Over the past few years, lunchtime has changed drastically. Where before, eating in the cafeteria meant having meatloaf surprise or crusty macaroni and cheese, today it is associated with healthy choices, which means whole wheat everything.

  Lunch ladies are now serving whole wheat muffins, whole wheat pasta and even whole wheat pizza.

  While in the past seniors where allowed to escape the horrors of the lunch room and go out to lunch, all students are kept in the cafeteria today.

  At Malden High School in Massachusetts, some of the students fought for an off campus lunch and received it on a trial basis. Some of the requirements were to maintain an 80 or above, and uphold good attendance and behavior. And at other schools the privilege of off campus lunch still exists.

  But what privileges do the seniors of South Kingstown High School have? Not many.

  The seniors have the honor of parking in the senior lot, where their cars will most likely be destroyed due to the miniscule parking spaces. They are also allowed to miss exams in classes where they have an 80 or above and good attendance. That’s about it.

  Gone are the days where seniors could leave early or come in late. These days, there isn’t even a study hall to escape the constant pressures of school.

  Kids are so involved in school today that they need a break. A short time off school grounds would allow students to relax and just get out of the building for a little while. Everyone knows what happens when kids are kept cooped up for too long: they get feisty.

  By only allowing students to leave if they maintain good behavior, grades and attendance, the disciplinary issues would decrease and grades and attendance would improve. Off campus lunches would give the students the incentive to do better in school.

  Parents argue that they don’t want their children eating fast food. If this is their only beef, then they should teach their children how to make healthy choices. If kids aren’t going to eat healthy out of school, then they will find a way to eat junk food in school. As it stands, they routinely buy cookies and slushies for lunch. Either that or they bring a lunch they brought from home, no less, which could consist of numerous unhealthy foods.

  Walking through the hallways of South Kingstown High School during lunch period it is obvious from the McDonald’s bags sticking out of back packs that students leave for lunch without permission. These students are able to make it to McDonald’s or Subway and back with time to spare. This is a desperate measure that requires great risk which could easily be avoided with a simple remedy: permission to leave school grounds for lunch.

  The biggest problem seems to lie in the transportation and responsibility. The school does not want to be liable if anything happens to the students while they are not on the school grounds. The answer to this problem is to make a permission slip.

  Other schools require students to bring home a form that states that the parent and student are responsible for anything that happens while the student is not on school property. If parent has any objections then he or she does not have to sign it.

  Off campus lunch would be a privilege that students would respect and appreciate. All someone has to do is ask for it.