Free meals in schools (split from Parenting Megathread)

[gmbteach]

I have been in a couple of schools that help students.

One was Doomadgee, a semi-dry (reduced alcohol consumption) First Nations (I think that’s the current PC term). Parents would have $3 a day garnished from their benefits and given to the school. The school would provide cereal or breakfast, fruit or sandwich for mid morning snack, hot meal (spaghetti, stir fry, stew, salad - easy to make in bulk), then snack again for afternoon lunch. This made sure that kids ate at least 5 days a week. Most adults would drink their benefits in the first few days.

The other is where I am now. We provide milk, fruit, yoghurt pouch or toast for breakfast 3 days a week. We also get cheese sandwiches, fruit yoghurt pouches for lunch if the kid shows an empty lunch box. Some staff supplement this with little packs of biscuits, chips, popcorn or with muesli bars.

I buy apples and mandarins for brain break (mid first session snack) so that everyone has something.

Kids have difficulty focusing if they are hungry.

 

[Gospel]

Kids have difficulty focusing if they are hungry.

Absolutely this! I remember being completely focused on lunchtime and figuring out what spoils I could bring home to trade with my two sisters when we all got back. My little brother wasn’t in school yet, so he’d just sit there with those goofy puppy dog eyes. My sisters always pushed him off on me with that 'man of the house' nonsense they picked up somewhere. Damn sure wasn't from me. I didn’t mind sharing with him—I actually loved it. He appreciated the flavors as much as I did and always listened intently to my stories. I’d go on and on about how I got it, what it was called, and every little detail, and he’d sit there smacking his lips, licking his fingers, and practically anything else that came into contact with the food. Besides, they, my sisters, always had a solid argument: 'He’s been at the neighbor’s house eating all day, so he doesn’t need anything.' That’s why I declared war on their Barbies! (Note: gifted to them from neighbors).

Anyway, my kids have no idea what it’s like to go without food, and honestly, they’re all spoiled. Their biggest complaint is usually about whose turn it is to load the dishwasher. They’re total homebodies, go to work/school, come home, and spend hours on their computers playing video games. My wife and I are pushing them to aim for higher education, but it’s frustrating, to say the least. They’re approaching the two-year deadline we set to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Our rule is simple: if you’re on a viable path and working to improve your future, you can stay beyond those two years. But if you’re not showing any progress, I’ll be handing out eviction notices. It’s not something I want to do because I’d much rather they leave with stability and avoid falling into the debt trap, but they need to take responsibility for their lives. They can always come back if they at least gave it an effort. I'm hoping that if they don't listen to me, they'll listen to the world, then be open to listening to me.

I have to admit, I think a lot of their issues are my fault. I haven’t exactly been the best father. Being flawed myself—growing up without a dad, hanging around the wrong crowd, and only getting my life together in my 30s, it would be of no surprise I’ve fallen short in some ways.

 

[Toni]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

 

[gmbteach]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

The Labor government of Queensland was going to implement free lunches for primary school kids.. not sure how that would go in our little tuckshop and 900 kids.

 

[Toni]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

The Labor government of Queensland was going to implement free lunches for primary school kids.. not sure how that would go in our little tuckshop and 900 kids.

Some states provide universal free lunches to all school kids, regardless of their family income. Some provide free breakfast as well.

I know that when my kids were in elementary school, one of the biggest problems was getting parents whose kids needed the food to sign their kids up for free/reduced price lunches. I don’t know about the rest of the world but here in the US or at least in the Midwest, there are many working poor who do not consider themselves to be poor—that’s a label for people who are worse off than they are. Pride? Self delusion? Possibly a mixture. But one of the issues, aside from potentially hungry kids, was that the schools got increased funding based on the percentage of kids qualifying for —and enrolling in the program for free and reduced lunches. It wasn’t officially known that a family qualified unless they did the paperwork. And without the paperwork, then the school didn’t get the extra funding.

