Throwing away a child's lunch?
WeepingAngel81
Posts: 2,232 Member
in Chit-Chat
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/elementary-school-takes-away-students--lunches-due-outstanding-balances-on-accounts-174726995.html
There are so many things that break my heart about this article! I would also be interested in hearing more of the back story. How many of these parents have signed up for free or reduced lunches and were denied (not even sure if that ever happens??) I understand it costs money to feed children at school and that it is the parents responsibility to make sure that bill is covered, but to take lunches already served from a child and throwing it away is extreme.
I really don't know what the right answer would be to this, but there has to be a better way of getting the parents attention.
Thoughts?
How would you react if this was your child?
There are so many things that break my heart about this article! I would also be interested in hearing more of the back story. How many of these parents have signed up for free or reduced lunches and were denied (not even sure if that ever happens??) I understand it costs money to feed children at school and that it is the parents responsibility to make sure that bill is covered, but to take lunches already served from a child and throwing it away is extreme.
I really don't know what the right answer would be to this, but there has to be a better way of getting the parents attention.
Thoughts?
How would you react if this was your child?
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Replies
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Punishing the child because the parents is NO answer. That is a fact.
They could have:
A) Reached out to the family to see if they qualify for a school lunch program if money was an issue.
Made the parents come to the school to hash things out 0 -
This is the reason I don't like the whole "credit card" system schools have adopted. There have been plenty of times that I forgot to put more funds into my kids' accounts and they got the alternative lunch instead. They are never denied and shouldn't be punished for parental oversight. However, if you don't have the money to buy lunch, pack one.0
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I thought it was atrocious.
But, in fairness, the school has issued and apology and an explanation (as flimsy as it may be). It is still inexcusable to take food from a child and humiliate them by wasting the food and issuing them a piece of fruit and milk.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/elementary-school-takes-away-students--lunches-due-outstanding-balances-on-accounts-174726995.html0 -
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/elementary-school-takes-away-students--lunches-due-outstanding-balances-on-accounts-174726995.html
There are so many things that break my heart about this article! I would also be interested in hearing more of the back story. How many of these parents have signed up for free or reduced lunches and were denied (not even sure if that ever happens??) I understand it costs money to feed children at school and that it is the parents responsibility to make sure that bill is covered, but to take lunches already served from a child and throwing it away is extreme.
I really don't know what the right answer would be to this, but there has to be a better way of getting the parents attention.
Thoughts?
How would you react if this was your child?
So, the state can take your kids away from you if they don't think you are raising them properly, but they don't have to feed them?
Sounds legit. :ohwell:0 -
This is the reason I don't like the whole "credit card" system schools have adopted. There have been plenty of times that I forgot to put more funds into my kids' accounts and they got the alternative lunch instead. They are never denied and shouldn't be punished for parental oversight. However, if you don't have the money to buy lunch, pack one.
I agree with the packing lunch.
2 years ago my daughter would take her lunch to school and give it to her friends if they didn't like what they had or if they didn't have lunch of their own. Then she would go through and pay with credit. Suddenly I get a call saying I owe $50 :noway:
I understand things happen, and because of that credit system my daughter will not be purchasing lunch at school. I requested that they don't give her a pin number. That seemed to help.0 -
I can't understand why the lunch people would have taken perfectly good lunches from those kids and thrown them away! The kids should not be punished for a parent's oversight or mistake and it makes me SO mad to know those poor kids couldn't eat that day! Imagine how awful that made them feel plus they were likely hungry that whole day!
I agree with Mia, the alternative lunch should be provided and the parent should be contacted. Starving the kids is not going to help them concentrate any better on their studies!!0 -
This is despicable. They "started" making calls on Monday and come Tuesday they THREW AWAY the food already given to the child. This "Child Nutrition Manager" should immediately be collecting unemployment.0
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They're not "throwing away a chil'd lunch" they are denying him/her a free lunch. I'm sorry there are parents out there that are irresponsible, but if they can't afford a lunch, pack a lunch. Apply for food assistance.
