Case
Culture, Religion, & Diet

I taught fifth graders in a public school in a military community. Each year, (to my delight)the principal assigned me as many Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students(CLDS)as he could. One year Shalma, an Islamic student, joined the class in the spring. She was the first known Islamic student to enroll in the school. Two pertinent facts: 1. Salma wore the traditional Hijab and abaya each day. 2. I had informed the cafeteria staff about Salma's dietary laws and needs(including that fact that she was not to even touch unclean foods nor eat anything that touched it). One day Shalma was served ham in the cafeteria. She explained that she could not eat it and was told, "Well, just take it off and eat the rest." Quantasha, an African American peer who was next in line told Ms. Deb, the cafeteria staff member, "She can't just take it off. It's unclean to her. You have to make her a new lunch. Quantasha was sent to the principal's office for disrespecting Ms. Deb, and the whole class was put on silent lunch. When I returned, I inquired of the paraprofessional in charge why the class was given silent lunch. She informed me that they were loud and rude to the lunchroom staff. What can be done to prevent this kind of situation from happening?

Posted on: 06/05/13 | Views: 1490
Solution #1
Top Solution
I hate to hear this happened to your class. It seems that the cafeteria needs to be more informed of Salma's beliefs and dietary laws. It might be necessary for administration, along with the teacher, and possibly Salma's family to sit down with the lunchroom staff and discuss the student's beliefs.

I, too, am disheartened upon hearing of this. I agree that meeting face-to-face with all those affected would be helpful. That student deserves as much respect as anyone else in that cafeteria.

Informing others that could have an impact in a student's daily life is important so these situations can be avoided.

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Solution #2
Top Solution
I would request a meeting with your administrators and all of the staff that will encounter this student. Emails are not sufficient when it comes to setting expectations for students like Shalma as they are not always read thoroughly by everyone. Documentation of this meeting and acknowledgement of staff will assure this doesn't happen again. If it does, the only the faculty member responsible for the act will have consequences, instead of a law suit brought against the school or the district.
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Solution #3
Lunchroom staff must be informed of special dietary concerns of students who intend to eat lunch prepared by school nutrition. The nutrition department should be provided literature on customs and respect the customs of all students. In addition, this is a culturally teachable moment for the class to learn and better understand different cultures.
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Solution #4
Hi Professor! You taught me a few years ago at Georgia Southern! I know teach fourth grade and I also have a student with the same dietary laws/needs. I may be helpful to learn about different diets and dietary laws world wide. A grade-appropriate lesson would help to learn about their peers and other people they may some day meet. It is imperative to have administration sit down and meet with the cafeteria staff concerning students with such needs. My students' family just makes his lunch to avoid these problems.
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Solution #5
First off it is a shame that this happened to your class and more specifically Shalma. Secondly what can, and should have been done is that the administration of the school should have informed the staff of the dietary needs of students of different cultures.This in my opinion is not your fault nor the lunch staffs fault, it was just a lack of cultural information.
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Solution #6
In my experience, I feel it's best to discuss any changes with new students with the faculty/administration that will be working closest with the child and their family. Secondly, I feel it always necessary and respectful to educate the class on the differences and welcome the new student. It's always hard to be new, and especially when treated like an outcast simply because you're religion mandates certain restrictions on diet and attire. It's important that we treat and TEACH equal treatment out of love, respect, and kindness.
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Solution #7
In my experience, I feel it's best to discuss any changes with new students with the faculty/administration that will be working closest with the child and their family. Secondly, I feel it always necessary and respectful to educate the class on the differences and welcome the new student. It's always hard to be new, and especially when treated like an outcast simply because you're religion mandates certain restrictions on diet and attire. It's important that we treat and TEACH equal treatment out of love, respect, and kindness.
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Solution #8
It seems like the first step is to contact the administration about the problem. If the cafeteria workers are accountable for preparing food for this student's very specific needs, then the administration should support both them and the student. It would also be helpful to train students who are having a conflict with an adult to find another adult who can listen to their story and speak on their behalf.
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Solution #9
Perhaps construct a "newsletter" type document to be handed out to the lunch staff at the next staff meeting. I would go over the beliefs of the student and explain the importance. Unfortunately this situation has to be a learning situation so it does not repeat itself!
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Solution #10
When a student requires special circumstances, like a special lunch, it is important that the ENTIRE school staff is aware of the situation.
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Solution #11
Personally, I would go to the principal office and speak out the situation, and in the best case, I will request to have Ms. Deb in the meeting too. As teachers we have to care about our students and advocate for them, it was not enough to advise about this student situation. Therefore, the staff from the cafeteria should be advice about not being rude and respecting students concerned and religion.
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Solution #12
This is disheartening to hear that something like this happened. I understand, for Ms. Deb, that this was an inconvenience, however, that is not up to her to make those sort of decisions. Shalma has specific dietary needs and these should be respected the same as someone with a food allergy. I am saddened her friend, who stuck up for her needs, was punished as well. Ms. Deb needs to have a sit down with the principal and possibly Shalma's parents to hear why she is unable to eat ham, or anything that it touches. Sometimes people fear what they do not know and because of this she was unwilling to get her a new plate.
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Solution #13
I would suggest that the cafeteria staff should attend a meeting for education on the different dietary laws for varying cultures. I would also have Ms. Deb apologize to both students. Just because she is the adult does not mean she was wrong and she should apologize for the situation.
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Solution #14
You have to get to know them
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