My town is very working class and while things are better wage wise, there is a housing shortage, particularly of lower income housing. Which means rents are high. And factor in it being a college town: yes, there is a housing crisis. And the high rents erase a lot of the progress that theoretically would be made with better wages since the pandemic.

There are several thrift stores in town and a good shelf plus informal offerings. One of the things I am proud of is just how much people in this town pull together to help each other. One woman in town just has a little good library, modeled in the little free libraries where people can simply take what they want. She’s not wealthy but periodically will simply put out a notice on FB saying what she has stocked. Another woman sewed thousands of masks during the early days of the pandemic when the disposable ones were hard to come by. She would just put out the word to swing by her place: she’d have masks hanging on her fence, for whoever needed them. There are food drives and toy drives and clothing drives. There is a lot I don’t like about this town but the capacity of people in this town to help each other: that is phenomenal.

 

[thebeave]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

I don't see the point of having schools providing free meals to every child. If parents can afford it, then they should (and want to) pay. If the parents meet the low income level requirements, then, sure, provide a free lunch. Otherwise, the extra costs to provide free meals to well-to-families just gets passed on to the taxpayer (including the low income ones), or else other school programs get cut to pay for it, yes? . There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch". One thing I remember from my elementary school days is that the students whose parents paid for the lunches (like mine) had a white "punch card", whereas the free lunch (i.e. low income) students had a bright pink card. I remember seeing that my close friend & neighbor, Floyd, having a pink punch card and thus I knew he was one of the poor kids. I wasn't judgemental about it all, but looking back, that was a bit uncool on the part of the school to do that. Then again, my school had a paddle with holes in it (to make it sting more) for the misbehaving kids. The paddle even had a name...Elmer. Me and Elmer met a couple of times. Once in 3rd grade, once in 6th grade. Different times.

 

[Toni]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

I don't see the point of having schools providing free meals to every child. If parents can afford it, then they should (and want to) pay. If the parents meet the low income level requirements, then, sure, provide a free lunch. Otherwise, the extra costs to provide free meals to well-to-families just gets passed on to the taxpayer (including the low income ones), or else other school programs get cut to pay for it, yes? . There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch". One thing I remember from my elementary school days is that the students whose parents paid for the lunches (like mine) had a white "punch card", whereas the free lunch (i.e. low income) students had a bright pink card. I remember seeing that my close friend & neighbor, Floyd, having a pink punch card and thus I knew he was one of the poor kids. I wasn't judgemental about it all, but looking back, that was a bit uncool on the part of the school to do that. Then again, my school had a paddle with holes in it (to make it sting more) for the misbehaving kids. The paddle even had a name...Elmer. Me and Elmer met a couple of times. Once in 3rd grade, once in 6th grade. Different times.

The point is that providing for all removes the stigma from those who really need the free meals. No pink vs white punch cards. No punch cards. Btw, you realize the pink was used to draw attention to the ‘freeloaders,’ right? That in modern day US, pink is used as a signal for weak? It wasn’t necessary to add a layer of shame to a child. I guess they thought Shane would motivate parents to try harder. Doubtless some needed to try harder. But where was the motivation for employers to pay better?

There is a tremendous amount of shame associated with being poor in this country—maybe everywhere. One of my oldest friends is still traumatized by the fact that her older sister had to work in the school cafeteria to ‘pay’ for her lunches. In elementary school. We are in our 60’s. Things were better by the time my friend was in school but honestly, except for a handful of kids, we all grew up in households with tight budgets. Btw, both of her parents had college degrees. And all of the kids in the family were excellent students, extremely intelligent and extremely attractive. It never occurred to me that her family might not be doing as well as mine.

Shame and pride are what kept parents in my kids school district from filling out the turns for free or reduced price lunches. I’m sure it kept a lot of kids in my childhood town from getting as much food as their growing bodies and brains needed. My family was fortunate. My grandfather and uncle kept large gardens; my other grandparents had an apple orchard. My father and grandfather and uncle hunted. We all fished. Springtime brought morels. My grandmothers each kept chickens and sold eggs for pin money. We all shared what we had, passed down outgrown clothes, did things that didn’t cost much or any money. My siblings and I never felt poor. We just did not have much money. There is a difference and I am grateful to my parents for keeping the burden of money problems to themselves. But as an adult, I realize that money issues were likely responsible for much of the strain in my parents ’ marriage.

