Food delivery services have become quite popular, especially for younger people, which is starting to cause problems in some classrooms. “Sometimes I just really want a drink, and I don’t have a car so I can’t drive and get one,” says student Annika Fifield. The problem is that some students have begun ordering food not just during their lunch break, but also while in class. “Some of my friends have ordered food and then left class and said they were going to the bathroom and then went to get food,” says Shea Brennan. “I actually have seen it happen a few times, says Raine Mantolino. “They get up from class and go down to the office and say they have to go to the bathroom and pop in with McDonald’s.” It’s become enough of an issue that one local high school recently sent a memo telling parents that delivery drivers can not enter the building. Students are not allowed to leave class to receive an order, and school staff will not accept, store, or deliver food orders on behalf of students. In a statement to CTV, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education says, “Students are expected to follow the rules and procedures established by their individual schools, including respecting class schedules, lunch periods and other school routines, to ensure food deliveries do not disrupt learning or the safe and orderly operation of our schools.” “There’s high demand, says Sylvain Charlebois, director of Dahousie University’s Agri-Food Lab. “Both DoorDash and Uber Eats are doing very well.” It’s not just students ordering food delivery to their schools. Parents will do the same to make sure their child has food, but the difference is, they tend to stick to having the food sent during the lunch hour. Charlebois says, that’s a bit of a surprise. “It just really brings more convenience despite the fact that it’s costing people more. You do wonder why people are getting their food delivered when it’s costing them more.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
