Free Meals For School Children This Coming School Year
When school starts again one big change will be that students will no longer be charged for their meals. Of course this will be a great financial benefit to those parents who have been paying large amounts for those meals. I certainly celebrate that the children and parents will both benefit from not having this expense.
As with all "free" things there are questions that must be asked. With this program being totally funded for only one year by taxmoney through the federal government what will happen next year when the funding runs out? Will the federal government again step in and pay the full amount or will they as usual start something then expect the local governments to pick up the price tags? When I have asked this question I have been told "I don't know about next year, I'm just be glad we have it this year". Because one asks about future finances does not mean one is unhappy with what is available today. If the county is going to be hit with a very large expense next year should they not be planning for it now? Waiting for the crisis may be the pattern for county government but it by no means is the best way to operate.
Another question is what price will be extracted this year. Giving a program, any program, to the federal government is never a wise decision as it always takes away from our choices. Will these new "free" meals be tied to Mrs. Obama's requirement that all children, but her's, be fed a certain diet. Last year millions of dollars of uneaten food was thrown away by school systems that yielded to the politically correctness of feeding vegetables and fruits to growing teenagers whose bodies craved meat and potatoes. Children went home hungry and raided the refrigerator and pantry and any other possible place where "real" food might be found. Is a meal that is thrown into the trash a meal worth having at any cost? A growing body needs and deserves fuel for that growth somehow lettuce, broccoli and bean sprouts just don't get the job done.
My hope is that good, nutritious, desirable meals will be served and eaten, instead of thrown in the trash, and the federal funding will be complete but only time will tell and history is not on our side. .
As with all "free" things there are questions that must be asked. With this program being totally funded for only one year by taxmoney through the federal government what will happen next year when the funding runs out? Will the federal government again step in and pay the full amount or will they as usual start something then expect the local governments to pick up the price tags? When I have asked this question I have been told "I don't know about next year, I'm just be glad we have it this year". Because one asks about future finances does not mean one is unhappy with what is available today. If the county is going to be hit with a very large expense next year should they not be planning for it now? Waiting for the crisis may be the pattern for county government but it by no means is the best way to operate.
Another question is what price will be extracted this year. Giving a program, any program, to the federal government is never a wise decision as it always takes away from our choices. Will these new "free" meals be tied to Mrs. Obama's requirement that all children, but her's, be fed a certain diet. Last year millions of dollars of uneaten food was thrown away by school systems that yielded to the politically correctness of feeding vegetables and fruits to growing teenagers whose bodies craved meat and potatoes. Children went home hungry and raided the refrigerator and pantry and any other possible place where "real" food might be found. Is a meal that is thrown into the trash a meal worth having at any cost? A growing body needs and deserves fuel for that growth somehow lettuce, broccoli and bean sprouts just don't get the job done.
My hope is that good, nutritious, desirable meals will be served and eaten, instead of thrown in the trash, and the federal funding will be complete but only time will tell and history is not on our side. .
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:00 AM
48 Comments:
You know when you think about this, it makes you wonder how does Giles County qualify for these free meals? To me it sounds like Giles County is in the poverty range. Does this sound like a county that is just getting by and barely thriving. And some of our Commissioners are wanting more taxes for more spending. No way! People are barely getting by and our leaders should realize this and live like we have to. I hope this federal free lunch money helps a lot of young people that are struggling trying to raise children. Now it's time to help our elderly residents.
It's time to think about how terrible the roads are and pay to have them repaired. A tax is the only way to do it. As a young person, with a job, I am tired of tearing up my truck because this retirement community is too dumb to do what is right.
Are any principals going to be moved as the teachers were transferred last week? I heard yesterday that the principals and the central office staff are going on a mandated retreat to Alabama on the tax payers dime. Has anyone else heard this? How can there not be money and yet take a retreat at tax payers cost?
6:55 if you got your head cleared and voted for some smarter people than are in charge now you would see they have plans that would pave the roads without a tax increase. It's a matter of priorities.