What I think is that families with higher incomes should pay more in taxes to support schools, healthcare, childcare and other infrastructure. The families with incomes so low they qualify for free lunches are not likely to be paying income taxes or not much anyway. People like me can and do and SHOULD be paying more in income taxes. Typically higher income individuals also pay higher property taxes.

I also think that the US can and should do a much better job providing healthy and delicious meals for kids in school.

 

[gmbteach]

Our school has mandatory swimming for all students, provided they bring permission slips, and to help with the cost, the P&C fundraise to at least pay for the bus. EVERYONE knows that they are contributing towards the bus, not only for their child, but for ALL More affluent/diligent (I use diligent deliberately because some parents literally don’t give a shit about their child’s education and so don’t supply anything) are happy to supplement the others.

You already know I supply fruit daily, and I also supply pencils, colours and other stuff, well the others do too. I have had a parent say please hang on to these for next year, some other child will need them.

I suppose that’s was comes of being in a school bordering low socioeconomic and more affluent communities.

 

[crazyfingers]

Back in the 2000's/early 2010's when our kids were going to the local school the law was that foster kids get free lunch. (I believe that low income kids also got free lunch but never looked into it because we knew that we didn't qualify)

We had already adopted our kids and they were not eligible for free lunch but the school didn't know that. They kept trying to give our kids free lunch even when the kids said that they would pay as we'd give them the money.

It took several phone calls on my part to explain to the school that adopted kids don't get free lunch and to get them to take our kids off the free lunch list.

Usually we sent them with lunch instead of having them eat greasy school food which they didn't like much anyway but certain lunch items when wanted to buy lunch we'd send them with the money.

The school kept trying to get us to put money in an electronic pay system. Put a lump sum in and they'd draw on that. But they don't refund any extra balance at the end of the year so we refused. I think that they eventually relented and refunded parents for unused money but we still preferred to send money.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

I don't see the point of having schools providing free meals to every child.

And how much money does it cost to determine who can and can't afford it? In a perfect world, only the needy should get a handout, but the reality is, it costs money to restrict access to handouts. How much do we actually save?

If parents can afford it, then they should (and want to) pay. If the parents meet the low income level requirements, then, sure, provide a free lunch. Otherwise, the extra costs to provide free meals to well-to-families just gets passed on to the taxpayer (including the low income ones), or else other school programs get cut to pay for it, yes?

I've never once thought that paying for a child to have lunch was wasteful.

There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch".

In our city, the annual school budget is over half a billion. We are already paying a lot for the "free public education".

 

[bilby]

There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch".

In our city, the annual school budget is over half a billion. We are already paying a lot for the "free public education".

People who say "There is no free lunch" usually mean "I am smart enough to know that this free lunch is only free to the consumer, and that someone somewhere is still paying for it; But I am not smart enough to grasp that you too understand this, so I am going to be both stupid and condescending about it, while expecting you to applaud my economic genius".

It's an abbreviation

As far as the kid and his familiy are concerned, it's a free lunch because nobody is demanding payment of them.

The taxpayers would probably be more worried about dozens of other free things, if those free things were as well publicised as school meals.

I bet the Mayor eats a lot of far more expensive lunches, without being presented with the check.

 

[gmbteach]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

I don't see the point of having schools providing free meals to every child.

And how much money does it cost to determine who can and can't afford it? In a perfect world, only the needy should get a handout, but the reality is, it costs money to restrict access to handouts. How much do we actually save?

If parents can afford it, then they should (and want to) pay. If the parents meet the low income level requirements, then, sure, provide a free lunch. Otherwise, the extra costs to provide free meals to well-to-families just gets passed on to the taxpayer (including the low income ones), or else other school programs get cut to pay for it, yes?