If it is truly an oversight, no child is going to starve to death missing one lunch and, if it is a recurring problem, then it falls to the parents to get their act together.
I'm sorry some people can't afford to support their children and I,m sorry the children have to suffer, but I'm not all that crazy about supporting their poor choices.0 -
This is the reason I don't like the whole "credit card" system schools have adopted. There have been plenty of times that I forgot to put more funds into my kids' accounts and they got the alternative lunch instead. They are never denied and shouldn't be punished for parental oversight. However, if you don't have the money to buy lunch, pack one.
I agree with the packing lunch.
2 years ago my daughter would take her lunch to school and give it to her friends if they didn't like what they had or if they didn't have lunch of their own. Then she would go through and pay with credit. Suddenly I get a call saying I owe $50 :noway:
I understand things happen, and because of that credit system my daughter will not be purchasing lunch at school. I requested that they don't give her a pin number. That seemed to help.
Oh yeah, I got a bill too. My son (who was in K at the time) would tell his teacher that he was buying when I sent him to school with a fully packed lunch. They're essentially teaching them how to go into debt and have someone else worry about the consequences.0 -
I recognize that sooner or later, you can't give the child lunch if the parent isn't paying, and doesn't qualify or hasn't applied for free lunch programs. It's a sad economic truth. But giving the child the food and then taking it away is simply mind blowing. At that age, that is going to be a permanent emotional scar, not to mention the bullying it will invariably lead to from other children.
I don't know what their standard policy is, and maybe this would normally be done, but the parents should have been informed that there was insufficient funds on the lunch account, that the child was provided a minimal lunch today, and that in future would not be able to purchase lunch until funds were present.0 -
They're not "throwing away a chil'd lunch" they are denying him/her a free lunch. I'm sorry there are parents out there that are irresponsible, but if they can't afford a lunch, pack a lunch. Apply for food assistance.
If it is truly an oversight, no child is going to starve to death missing one lunch and, if it is a recurring problem, then it falls to the parents to get their act together.
I'm sorry some people can't afford to support their children and I,m sorry the children have to suffer, but I'm not all that crazy about supporting their poor choices.
I'm not sure you read the article. The children were provided lunch, and then after it was discovered that the accounts had insufficient balance, the food was taken away from the children and trashed.0 -
This makes me want to cry. Those poor humiliated children. If ANYONE EVER did this to my step daughter I would knock their heads together. Outrageous!0
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They're not "throwing away a chil'd lunch" they are denying him/her a free lunch. I'm sorry there are parents out there that are irresponsible, but if they can't afford a lunch, pack a lunch. Apply for food assistance.
If it is truly an oversight, no child is going to starve to death missing one lunch and, if it is a recurring problem, then it falls to the parents to get their act together.
I'm sorry some people can't afford to support their children and I,m sorry the children have to suffer, but I'm not all that crazy about supporting their poor choices.
If they were trying to collect the money then it wouldn't be free.
You do make a valid point though about that it is up to the parents. There is no denying that. You are also correct that the kids won't starve by one missed meal....but then again, you don't know what they aren't getting at home. I know in my area sometimes school lunch is the only decent meal some kids do get. Again, not your problem (or mine) but back to my point....a missed meal can cause a child to lose focus therefore hindering learning. This could also make it difficult on the teacher.0 -
On the one hand I can understand the schools point where these kids cannot get a lunch and they do allow the alternative of fruit and milk...
On the otherhand, that child got a tray of food, and then the teacher took it away and THREW IT IN THE TRASH? If it is going to go to waste in the trash then why not allow the child to keep it and then call the parents in for a meeting or make a phone call. THis should have occured as soon as the balance hit zero.
