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Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)

15. It is free to them.

Wed Sep 4, 2013, 01:45 AM

Sep 2013

That's not the issue. It's that they don't understand the mechanism for making it free to them, that it's a social commitment to keep children healthy and not hungry, that it's paid for through taxes that are collected based on adults' abiity to pay. I'm not an educator and I could formulate a way to help them understand that, so why can't the teachers in that school do it? Are they prohibited from trying?

As far as telling a kid that her parents/guardians pay for it, that's not the case in the lowest income families who live on some combination of assistance payments. Sensitivity is needed to frame the explanation in a way that doesn't stigmatize those children. For those with working parents, saying that their parents are paying for it is confusing because in fact they aren't paying directly -- again, it needs to be an age appropriate explanation to avoid such confusion.

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Without paperwork, school lunch free in Boston [View all] alp227 Sep 2013 OP

K&R Solly Mack Sep 2013 #1

When I was a kid tazkcmo Sep 2013 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author Cronus Protagonist Sep 2013 #79

If they would set up a fund to help defray costs, I'll bet many families would chip in. mountain grammy Sep 2013 #2

They have set up a fund to help defray costs. It's called the Federal income tax. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2013 #21

Of course, and school meals have been subsidized for many years mountain grammy Sep 2013 #22

I would have absolutely chipped in toward the cost. Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #40

Good plan. Alternatively they could simply make lunch extraordinarily cheap... Hekate Sep 2013 #3

It's not free, someone has to pay for it. While I am in favor of not beating people over the head jtuck004 Sep 2013 #4

So what if the taxpayers pay for it spinbaby Sep 2013 #5

+1000 valerief Sep 2013 #12

I'm sure that will come as great comfort to the kids and adults who get less food when we cut food jtuck004 Sep 2013 #13

they aren't cutting food stamps to adults to pay for kid's lunches, just not happening CreekDog Sep 2013 #31

Good thing you didn't get the point. It might have put your eye out. jtuck004 Sep 2013 #66

You use the term "free" in the way that you criticize here, lots of times in fact, hypocrite CreekDog Sep 2013 #68

I'm flattered you looked it up. I didn't say the word was bad, I said it's use in this context was jtuck004 Sep 2013 #70

you said it's wrong to call something "free" when it costs someone else something CreekDog Sep 2013 #72

It's like having a 3" tall rabid English teacher chewing at one's ankles... jtuck004 Sep 2013 #73

food is not an "investment" it is a necessity noiretextatique Sep 2013 #63

Actually, it is called "Free" and they resent that, and that's what I took jtuck004 Sep 2013 #67

part of the problem is: we need to sto playing their game noiretextatique Sep 2013 #74

After I read what you wrote I came across this quote on the Big PIcture Blog jtuck004 Sep 2013 #69

Better than exploding people! /nt Ash_F Sep 2013 #20

the stigma can be quite harmful azurnoir Sep 2013 #6

It's only a stigma if you tell them they are a cost, that they are getting something for nothing. jtuck004 Sep 2013 #11

you've been telling them they are a cost in this thread CreekDog Sep 2013 #19

You keep trying to sound like you're to the left of us CreekDog Sep 2013 #35

The main reason that it is a stigma is that it labels the child as poor Nikia Sep 2013 #86

That is incorrect. Kids have to be taught class difference, to hate, to look down on people with jtuck004 Sep 2013 #88

A card marked free or reduced lunch is an obvious clue that a kid is poor Nikia Sep 2013 #90

I didn't say it was about hate, I said it is something learned, just as you did... jtuck004 Sep 2013 #91

Thanks for stating the obvious to some. In my youth I avoided using my lunch card adirondacker Sep 2013 #87

when my kids eat the school lunch d_r Sep 2013 #8

I'm sorry but I could explain to young children why it's free for them and not the teachers. Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #9

What is not age appropriate about telling a kid kis parents, and everyone else's parents, work jtuck004 Sep 2013 #14

It is free to them. Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #15

It's not goddamn free. That is a lie. Over half of their parents work to subsidize it jtuck004 Sep 2013 #16

Did you qualify for free or reduced meals when you were in school? Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #25

They. Are. Not. Free. I guess I could type slower but all these so-called jtuck004 Sep 2013 #28

