School policy letter sent home, what do you think ?

Question

This past week the schools in our town sent home this letter to everyone.

Starting tomorrow if your child does not have enough money in his/her meal account they will be given a granola bar and a milk (no exceptions).

Am I not the only one who does not think this is right?

With all that left over food they have after each class is feed, they could atleast send the parent of the child a warning letter and a give him/her a free meal that day.
I am sure there are parents out there that may forget to the send the meal check in with their child on Monday and get it there on Tuesday, instead .

I just feel that with a child having a 6 1/2 hour day at school a granola bar and a milk is just not enough for a young child.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

I think there should be some kind of compromise.
I understanf that the school cannot afford to feed each and every child but i also think that it is extermely important for children to EAT while they are at school...
I think that if the student does not have money, the school should give them 1 meal and sent a letter home saying that you owe the $2 or whatever for the meal. If that is paid off, then if the same thing happens again the school knows they will get reimbursed for the meal.
Now if a student continually "forgets" lunch money, then i can see the school refusing.
Once i forgot to give my son lunch money. His teacher bought him lunch and just sent a note home, not asking for the money back, just telling me heat happened so it could be avoided in teh future...i was completely mortified!!
i think that since the school job is to take care of your children while they are there, that includes making sure they get a meal in case the parent forgets.

Answer 2

You're right, of course. At first I was thinking it was a charity to give the child the granola bar and milk as opposed to nothing. But in the light of all the leftover food, yes, they could give the child a meal (maybe of a less-popular meal) and give the parents a warning. Two days of free meals, and after that, the granola bar and milk until the parents settle the matter with the school.

The grace period will also give the child better incentive to make sure the parents are on their game. It would give the message, "Yes, we care about you, but we can only go so far."

Answer 3

It makes sense from an economic perspective, but not a health perspective. For many years now, the school lunch program has been forced to operate on standard business terms - no more taking losses, you must break even or turn a profit. The motive behind this decision was to minimze waste and cut the government budget.
How effective this decsion was is debatable.

I can't wait to see what your school does when some kids are fed a granola bar and milk every day for two weeks or longer because their accounts have not been paid.

Answer 4

yes a granola bar and milk are not enough to get someone through the day, but it's better than nothing!

maybe giving the child a meal and charging double for it (going in to lunch debt) or charging a fee for being over the limit would work. but they shouldn't recieve a 'free' meal. you shouldn't forget about your childs meal funds!

Answer 5

As long as you have your child's money in, then you have no problem. I'm sure they started this rule, due to the parents that never end up paying! So instead of the school feeding them a meal for free, they get a snack. If you don't like it, then make sure your kid has money in his account!! No problem! Parents have to take more responsibility for their children instead of pushing it off on the schools and the government!!!!!

Answer 6

Sounds okay to me course I am outside the issue, so anything logical makes sense to me.

Break it down;

a) If you don't pay us on time, you're child will go 6 1/2 hours on 1 granola bar and a milk.

b) If you don't pay us on time, we'll keep sending out letters scolding you but do nothing. We'll continue to feed your kid on our dime and wait for you to pay us when you feel like it.

Now out of those 2 statements, which one do you think is more effective in getting parents to be RESPONSIBLE for their children's well-being?

Answer 7

This does sound a bit harsh, but apparently the school has had issues with this for quite a while otherwise it wouldn't have gotten to this point. Personally, I feel it's the parents responsibility to provide for their children, and if that means they need to keep tabs on the 'meal account', so be it. What happened to packing a lunch for our children to ensure they are eating and eating nutrutiously?

Answer 8

I guess you are in the states, has it ever happened, if so then you should be able to cite the school for that as forcibly starving a child and expecting them to work is probably child abuse.
If it happens then call the police and make an action accusing the school principle for child abuse. It HAS to be investigated. They have said no exceptions therefore they do not know the circumstances.
I am guessing that the police would LOVE to do that. The principle would HAVE to be suspended whilst the claim was perused.
You might like to get a load of mothers to sign a petition and include that bit of information.
Also do not forget to inform welfare as they like to know of child abuse.

Answer 9

well, very little of all is free anymore... think of the school's budgeting....There are so many schools that are getting bombarded for overspending on materials and also supplies and of course, food for their kitchens to prepare....if there is too much left over, that hurts the budget and its a loss for the school's finances. So for that reason, schools have to cut their budgets like they do...you, yourself wouldn't buy food and let it get spoiled or just go to waste after paying for it would you? Schools are only trying to eliminate unnecessary waste...unless you'd want to see an increase in taxes....I'd rather lower my taxes anyway I can...so make sure that you're child has plenty of funds in his lunch funds so he/she won't starve til she/he gets home from school.

Answer 10

Basic rule of a capitalist society: IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THEN YOU GOTTA PAY FOR IT

It sounds okay to me. They are supplying a product, it's fair to get paid for it.

Maybe they've been doing as you suggest and giving free stuff to people who can't pay it, and I guess they've never paid back their free stuff.

Perhaps in communist china they still give free school meals...