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Zoeisright

(8,339 posts)

108. Don't know much about poverty, do you?

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 02:59 AM

Mar 2013

Poverty is disabling. My husband teaches at a school where poverty is rampant. Getting parents to sign those forms can be like pulling teeth. They're often disabled, or so depressed (depression is more disabling than end stage heart disease, BTW) or so out of it they just can't sign the forms.

And here's how the school should handle it: PAY FOR THE FUCKING LUNCHES. Christ. I thought this was supposed to be a democratic board.

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Thoughts? Elem. School Taking Away Regular Lunches From Students Who Owe Money, Replacing With Tuna [View all] PennsylvaniaMatt Mar 2013 OP

I think this is reprehensible.... mike_c Mar 2013 #1

And a tuna sandwich SoCalNative Mar 2013 #42

so you don't think having your lunch TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU IN LINE, in front of your classmates, niyad Mar 2013 #46

Well, you win for the Zoeisright Mar 2013 #104

I have no problem with this, MadHound Mar 2013 #2

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #97

Kids = pawns in a game- digonswine Mar 2013 #2

Our school has the same policy, but it passes out pb&j or grilled cheese sandwiches. FSogol Mar 2013 #4

They did this here too.... rppper Mar 2013 #91

Whats wrong with tuna or pbj? My kids ate that for years. MichiganVote Mar 2013 #5

so you think it is okay to humiliate the child by taking her/his lunch away, at the checkout line, niyad Mar 2013 #11

What in the world are you talking about? You have some nerve suggesting that. MichiganVote Mar 2013 #28

because of this sentence, which most of the posters here seem to have ignored: niyad Mar 2013 #39

To my knowledge most schools simply tell kids in private that the next day they will need to get MichiganVote Mar 2013 #45

that is NOT what is happening here, as the OP clearly indicated, and confirmed downpost. niyad Mar 2013 #48

Well you raised the issue of humiliation and there is nothing wrong with expanding MichiganVote Mar 2013 #57

your answer is no. Occulus Mar 2013 #75

You have some nerve, period. Zoeisright Mar 2013 #105

And here's more to add to your wide body of ignorance: Zoeisright Mar 2013 #106

did I understand that sentence correctly? the children are in line, with their lunches, which are niyad Mar 2013 #6

You're correct... PennsylvaniaMatt Mar 2013 #16

That is totally wrong Smilo Mar 2013 #37

that is hideously ugly Skittles Mar 2013 #58

I don't think you should punish the child. upaloopa Mar 2013 #7

Probably healthier than most of the crap that gets passed for school lunches. Initech Mar 2013 #8

I was just going to post that. My kids won't touch the school lunches riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #12

After reading the post below I stand corrected! Initech Mar 2013 #14

Report Says Tuna Could Be Dangerous for School Kids dogman Mar 2013 #9

Absolutely disgusting! LeftofObama Mar 2013 #10

I like tuna sandwiches slackmaster Mar 2013 #13

do you also like being publicly humiliated in order to have them? because that is what we are niyad Mar 2013 #24

I don't believe it would have occurred to me to feel humiliated at that age. A tuna sandwich... slackmaster Mar 2013 #27

Niyad, I'm not sure its humiliating. The way its set up, any number of kids are turned away riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #41

this isn't about being turned away--this is about having your lunch tray taken away, at checkout, niyad Mar 2013 #50

Yup, the food is taken away. And you don't get anything else. riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #56

My mercuryblues Mar 2013 #15

My daughter's school doesn't extend ANY credit or freebies. If your balance is zero riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #35

Seems a poor choice all around johnnyreb Mar 2013 #17

investigate the idiot parents KT2000 Mar 2013 #18

In some of the extreme cases... PennsylvaniaMatt Mar 2013 #21

You bill the parents, and keep them out of school until they pay. lindysalsagal Mar 2013 #61

YOU'RE a teacher?? Zoeisright Mar 2013 #107

What's in the "regular" lunch? jberryhill Mar 2013 #19

SPAM sandwich, I think. Or High School meat loaf. nt longship Mar 2013 #81

I know, right? jberryhill Mar 2013 #93

When I taught high school mathematics in CA I ate tuna fish sandwich all the time. longship Mar 2013 #99

Since leaving school jberryhill Mar 2013 #110

Pardon my ignorance, but how can a student owe money to a school? DollarBillHines Mar 2013 #20

They don't have money in their account when they go to pay for lunch... PennsylvaniaMatt Mar 2013 #23

It cost about 2 bucks for a lunch trumad Mar 2013 #26

In our district...it is not even 2 bucks for the regular "hot lunch" meal PennsylvaniaMatt Mar 2013 #30

