New to the 2011-2012 school year, Arrowhead has employed parents to monitor the lunchroom. The week before school began, parents received an email asking for volunteers who would be willing to come in during the student lunch hours and keep an eye on the cafeteria, a job that was previously held by teachers and other Arrowhead Staff. 

However, due to recent budget cuts and a decline in staff members, the administration has turned to parents to be watchdogs. Although it is a paid position, it is not very popular among the Arrowhead student body.

For most students, school is more than just a place to learn. It is a home away from home, a place to socialize, see your friends, and get out of the house (and away from your parents) for at least eight hours a day. Despite all denial, school is often times just the escape kids need from their hectic family lives, because, let’s face it, sometimes we need a break. But what happens when school and family overlap?

           
Senior Robbie Loke’s smile faded fast when asked about the new program. He is one of a handful of students whose parent has been hired to be a lunchroom supervisor. He says he isn’t exactly thrilled by the idea of having his mom walking the halls of his high school.

           
“It hinders my school experience.” He said.

           
On the flip side, Robbie’s mom, Dawn Loke, says it is a very positive opportunity, declaring her love for working in a high school environment with young adults.

           
So why are students like Loke opposed to the idea of parent volunteers? Simple: teenagers generally crave more time with their friends than they do with family and they want as much independence as possible. Not to mention the fact that the typical teenager avoids embarrassing and awkward situations at all costs.

           
Senior Jordyn O’Rourke can easily relate to this: “My mother was a lunch lady when I was in elementary school and she would always try to embarrass me in front of my friends and stuff.” She shook her head with sympathy for the students in the same situation. “It wasn’t fun.”

           
Not only does this program affect students with parent volunteers, but it also receives overwhelming negativity from the majority of the student population.

           
“I wish my mom was in the lunchroom because I just can’t go eight hours a day without her,” senior, Anthony Hall, sarcastically remarked.

         
 Overall, students believe that having parent lunchroom workers denies students of a feeling of independence. As a whole, Arrowhead students find the new policy unnecessary and disapprove of the administration’s choice to integrate family into the school setting.

           
As senior Scott Bonk very simply stated, “Nobody likes it.”

           
Despite the lack of popularity, assistant principal, Mr. Pete Negedlo says the new program is definitely a success. “I love it because kids treat other kid’s moms with respect, and the moms love the kids. It’s perfect.”