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What is “lunch shaming?” It happens when a child can’t pay a school lunch bill.
In Alabama, a child short on funds was stamped on the arm with “I Need Lunch Money.” In some schools, children are forced to clean cafeteria tables in front of their peers to pay the debt. Other schools require cafeteria workers to take a child’s hot food and throw it in the trash if he doesn’t have the money to pay for it.
In what its supporters say is the first such legislation in the country, New Mexico has outlawed shaming children whose parents are behind on school lunch payments.
Source: The New York Times
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New Mexico Outlaws School ‘Lunch Shaming’
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Can anyone remember when the times were not hard, and money not scarce?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Dunbal on Sunday April 09 2017, @10:18PM (4 children)
Initially I was shocked that school meals were not free. In fact, in many European countries breakfast is included for free too because a good breakfast is so important for kids.
Most of the world offers free meals to children in public schools. That's the way it is in latin America. It's the only way to guarantee that kids at least receive some form of guaranteed caloric intake and nutrition even in the poorest areas. Funny how tiny, poor countries can afford something as simple as this, and yet America that bastion of "Freedom and Democracy" and the shining light we must all follow - somehow thinks it's better to humiliate children. I wonder where all that capitalist money goes. Oh wait - Tomahawks...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 10 2017, @05:12AM (2 children)
You are free to starve, citizen.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 10 2017, @06:26PM (1 child)
but keep paying for the wars or we throw you in debtor's prison
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 10 2017, @08:15PM
i don't pay for their wars. my just war will come when they try to get "their" back taxes. fuck the seditious whores at the irs and their henchmen. they will get theirs.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 10 2017, @06:41PM
"Most of the world offers free meals to children in public schools."
Total b.s. you just made up, having done zero research.
Here is the Wikipedia article. And, yes, it's a million times more authoritative than some uninformed simpleton posting on some web site:
"Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Estonia are among the few countries which provide free school meals to all pupils in compulsory education, regardless of their ability to pay. In high-income countries, free school meals are usually available to children who meet income-based criteria. (The exception is Australia, where free school meals are not available). Canada has no national school meal program, and elementary schools are usually not equipped with kitchen facilities. Parents are generally expected to provide a packed lunch for their children to take to school, or have their children return home to eat during the lunch period."
Gee, the bash-the-U.-S.-at-every-opportunity crowd (regardless of the facts) usually love countries like Canada and Australia.
By contrast the U.S. program of providing free lunches to poor students is one of the best in the world. The parents that "aren't paying" have plenty of money, and are selfishly spending every penny on themselves. I don't think the children should be shamed, but lying about the world situation in the usual "U.S. is bad, bad, bad!" manner is absolute garbage.