such as Postmates, Doordash and Uber Eats.
As the popularity of these delivery services increases, allowing students to order food from local restaurants during the school day has become a topic of debate. There have been schools that have embraced the convenience of food delivery, while others have resisted stating concerns over tardiness and the overall disruption to the school day. However, it’s important to reconsider these restrictions to allow students to enjoy the benefits of having restaurants deliver to them during school hours.
One of the main arguments against allowing food delivery to students is that it causes delays and disturbs the flow of the school day. According to MCPS district spokeswoman Gbonyinde Onijala, “Students were going to [class] late and saying, ‘My food got here late,’ and we said, ‘Nice try.’”
Onijala’s statement reflects a concern that food delivery leads to students being tardy for class, which could impact their learning and the school’s schedule. She also fears that students might abuse this privilege, using food delivery as an excuse to miss class or waste time.
However, this concern fails to acknowledge the real reasons why students might be late for class. Often, tardiness is caused by a combination of factors like crowded halls, managing time between club meetings and studying. Simply blaming food delivery misses the point that students are under pressure to juggle multiple responsibilities throughout the day. By allowing food delivery, schools could help students better manage their time. Rather than viewing it as a source of delay, schools should look at food delivery as a potential solution to improve students’ time management skills. “It would be a blessing to be able to get my food delivered directly to the office because sometimes I have club meetings and it takes time out of my lunch to go outside,” freshman Abraham Burnett said.
Students’ ability to order food during the school day could greatly benefit those who won’t eat the school-provided lunch. If they can’t or won’t bring it from home, allowing food delivery services could provide a much-needed option for those students to have a meal they want to eat, reducing the number of students who skip lunch or rely on unhealthy options from vending machines. The flexibility to order from different restaurants could lead to healthier
eating choices, which is crucial for maintaining energy and focus throughout the school day.
If schools implement a system in which food orders are only allowed during designated lunch and students must be punctual in their classes, the possibility of disruption can be minimized. Students already have access to distractions like phones and social media, so restricting food delivery doesn’t necessarily address the bigger issue of student focus and responsibility.
Students should be granted the privilege of ordering food during the school day. The benefits of allowing food delivery range from improved time management to better meal options and greater student satisfaction. These far outweigh the concerns about delay and distractions.
By embracing food delivery, schools can adapt to students’ evolving needs, creating a more balanced and enjoyable school experience. It’s time for schools to recognize that food delivery isn’t just a convenience but an opportunity to improve students’ overall well-being.
