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Nikia

(11,411 posts)

90. A card marked free or reduced lunch is an obvious clue that a kid is poor

Sun Sep 8, 2013, 02:18 PM

Sep 2013

To both the kid receiving it and everyone else. It isn't necessarily about hate. It can be about difference. I think kids learn early on that it is better to be more well off financially, more attractive, smarter, and more athletic.
Having all children receive free lunch eliminates that "difference" that is recognized as negative early on.
As for my family, I am the sole earner in my household of 4 people. I have a professional job that requires a 4 year degree and experience, but I make a few thousand dollars under the yearly income requirements. In 4k, it is a partial day program but they gave us the income guidelines for free and reduced lunches. It was then, that I discovered that we were "poor". Next year, when my child goes full day and will eat lunch at school, I will choose not to apply for reduced lunches. I don't want him labeled as poor.

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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