The roads aren't going to get paved without a tax increase. Not a single person running for commissioner can make that happen. They are telling a lie if they say the county has enough waste in the budget to do so. That is a fact.
I'm glad to see all students get free meals. It was sad to see some get it and a few parents just over the free and reduced line having to pay.
As for the roads, I've noticed county, city and state roads are in bad shape in Giles County. Where is the money going to come from? Who decides on the price of tags? Does that money stay in the county or go to the state?
If the parents are getting food stamps and we feed the kids for free do they return the food stamps?
8:00 p.m. you have got to be a hwy dept employee. If there was a wheel tax put in you'd get a raise instead of it being put on the roads. Or better yet, a big bonus or both!
That is a pretty sad attitude to have, 8:38. It is also dead wrong. I am inclined to go as far as to call you a dumbass for saying what you did, but I'm sure you already know you are.
Use the free school lunch money to fix the roads,Let the parents feed the kids,they had them.This practice of taxpayers providing for useless eaters from cradle to grave has got to stop.
Seems like this post has some people going out of control. Lets take 6:55. He thinks the roads are causing his truck problems. Maybe it's just his driving habits. As for Giles county being a retirement area. Retirees look for place with things to do and a wide range of places to eat. Giles county doesn't have either for that age group. The tax rate would also keep them away. 8:00 is right back to the lie factor again. 6:16 the children will only received a free lunch, not a complete days amount of food. 6:24 do you really think the free lunch money would be enough to fix the roads. Better recalculate you thinking. 7:38 & 4:45 good posts.
Kids are receiving a breakfast, a lunch and a snack each day.
The money is tax money but is being sent from the federal government for that specific purpose, no control by any locals or state.
This proposal is concerning for several reasons:
1 - We already have an entitlement-minded culture. As with all federal programs, this program is a nice 'benefit' today ... an expectation tomorrow. Precedents are hard to break.
2. An entire generation of Giles Countians are being taught there's such a thing as a free lunch, with free breakfast thrown in for good measure. Wonder what these children will expect from their government when they're parents one day?
3. The Feds are enabling parents to back away from their primary responsibility - to feed & care for their children. Children are slowly becoming wards of the state.
4. We're eligible for this program because of our County's low wages & excessive poverty level. And people are applauding this? Like this is a great thing? Great, bring on more poverty ... can we extend the free lunch program for parents too?
5. It's another straight from DC one-size-fits-all program. Instead of us addressing our local problem of some hungry children with local solutions, we get another federal program thrust upon us.
6. Grandma was right - there really ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Guaranteed if the feds are throwing money at us, there'll be strings attached. Federal money, federal programs, always come at a cost. Usually we trade a pound of freedom for a few ounces of security. Bad deal.
7. And since Grandma was right, somebody is paying for this. The feds get money from 2 sources - printing it or confiscating it (taxes). So they're either deflating our dollars or robbing from Peter to feed Paul's kids. Either action is immoral.
5:06, you make it sound like we are the only county in the state to receive free lunches. Much larger cities such as Boston, Atlanta and Indianapolis( just to name a very few) are also participating in this program. I really don't see how you can bitch about it when, in 2012, there were over 16 million school age kids whose main source of nutrition came from school breakfast and lunches. I guess you feel like children aren't contributing that much so just let them starve. I'm quite sure you would feel differently if it were you child.
5:44 - You're wrong on all counts. If it were my child, I'd give up every costly vice, make every possible sacrifice, & work 3 or more jobs to ensure my child was fed. And I'd be proud of the fact that I wasn't foisting my responsibility on to someone else. I can state this without hesitation, because I've raised several children to adulthood.
I'm not "bitching" about anything - just stating facts. Wise people would call your arguments a 'barrel of red herrings.' I'm not that wise, so I'll just say they're utter foolishness.
