It seems that a new cost and space-saving trend has developed in school buildings, and it is called the “Multi-Purpose Room.” This space is usually part auditorium, part cafeteria. It is used for gatherings such as concerts and plays, as well as serving as the lunch room for the kids during the day. The “proper” name for such a room is “Auditeria” or “Cafetorium.” And my former middle school and high school now have one of these rooms in each building.
So popular is this trend in modern scholastic-architecture that it was recently mentioned on an episode of The Simpsons. Lisa Simpson was differentiating a “good” school and a “bad” school, by whether or not the facility had separate auditoriums and cafeterias. She excitedly exclaimed of her new (better) school: “… And the cafeteria and auditorium are actually in separate rooms!!!”
With a mother and father both employed by the schools and six nieces and nephews in the system, I love to tease them about this current Cafegymatorium-Craze. (Technically cafegymatorium is not the correct terminology, but I like to call it “cafegymatorium” because it sounds funnier to me and it annoys them).
In an exchange with my mom this past summer, I had some fun with word-play that prompted a few more potential names for such Multi-Purpose Rooms. How about: Cafegymatoriumeria? Or Cafegymetoriasium? Or Audigymaterianasium?
When my mother finally got fed up with my non-stop harrassment she said: “STOP the madness! I agree that this has gotten totally out of hand! We do have a cafetorium. OR an auditeria, depending on which you think is more important: eating or performing. I know some kids who definitely perform while they are eating. It is amazing to behold.”
My mom’s plea for me to stop led me to wonder (aloud of course): What do you call a kid who performs while he or she is eating? Would they be considered an Eator? Or maybe a Thesbavore? Or perhaps, my personal favorite: a Fooctor?
As of this writing, I have received no official answer on the matter.
Woman In Thrisis 
Thesbavore definitely! This post is fantabulabulous 😀
Thanks JT!! 😀 I like your new word too!
Thesbavore (I can’t believe spell check doesn’t recognize that word) sounds vaguely cannibalistic.
I think you just call it a kid with poor table manners.
Haha! Probably so. I think that’s what my mother would say… 😉
This makes me laugh out loud every time I read it. ESPECIALLY the end when discussing a term for obnoxious children consuming food. You haven’t seen anything until you have witnessed a large “cafegymatoria” full of elementary students devouring or not devouring but playing with… their lunches. It was the worst teacher duty I had to endure.
Rolling on the floor here after reading this post. Love when people make up new words or put together two to three words into one big word. Love Fooctor – ha:) I have seen my 3 nephews eat and it can get downright digusting, especially when they lop into competitive eating tirades – GROSS – ewwww! I cannot imagine a cafeteria of young ones eating – probably wish you lost your sense of sight, hearing and smell for a short time! Have a Great Week:)
Thanks Renee, I’m glad you liked it 🙂 I know… it is disgusting to watch them eat… Then again, maybe someone, somewhere thinks that about us 😦
I have a kid in my middle school class who is delightful in person but a delinquent when she gets out of school. I would call her a delighquent.
Too funny! 🙂 That’s a good one. My mom, a reited teacher, would LOVE that! Hey, thanks for visiting and for commenting! I do hope you’ll come back. It’s always nice to “meet” new people around here! I will have to check out your blog soon!