Before Christmas my son asked me why other children in his class dont have to pay for their school dinner?

Question

to this i replyed that they didn't have to pay because their mummys and daddys probably didnt work and they wouldnt be able to affoard it.
my son then went on to tell me that I must have got that wrong as these kids he is talking about are definately not poor they have all the best coats trainers and tracksuits etc..
this got me quite angry as I thought yeah your right son.
How come me and my husband work hard everyday and can barely afford the dinner moneys let alone the top trainers but people who dont work get everything free eg dentist doctors, vets dinners rent, the list goes on, but they can affoard all the top gear for their kids,
what are your views

I am not saying these children dont deserve to have a meal if it was down to the parents they probably wouldn't get one, but I just think there is no incentive for these people to go out and get a job when they get everything so great already

Answer 1

i`m fed up of scroungers living the life of Riley (who`s Riley?) off my income tax!!!!! they probably work cash in hand too

Answer 2

Unfortunately, some people know how to play the system and feel no guilt in doing so. I truly don't think it's the majority, though, and it's also possible that those items were Christmas gifts received from a charitable organization, like Toy's for Tots. If not, tell your son that those parents are teaching their children the lesson of how NOT to behave. Just keep on working hard and be proud of that fact. Hope your money problems improve for you, too.

Answer 3

You are generalising hugely. Just because some people abuse the system it does not mean that people should be deprived of help. I have been poor, and my son was in receipt of free school meals. I could not afford to buy him new clothes - I used to buy things in charity shops. Everyone used to comment on how nicely turned out he was, and probably made the same assumptions that you did. I hope that you never have the misfortune to be on the receiving end of attitudes like yours because it is a horrible place to be, but think that it might do you some good and teach you some tolerance and humility. I don't think you realise that state benefits cover the bare minimum - if any unexpected expenses come up it is impossible to make ends meet. Besides, if you and your husband are on an income whereby you struggle to pay the dinner money you are probably entitled to working tax credits. If you are already claiming them, you have no room to pass any comment because you are as much of a sponger as anyone on benefits, and receive more money than they do for everything as a top up to your salary.

Answer 4

I'm glad that the children can get a free lunch,i would hate to think that any child would be hungry. As for the rest of the things such as their clothes and shoes how do you know that they were not supplied by relatives or caring,compassionate friends who want the children to go to school and not feel different. I do
understand how you feel ,because the system doesn't always work as it should,but i would never deny a child food or help in any way.I'm happy that you and your husband are able to take good care of your children,but all children aren't so fortunate.

Answer 5

You shouldn't assume that they don't work. I am a single parent of a 5 & 7 year old and I work 5 days a week to support them. My children receive so called free breakfast and lunch through the food stamp program. The benefits are based upon how much I earn. My childrens school just started using lunch card accounts that doesn't allow anybody from knowing they receive "free lunches" because of the stigma attatched to it. My children have GAP,FILA and all the other high up gear, but they received them as presents, donations and other means. I couldn't possibly afford to buy them. So be careful, especially with the children, you don't want to have your son jumping to conclusions everytime things don't seem fair.

Answer 6

Not all but many of them know how to manipulate the system and get everything. They are not afraid of being caught. See this all the time. And the system has so many loopholes and gray areas they can get away with it. The government knows that the system is mired in fraud but do not want to do anything about it for fear on trampling someones civil rights. They would rather fund nonsense than attempt to catch the ones that are committing fraud. Such as $70,000 to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wis. for construction and renovation.$26 million to operate the Selective Service (draft boards) even though there is no draft now—and hasn’t been any since 1973.$775,000 to the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla.—part of a project to provide economic opportunity in areas of low or moderate income. (Coral Gables’ per capita income is 19.6% above the U.S. average.) For the luxury hotel’s minimum rate, about $200 a night, 130 hurricane survivors could stay there for a month each.$180,000 for natural products research; and $50,000 for cotton ginning research.and $75,000 for seafood waste research.
$260,000 for grazing research. And the waste goes on and on...

Answer 7

I feel you. It irritates me also, but, we may never find out for sure why... I don't know how I would have replied to that, but you were honest and did the right thing. He is young and doesn't realize he needs to appriciate what he has. There is this area where people on wellfare live. I kid you not, sometimes I drive by their apartments and they have nicer cars then I do!!!! I'm talking caddys, benz, bmw's. Me on the other hand, have to work my *** off and drive a cavalier.... We will never know why. I think sometimes the mothers are on wellfare, and they meet a guy that works so its like double income..

Answer 8

I completely agree with you! Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about things like this, it's the government, if they're so determined to take money from the taxes you pay and give them to people who just can't be bothered to get out of bed in a morning to do an honest days work! This gets to me a lot too, I'm in sixth form, and a lot of my friends get EMA but I don't because my parents apparently earn too much. I have a job that I have to work really hard for and yet some of my friends earn more just for showing up to lesson that I have to do anyway! My parents may earn more but they don't give me £30 a weak!

Answer 9

Please do not poison your son's mind with your hate against his fellow classmates. If anything, you should be thankful that you are able to afford the things you speak of and that the day that you cannot, that there is a program available for.

Please read the following and fall to your knees thanking GOD that you are able to afford your son's lunch, school clothes, dental appoitnments and doctor appointments:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

How do children qualify for free and reduced-price meals?
Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals, for which students can be charged no more than 40 cents. (For the period July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, 130 percent of the poverty level is $24,505 for a family of four; 185 percent is $34,873.)

Children from families with incomes over 185 percent of poverty pay a full price, though their meals are still subsidized to some extent. Local school food authorities set their own prices for full-price (paid) meals, but must operate their meal services as non-profit programs.

Afterschool snacks are provided to children on the same income eligibility basis as school meals. However, programs that operate in areas where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals may serve all their snacks for free.

Amen.

Answer 10

In my old school, it was who you were or who you knew. The principal had 2 kids who went to that school, and they didn't have to pay. Some of the teacher's kids didn't, either.

My family lived on a farm and I still had to. The school system's screwed.

Answer 11

in case you like it in any respect, then in all probability a similar style of hours that it takes to tire of the different music you like. It in basic terms comes around as quickly as a 12 months. I used to sing or hum Christmas music in June or July only with the aid of fact I only like the stupid sentimental stuff, the two the religious and non religious. i'm even however, speedy to %. away the Christmas decorations interior the 1st 0.5 of January. only FYI, "Carol of the Bells" is my very fav, then is "Wizards in wintry climate"