OK, so we're doing this in much larger cities around the country. And your logic is??? I'd like to think Giles County is a notch better than Boston, Atlanta, & Indianapolis. So we should continue to applaud ourselves for being poverty-stricken? Should we further impoverish ourselves to get a free supper out of the deal?
Not sure I get your argument about the 16 million children getting their nutrition from Uncle Sugar. Are you saying it's a great deal to trade freedoms for security? Do you have a clause in the Constitution to support your opinion? And those children would NEVER starve. It just means parents would step up to their responsibilities, even if it meant making a few sacrifices, which all parents throughout history have done - it's a worthy & noble sacrifice. The few hungry children (guaranteed to be FAR fewer than 16 million) that would need help should receive it locally, by churches and charitable people like us who are willing to help those truly in need. And at much less cost than letting USDA bureaucrats play Robin Hood with other people's money.
But your argument? Constitution be damned, cultural rot be damned, everyone else is doing it, so why shouldn't we be getting some of that federal gravy. And all conservatives want children to starve. Have I correctly summed up your points?
I like that response!
I would rather the money go to feed our kids than fight wars for oil based on lies.
Some of you nut cases on here do not have an inkling of what u are talking about. If the state says you have to offer the children free breakfast and free lunch, what are u going to do say oh no we are not. You can't make us feed them free, then are u going to stand at the cafeteria door and say pay up or leave. I have figured out if some of u was as smart as u think you are then why are u running for office and get all of the government fixed. So what I will say to all of you is keep showing how crazy you really are.
Well 6:11, you haven't grasped all my points, but your last statement is truer than you know. I heard about a school on the news (I will find out which one and let you know) where the trays of food were literally taken from in front of the students who were either behind on their lunch fees or just couldn't pay. The trays were taken straight to the garbage and thrown away, in front of the students. Conservatives may not want children to starve, but can you defend that particular action? I certainly hope not. Give it some thought; this isn't about you and me.
9:23 I know of a school in Virginia that took the tray away from students if they ran out of money.
My thoughts on the free meals is every child should get it not just the ones qualifying for free & reduced meals. Why not let the child whose parents are working and paying not have free meals. Their parents are the ones paying for it.
Just how much is thrown in the garbage can because of the governments rules of what they may have to eat. That is the biggest problem.
It was a Middle School in Attleboro, Mass and the food service was farmed out to a private company by a bunch of liberal democrats who failed to oversee the program. The food was taken from a couple dozen students because the student's prepaid meal accounts were too low.
After the story hit the news four people were fired.
The writer is right we have traded our freedoms for a few crumbs of bread and other comforts. What I don't understand is why people get all worked up about starving kids when billions are being given to families in food stamps and other welfare benefits. The problem is lack of pride and self respect.
Pride and self respect?
Some of these people can't find a good paying job. How far do you think money goes if you have to work at one of the stores in Giles County and have two or four children. I know of a few families like that and they have pride and self respect.
Some people had good jobs and lost them because of the economy. Stop looking down on people that don't have a government job.
What have we got her a bunch of snobs? Lots of things can happen to people. Everyone wasn't born with a silver spoon. Lots of people couldn't afford to send their children to college. Even the best of families can have a slow child.
I'm sure there's a lot you don't understand 9:58. One of those being why the children are being punished because their parents may not being doing all they can. Do you honestly think the child can influence the parent in that respect? So your dumbass solution is to let the kids starve because of the parents. That's brilliant. I guess abused children should just have to live with it because their parents don't want to stop.
Just because parents are receiving assistance doesn't mean the children benefit from it.
I'm the 5:06 & 6:11 poster.
Nope, I don't want kids to starve. And no, I don't want government programs to enable parents to be delinquent in their responsibilities. Can we find some common ground here folks?
Another red herring argument - an anomaly of some irresponsible nutjob pulling food trays away from children who don't have a positive account balance. Ridiculous. But to use that in an attempt to thwart my earlier arguments? Equally ridiculous.
