are you saying before you weren't allowed out of the school grounds for lunch?
Depends on the school's policy.
I'm never sure on the American system of schools, such as what ages are in what schools, but for me, I was never allowed to leave school grounds for lunch while in school for compulsary education.
For Infant/Junior/Primary School, Years 1-6 including Reception, ages 5-9, I obviously couldn't leave school grounds.
In Secondary school, years 7-11, ages 10-16, I wasn't allowed to leave school grounds either and people were often punished for attempting to do so.
After Year 11, at the age of 15 (Year 11 covers people aged 15-16), I left compulsary education.
I now go to College (Also called Sixth Form, generally if it's also past of a Secondary School) and can be here generally from ages 16-19, although education here exists after 19, but you pay personally for all your courses.
And only now that I am 16 and at College can I leave the school grounds for lunch, but of course, I only do that if I have time to do so. Town is a little bit of a walk from college, so, not always lots of time. Nearby supermarket, though.
What I mean to say is, I don't know how old Boomerangdog is or what sort of school he goes to, but if it's at all like my compulsary ones, then they don't like to let you go off campus, because they're reliable for you and if you disappear and get hurt, it's there fault for not looking after you.
