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The problem with this is that the underlying issue is not addressed. The headmaster and staff completely ignored the contents of the petition, and the fact that numerous students have complained about the food they receive. They have also ignored the fact that the complaint, in the light of a more health-conscious society, is in fact legitimate. The communication gap results from the fact that the children from decades ago are today's leaders, and they are therefore not always ready to listen.
Another problem is a basic lack of communication. It can be that the school has a legitimate reason for the quality of food offered by the cafeteria, such as finances. The children were also summarily punished without being given an opportunity to state their case. Thirdly, the parent conference was conducted without the presence of the children, further limiting their opportunity to communicate. In this light, they saw their only opportunity to bring their point across by means of trespass. Furthermore, by encouraging parents to also punish their children, the problem is exacerbated rather than eradicated.
By being punished, the responsible group become heroes, or even martyrs in the eyes of their peers. This would encourage rather than discourage future actions of the same nature. This could further impact upon the school in terms of finances and basic food safety, until the headmaster and staff are ready to listen and take more appropriate action.
Other Options
A better alternative to the summary punishment would have been open communication with students. If this had been established when students first began complaining about the food, the whole incident may have been avoided. Students should have been given a chance to state their case, while they should also be willing to listen to the school board's reasons for the food selection. A compromise might have been possible; not entirely changing the menu, for example, but increasingly incorporating healthier choices over months or even years. Parents could have been included in the negotiations, and sponsorships created for the sake of their children's nutrition.
After the incident, an alternative to summary punishment would therefore have been a conference with the headmaster and staff, including not only parents, but also the perpetrators. The children should have been given a chance to explain their case, as they tried to. In this way, open communication would have been achieved, without any further unpleasant consequences. As it was, the disciplinary action is only likely to attract further incidents of the same nature.
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