Debate is good ... I can handle someone disagreeing with me. But the red herrings, and the assumption that conservative positions don't feel for hurting families or hungry children is ludicrous.
So can liberals & conservatives agree on these next two statements? Too many parents (not all - pay attention to specific words!) are AWOL, working primarily for their leisure/entertainment instead of rearing responsible children. Too many spend money on smokes & drink instead of feeding their children. And they want to keep entitlement programs in place so they can continue Are these statements too 'radical' for you liberals?
I fully agree with 7:42 AM comments regarding parents who are not taking responsibility.
Here is a short list of schools that have taken lunches away from students because of delinquent accounts:
Memphis, TN on May 12, 2014 school not named
Dowagiac Union High School - Dowagiac, Mich
Unitah Elementary School - Salt lake City
Frontier Middle School - Moses Lake, Wash
the problem isn't feeding children but with enabling irresponsibility. Every adult recipient of WIC, EDB, and Welfare payments should be required to pass a drug screen, one fail a strong warning then two weeks later another test, two fails and you lose the benefits and have the children taken away to a safer better environment.
I don't fault the children after all they are just children, I don't even fully fault the parents who are abusing the system, after all they are only doing what they are allowed to do. The real problem is with a government that is way too big, inefficient and just plain too lazy and unaccountable. The terrible thing is as more people give up their freedoms and responsibilities to that government the more abusive, lazy and unaccountable it becomes.
I noticed not one had any opposition for the money being spent on wars as opposed to feeding kids. That tells me there is really something wrong with the way we have been trained to think.
I would also rather my tax dollars feed kids than pay for dead animal pickup because some farmers here in Giles County feel they are entitled for me to pay for the waste their business creates.
8:48 ... Interesting thoughts, but the thread is about the breakfast/lunch program, no?
Sure, there's abundant waste galore. Yes, if we're going to throw money at problems, I'd rather feed American children than build Afghan schools. But that's not the point of the thread.
I'd like to see liberals & conservatives agree on something: to wit, PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. Once we get that point nailed, then we go after solutions for those children that aren't cared for ... and solutions to deal with their parents.
Liberals & conservatives teamed up for welfare reform in the 90s, to good effect. But nowadays we all talk past each other, use illogical arguments, and call each other idiots. Which is exactly what the feds want ... an ignorant populace on whom they can quietly foist their statist agenda. Time for us locals to have some adult conversation, and consider local solutions for our local problems. Our grandparents figured this out ... why can't we?
I think the 8:48 poster inadvertently revealed the biggest problem we as a county and a nation are faced with when they stated, "That tells me there is really something wrong with the way we have been trained to think." This is a result of government schools being dominated by the liberal mindset. Schools, on almost every level, no longer are in the business of teaching how to think but what to think. Far too many have given into the ease of adopting what they are told to believe and think rather than taking the harder road of examining the issues and independently decide. We see this has happened with our relationship with God, how we think about global warming, government at all levels, illegal immigration, marriage, etc, etc. Anytime a person expresses a different though the knee jerk reaction is to demonize that person, call them crazy and isolate them and their ideas, basically it's to follow the Saul Alinsky "Plan for Radicals" that obama has used so effectively in his destruction of the nation.
7:42, my assumption that conservative positions don't feel for hurting families or hungry children was based on the comment in your 9:58 post. "What I don't understand is why people get all worked up about starving kids..."
I didn't include the entire sentence because it really shouldn't matter the reason children are starving, we should all get worked up about it. I agree with many of your points so I do think there is common ground with which to build on.
I agree with....
"So can liberals & conservatives agree on these next two statements? Too many parents (not all - pay attention to specific words!) are AWOL, working primarily for their leisure/entertainment instead of rearing responsible children. Too many spend money on smokes & drink instead of feeding their children. And they want to keep entitlement programs in place so they can continue Are these statements too 'radical' for you liberals?