That's what I see anyway. That was just a poor and cruel way to handle the situation.0 -
Anyone who would take food out of a child's hand and throw it away should not be working in a school. I don't care who gave the order to do so.0
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sometimes they are really nuts and can do more harm then good. i can remember when dylan was in first grade his teacher wouldn't let him eat his lunch because he was acting up. i mean nothing at all he had to sit at his desk while the other kids ate. he had his lunch for i always packed him a lunch because he wouldn't eat the school food. when i picked him up after school he was complaining that he was really hungry because the teacher wouldn't let him eat. when i heard that i went up to his teacher and really told her off . i mean is that right? told her if she does it again i would take action. all she kept saying is " i'm sorry " told her that didn'r cut it. boy was i ever mad.0
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I really wish I could home school my son so he wouldn't ever have to deal with crap like this.
Not that he would because I would make sure his lunch was paid for, but in general public schools are horrible.0 -
They're not "throwing away a chil'd lunch" they are denying him/her a free lunch. I'm sorry there are parents out there that are irresponsible, but if they can't afford a lunch, pack a lunch. Apply for food assistance.
If it is truly an oversight, no child is going to starve to death missing one lunch and, if it is a recurring problem, then it falls to the parents to get their act together.
I'm sorry some people can't afford to support their children and I,m sorry the children have to suffer, but I'm not all that crazy about supporting their poor choices.
Not a popular opinion, but the one i a agree with most.0 -
I thought it was atrocious.
But, in fairness, the school has issued and apology and an explanation (as flimsy as it may be). It is still inexcusable to take food from a child and humiliate them by wasting the food and issuing them a piece of fruit and milk.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/elementary-school-takes-away-students--lunches-due-outstanding-balances-on-accounts-174726995.html
I hate apologies like this. They're the type that never would have been given if this hadn't made news. It sounds like "I'm sorry because I got caught".0 -
sometimes they are really nuts and can do more harm then good. i can remember when dylan was in first grade his teacher wouldn't let him eat his lunch because he was acting up. i mean nothing at all he had to sit at his desk while the other kids ate. he had his lunch for i always packed him a lunch because he wouldn't eat the school food. when i picked him up after school he was complaining that he was really hungry because the teacher wouldn't let him eat. when i heard that i went up to his teacher and really told her off . i mean is that right? told her if she does it again i would take action. all she kept saying is " i'm sorry " told her that didn'r cut it. boy was i ever mad.
I wouldve filed a formal complaint with the superintendent's office right then and there. Poor kid0 -
This is the reason I don't like the whole "credit card" system schools have adopted. There have been plenty of times that I forgot to put more funds into my kids' accounts and they got the alternative lunch instead. They are never denied and shouldn't be punished for parental oversight. However, if you don't have the money to buy lunch, pack one.
I agree with the packing lunch.
2 years ago my daughter would take her lunch to school and give it to her friends if they didn't like what they had or if they didn't have lunch of their own. Then she would go through and pay with credit. Suddenly I get a call saying I owe $50 :noway:
I understand things happen, and because of that credit system my daughter will not be purchasing lunch at school. I requested that they don't give her a pin number. That seemed to help.
You must have packed the worst lunches ever if she chose to eat cafeteria food instead........0 -
As many famillies who make more than I do, and still get free lunches. Give the damn kids a free lunch. It's not thier fault. I guess when we start making 6 year olds get a job, then this would make perfect sense. But until then...seriously.0
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They're not "throwing away a chil'd lunch" they are denying him/her a free lunch. I'm sorry there are parents out there that are irresponsible, but if they can't afford a lunch, pack a lunch. Apply for food assistance.
If it is truly an oversight, no child is going to starve to death missing one lunch and, if it is a recurring problem, then it falls to the parents to get their act together.
I'm sorry some people can't afford to support their children and I,m sorry the children have to suffer, but I'm not all that crazy about supporting their poor choices.
I'm not sure you read the article. The children were provided lunch, and then after it was discovered that the accounts had insufficient balance, the food was taken away from the children and trashed.