My daughter's school won't even take $$. Either the acct is current or you don't eat riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #44

If the students are eligible for free or reduced then the parent(s) must fill out the paperwork. LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #22

My kids school would give them a peanut butter sandwich - lynne Mar 2013 #25

I think it's okay Hayabusa Mar 2013 #29

question brought on by a post below--do the children get anything with that tuna--a drink and niyad Mar 2013 #31

That wouldn't have been punishment for me tularetom Mar 2013 #32

It doesn't make sense to punish the kids. HooptieWagon Mar 2013 #33

Why aren't the parents giving their kids lunch money? appleannie1 Mar 2013 #34

Right on schedule, the Great DU Cheese Sandwich War (now with tuna!): petronius Mar 2013 #36

"It's like the unlooked-for return of an old friend..." countryjake Mar 2013 #112

Can we just feed the kids??? Sivafae Mar 2013 #38

thank you!! niyad Mar 2013 #43

Yes. Every year it costs me more and more to send my kids to public school. In my day, every kid Ed Suspicious Mar 2013 #79

Every elementery school kid gets free lunches in our community. hunter Mar 2013 #80

I have mixed feelings. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #40

It doesn't seem to be a cost-effective move HeiressofBickworth Mar 2013 #47

I was thinking the same, Kali Mar 2013 #86

I'm not sure how others will agree. Arcanetrance Mar 2013 #49

there have been a number of schools that have adopted this approach--the meals are fresh, niyad Mar 2013 #82

In middle school or high school it may be about teaching the kids responsibility.... nessa Mar 2013 #51

please note that this is an elementary school niyad Mar 2013 #55

Too much tuna isn't good for the health of growing youngsters Adsos Letter Mar 2013 #52

Never too soon to begin conditioning them for their future in the workforce. bluedigger Mar 2013 #53

No money, no lunch FarCenter Mar 2013 #54

When I was in elementary school (1986-1992) they did the same thing. tammywammy Mar 2013 #59

My kids school has done this for years, but they use a different system. Xithras Mar 2013 #60

My thoughts? *Every* child should be getting free lunches Lars39 Mar 2013 #62

+10000000. nt riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #65

Its so easy to get on the school lunch program... bhikkhu Mar 2013 #63

My 16 yr old would take ANY opportunity to excoriate me if she could riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #64

this is happening at an elementary school niyad Mar 2013 #67

The entire school district K-12 is serviced by the same food corporation riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #71

Yep, the kids with lots of friends will do OK, they won't go hungry Fumesucker Mar 2013 #73

My daughter's a loner. I've posted about her troubles on DU before. riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #74

Children are all different, what is no big deal to one will be horribly embarrassing to another Fumesucker Mar 2013 #77

. riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #83

Don't know much about poverty, do you? Zoeisright Mar 2013 #108

Nothing wrong with tuna fish, but... Bonobo Mar 2013 #66

And what do you do if the parents just don't pay or won't fill out the paperwork? Bake Mar 2013 #68

That is a matter for the legal system, I guess. Bonobo Mar 2013 #69

At the elementary school where I am a lunch lady Cairycat Mar 2013 #70

+1 MichiganVote Mar 2013 #72

I call bullshit, sorry but that has NOTHING to do with "in the hole" I would like to see 4 t 4 Mar 2013 #78

a very good point niyad Mar 2013 #90

"In the hole" would simply mean the kid's account has a negative balance. (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #94

My kid's school did this kind of thing, but it was a plain cheese sandwich. Buzz Clik Mar 2013 #76

Why even pay for food? valiberal26 Mar 2013 #84

welcome to DU--what a great idea niyad Mar 2013 #89

The method is wrong. Kalidurga Mar 2013 #85

I wouldn't like it- I despise the taste of tuna... richmwill Mar 2013 #87

Here it's a cold cheese sandwitch. Most people pay their bill when their child comes home and says RB TexLa Mar 2013 #88

Cheese sandwich in my district too. And this does not target the poor (who get free meals), Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #92

mmmmmmm....mercury poisoning as punishment. glinda Mar 2013 #95

Parents should pay up or fill out the fucking forms. JVS Mar 2013 #96

I think it's a horrible policy. I would have starved since I don't eat fish and I hated PB when forestpath Mar 2013 #98

How can we discuss and fix the bullying issue donheld Mar 2013 #100

Sick, even tho tuna was one of my favorites. elleng Mar 2013 #101

This makes me incredibly sad! Nt peace13 Mar 2013 #102

It's worse here. aroach Mar 2013 #103

I would be OK with the substitution if they weren't doing it LadyHawkAZ Mar 2013 #109

I GOT THIS! jberryhill Mar 2013 #111

Three thoughts Demo_Chris Mar 2013 #113