They.Are.Free.To.The.Children. Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #30

yep Little Star Sep 2013 #34

Unless you live in Boston you don't have to worry about it Marrah_G Sep 2013 #23

I get angry when stupid people undercut the very program they jtuck004 Sep 2013 #24

Don't even call others in this thread stupid for calling the program by its name CreekDog Sep 2013 #29

I'll call 'em like I see 'em. And if grownups aren't smart enough to do something other than jtuck004 Sep 2013 #44

if you're trying to create a wedge between providing all childen food and nutrition and the left CreekDog Sep 2013 #50

You ought to sign up for story hour at the school. Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #42

So we lie to them so they will listen? To be popular? jtuck004 Sep 2013 #45

LOL!! Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #46

Well, I guess one could reach for extremes to prove their point, but it jtuck004 Sep 2013 #49

I get your point. Nothing is ever really "free". Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #52

I see the people who feel a need to lie to 6 year olds, and 9 year olds, and 12 year olds as weak, jtuck004 Sep 2013 #55

accusing others of lying when they call the program by its name is a low thing by you CreekDog Sep 2013 #57

To maintain consistency, you never refer to "Social Security" as such, yes? LanternWaste Sep 2013 #58

Your sister couldn't say... bobclark86 Sep 2013 #48

No, not much reason to be an ass, but interesting that you would suggest that. jtuck004 Sep 2013 #53

Yeah, kids can be pretty smart... bobclark86 Sep 2013 #54

off the top of her head? CreekDog Sep 2013 #59

Oh, a Rand fan! NealK Sep 2013 #75

Oh, and Ayn Rand collected Social Security. NealK Sep 2013 #77

Lewis Black told the graduating students they were entering a world jtuck004 Sep 2013 #80

Doesn't change the fact that you're a Rand fan. NealK Sep 2013 #81

Just like any Teabagger, only see what you want to see. So see ya' . jtuck004 Sep 2013 #82

Teabagger? NealK Sep 2013 #83

The Universal Meal Service option pilot program Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #7

federal government has been paying for all free, reduced cost and a bit towards every meal... Sunlei Sep 2013 #17

go a step further federal gov., all senior citizens can lunch at their local public schools. Sunlei Sep 2013 #18

I'm elderly. When I was a kid parents were responsible for virgogal Sep 2013 #26

And malnourishment was common in the 1930s and 1940s. Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #27

Thanks for that link---most informative. virgogal Sep 2013 #38

You're welcome. Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #47

But I bet you remember plenty of kids with little to eat. Thin, wan children msanthrope Sep 2013 #32

Nope,there were none in my working class neighborhood in Boston. There were no virgogal Sep 2013 #37

Right...just like there were no families on relief or getting church baskets. msanthrope Sep 2013 #56

kids in the 30's and 40's were malnourished, they existed CreekDog Sep 2013 #33

I was referring to The Boston Public School connection and virgogal Sep 2013 #36

so you're saying if you knew them, and they had a job, their kids didn't starve to death CreekDog Sep 2013 #39

What point are you trying to make here? ForgoTheConsequence Sep 2013 #41

Jesus christ it was the goddamn Depression! Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #43

My parents are also elderly asnd grew up in Boston Marrah_G Sep 2013 #85

There's, uh, kind of a continuum between "proper nutrition" and "starved to death." (nt) Posteritatis Sep 2013 #89

This message was self-deleted by its author bobclark86 Sep 2013 #51

Thank you for this post. n/t Gormy Cuss Sep 2013 #71

thanks for posting ur story Liberal_in_LA Sep 2013 #92

food is a right feathateathn Sep 2013 #60

Good. Arkana Sep 2013 #61

GREAT IDEA , all public schools should do this JI7 Sep 2013 #62

My kids had "no paperwork" free lunches in elementery school -- our youngest is now in college. hunter Sep 2013 #64

I HATE the concept of children paying for school lunch. tabasco Sep 2013 #65

We should have a free hot lunch program for every child in every state! CrispyQ Sep 2013 #76

Return to Sanity. Another defeat for the Randians. I blame Obama! As do they... freshwest Sep 2013 #78

This sounds like a very good idea to me. I assume that parents who wish to can continue totodeinhere Sep 2013 #84