I did miss that. Thanks. Throwing it away is so stupid. Doesn't change my opinion, however. I do feel badly for the children, but this all falls on the parents' shoulders. I really can't find a good excuse for the innatnentivemess of the parents. I had three daughters in Public School. They never missed a meal. We either provided lunch are made sure their lunch accounts were current. We struggled at times, but it never affected our children. If you are going to have children, make them your number one priority.0 -
So I work in a school cafateria ( over 60 percent of the kids get free or reduced lunch) and we would never throw away a kids lunch! I think my boss would kill us if we did. Our policy is they can go up to $3 negative,( which is the cost of one lunch) at that point we r supposed to hand out cheese sandwiches but they still get all the other things on there tray with the exception go the main course (exp cheese sandwich, milk, juice, apple and a salad) that being said we never make cheese sandwiches so we just end up telling them to bring money tomorrow which many of them don't. We also have several 'hard case' situations that on our register pops up 'feed them' which means they or a parent have spoken to my boss and regardless of money or lack of you make sure they eat. If anyone's not eating where I work it's because they chose not to.0
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They're not "throwing away a chil'd lunch" they are denying him/her a free lunch. I'm sorry there are parents out there that are irresponsible, but if they can't afford a lunch, pack a lunch. Apply for food assistance.
If it is truly an oversight, no child is going to starve to death missing one lunch and, if it is a recurring problem, then it falls to the parents to get their act together.
I'm sorry some people can't afford to support their children and I,m sorry the children have to suffer, but I'm not all that crazy about supporting their poor choices.
Not a popular opinion, but the one i a agree with most.
I agree with it ASIDE from the fact....they had already given the kids the lunches.....They then took them away and gave them the fruit/milk......and THREW AWAY the full lunch.....Yeah Throwing it away does a lot of good......And they embarrassed the kids. Let the kids have the lunch you gave them and note it to give them the fruit/milk moving forward until it is resolved.0 -
This is despicable. They "started" making calls on Monday and come Tuesday they THREW AWAY the food already given to the child. This "Child Nutrition Manager" should immediately be collecting unemployment.
Agree!! If that had happened to my daughter I would have been extremely ticked off!
We don't know every single, individual situation - how many other notices did the parents receive that they ignored? Or was Monday the first time the school tried to reach out to them? How many parents didn't give a hoot and how many are struggling financially? How many had the money to provide but didn't receive proper notification? One woman who was interviewed claims her 5th graders lunch was one of the ones taken away and she and other parents state they never received a notice there was insufficient funds.
The whole situation was handled improperly and that "Child Nutrition Manager" needs to be fired. The school lost money due to insufficient accounts and now they wasted food and embarrassed themselves to the entire country.0 -
This is the reason I don't like the whole "credit card" system schools have adopted. There have been plenty of times that I forgot to put more funds into my kids' accounts and they got the alternative lunch instead. They are never denied and shouldn't be punished for parental oversight. However, if you don't have the money to buy lunch, pack one.
I agree with the packing lunch.
2 years ago my daughter would take her lunch to school and give it to her friends if they didn't like what they had or if they didn't have lunch of their own. Then she would go through and pay with credit. Suddenly I get a call saying I owe $50 :noway:
I understand things happen, and because of that credit system my daughter will not be purchasing lunch at school. I requested that they don't give her a pin number. That seemed to help.
You must have packed the worst lunches ever if she chose to eat cafeteria food instead........
lol. i gave my daughter 13 bucks for school lunch at the beginning of the year and i bet I get 11 of it back. She will not eat school lunch at all. We make her lunch every morning together.0 -
To dylans mom:
If it were one of my girls I would have done the same dam thing!0 -
Anyone who would take food out of a child's hand and throw it away should not be working in a school. I don't care who gave the order to do so.
Right? I wonder how the lunchroom workers felt about it?0 -
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