Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School only allows each class to order food delivery to the school once a month. To fight for greater rights to order meals, some students have launched a protest movement, eating lunch in front of the principal’s office. In response, doctor Shen Chen-lan (沈政男) praised the students’ bravery, and asked: “What are the teachers and school afraid of?”
Actually, the school policy is not a matter of fear, but a matter of safety management and campus order. The main entrance to Taipei First Girls High School is often blocked by food couriers during lunchtime. Some couriers even put lunchboxes inside a public phone booth by the entrance. It is far better for students to try to pack their own lunchboxes at home, thereby cultivating their ability to do housework. This is part and parcel of their education.
The school song encourages students to prepare themselves for the responsibilities of “managing family and state affairs,” an idea that appears in other schools’ songs, too. Why do students only know how to sing the songs, but not how to follow their advice?
In Japan, high-school students generally do not order food delivery to school. Most Japanese high schools do not allow ordering food delivery, as it impacts safety management and campus order, not to mention that such food is expensive.
Moreover, many Japanese public high schools do not have cafeterias, so students bring their own lunches, mostly prepared by their parents or themselves. Some schools have snack bars selling bread and rice balls on campus. Only a few private or large high schools have canteens that provide set meals, ramen noodles or curry rice.
Finally, there are the cultural factors. In Japan, students are generally expected to be frugal and follow the rules. Ordering food delivery is often considered an adult’s or office worker’s behavior.
Naturally, there are exceptions, as some more liberal high schools allow students to dine off-campus or order food delivery. During extracurricular activities or exam periods, teachers might also allow delivery of pizza or boxed lunches, but this is not commonly seen.
Teng Hon-yuan is a university professor.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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