I've never once thought that paying for a child to have lunch was wasteful.

There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch".

In our city, the annual school budget is over half a billion. We are already paying a lot for the "free public education".

Is that 1/2 billion for all schools? Doesn’t seem much to me considering wages etc…

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The taxpayers would probably be more worried about dozens of other free things, if those free things were as well publicised as school meals.

I bet the Mayor eats a lot of far more expensive lunches, without being presented with the check.

In my city, I don't know. We actually got a novice elected mayor, still trying to see how that all works out. In my state, the cities are starved from tax revenue from the state capitol because tax cuts for the wealthy bring jobs to the state. And while the Intel and Honda plants are nice, counties and cities can't build a culvert without Federal funds being involved. Thankfully the GOP Convention was in Cleveland, forcing ODOT to replace the innerbelt bridge that was having serious issues. It is a damned joke.

In my city, lunches are free. My daughter brings her lunch to school. I don't fucking complain about paying for it (twice).

 

[Toni]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

I don't see the point of having schools providing free meals to every child.

And how much money does it cost to determine who can and can't afford it? In a perfect world, only the needy should get a handout, but the reality is, it costs money to restrict access to handouts. How much do we actually save?

If parents can afford it, then they should (and want to) pay. If the parents meet the low income level requirements, then, sure, provide a free lunch. Otherwise, the extra costs to provide free meals to well-to-families just gets passed on to the taxpayer (including the low income ones), or else other school programs get cut to pay for it, yes?

I've never once thought that paying for a child to have lunch was wasteful.

There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch".

In our city, the annual school budget is over half a billion. We are already paying a lot for the "free public education".

Is that 1/2 billion for all schools? Doesn’t seem much to me considering wages etc…

That is just for Jimmy Higgins’ city.

Also: Teachers don’t get paid big bucks. Support staff less.

 

[gmbteach]

I think that all schools should provide free meals to every child. However, I confess that I hated school lunches. My mother was flummoxed that I preferred a peanut butter sandwich and an apple to whatever they were serving at school. To her, being able to afford a hot lunch was a sign of modernity and prosperity--not that my parents were exactly prosperous. In fact, my kids think we were poor and most of my friends from our school days talk about how poor we all were. But I never actually felt poor and asking my siblings, they did not either. My parents did not do everything right---no parent does--but they never let us know that money was tight. I mean: it was understood but I never knew of actual fear or anxiety about having food or a place to live. Sure, we only went to the doctor for required vaccinations or illness requiring antibiotics. I only saw a dentist when my tooth hurt because of a cavity. As far as I know, all bills were paid on time and we never lost power or had our phone disconnected and there was always food on the table. Mostly not food I actually liked ---I forget now that I choose my own food that I am actually a picky eater. Even when we go out, I almost always choose something I know in advance I will like. .

I don't see the point of having schools providing free meals to every child.

And how much money does it cost to determine who can and can't afford it? In a perfect world, only the needy should get a handout, but the reality is, it costs money to restrict access to handouts. How much do we actually save?

If parents can afford it, then they should (and want to) pay. If the parents meet the low income level requirements, then, sure, provide a free lunch. Otherwise, the extra costs to provide free meals to well-to-families just gets passed on to the taxpayer (including the low income ones), or else other school programs get cut to pay for it, yes?

I've never once thought that paying for a child to have lunch was wasteful.

There is reason for the saying, "There is no free lunch".

In our city, the annual school budget is over half a billion. We are already paying a lot for the "free public education".

Is that 1/2 billion for all schools? Doesn’t seem much to me considering wages etc…

That is just for Jimmy Higgins’ city.

Also: Teachers don’t get paid big bucks. Support staff less.

Still, even for just a city - it's not much. I think Mount Isa, with 7 schools, had that sort of money.

However, we get paid directly by the government, the school only covers the cost of 'bought teachers' - i.e. teachers employed above our allocation.