Monday, June 09, 2014 7:42:00 AM"
But we need to be careful and not include the families that are trying their best with very little income with those that aren't trying. That is why I feel every child should have free lunch.
In the past some (not all) children on free lunch had money for ice cream where some children paying for their lunch didn't have that extra money.
Hello 10:30 ...
You make an attempt to quote from my 7:42 post, but I didn't state what's inside your quotation marks.
I'm willing to debate toe-to-toe, as long as you quote me correctly.
And yes, it DOES matter WHY children are starving. And it mattered 100 years ago. My great grandfather was a very charitable man who helped many hungry families during hard times. He was also known to gather a few men together to visit derelict husbands/fathers & wife-beaters, & they provided 'hands-on' lessons of what would come to them if they didn't provide for their families. If they could make these distinctions between derelict & tough-luck back then, why can't we today? It's because we have surrendered to one-size-fits-all federal solutions. And men as a whole are no longer manly enough to man-up.
Oh - I should mention that my great-grandfather was a Wilsonian Democrat. People made a lot more sense of charity back then. There was charitable giving, and then there was charitable "tough love" ... they knew which to apply. And invariably, the local community took care of the children. Can we get that back? Or do we just like it better latched onto the federal teat ... makes it a lot easier for us men to lounge in front of the computer & scrap with each other on blogs :)
And who was judging these people and making the distinctions? Your grandfather? He sounds more like a criminal than anything else 12:32.
12:32 I enjoyed your post, sounds like the KKK was working. They weren't always about scarring the blacks. I had heard a story of a man drinking and not supporting his family they visited.
Now clam down. My post in the quotations I mainly agreed with "Too many parents (not all - pay attention to specific words!) are AWOL, working primarily for their leisure/entertainment instead of rearing responsible children."
Did you miss the "I agree"
The other part of post wasn't necessary to you or maybe it was.
Someone had posted something about people not preparing for hard times or old age and not taking of their children. Something like that and shouldn't have to take government help. I worked, paid in Social Security and feel I deserve it.
There lies the problem right in the last 3 words of 2:22's post "I deserve it". There are just to many people that feel that way. He's getting it I want it also. The government creates a program to help a given group of people. Then others find a way to ripe it off. Look at Medicare. Four thousand doctors over a 10 year period turned in bills for over a million dollars. One doctor in Florida 21.7 million. Welfare is the same way. People go to a doctor and get signed on and far to many don't deserve to be there. Those type people don't want a job if someone gave them one. They deserve to sit home in front of their TV and let others work to support them
12:32, if you'll read my post again you should find that I was quoting the 9:58 comment. I think you will find it accurate. I did, however, make the assumption that you made both the 9:58 and the 7:32 post. I sincerely apologize if I was mistaken. I realize the risk of assuming, especially when dealing with written opinions, so perhaps I jumped the gun a bit. As far as debating, I quite enjoy the process when it's kept civil. You seem to be adhering to that style. Thank you.
2:22, I believe the poster was addressing my 10:30 post. I liked your post,by the way. I thought you made some valid points.
I posted10:32 and 2:22.
Dick, Do you not or did you not pay in Social Security? When you become of age if not that age now, do you not feel you deserve your Social Security. In the past someone has posted like they thought people shouldn't be on Social Security.
I am on Medicare, not because I wanted to be, when I turned 65 I wanted to keep my insurance, but they told me I had to go on Medicare and could keep my other as Supplement only. What I had was better and paid for meds. Finally we got the drug insurance.
Dick, You may not of been referring to my post of think I deserve my SS afraid I took it that way. I think some that are on the free take, able to work and want, do have that attitude about their handout. I don't think SS is a handout. Some people were able to work where a retirement program was in effect and they deserve their retirement.
Mr. Barrett...
I just had to chuckle at the hypocrisy when you mentioned that anyone who expresses a different thought is demonized, called crazy, and isolated. Isn't that the "mindset" of this blog?
Perhaps when you are posting 7:44
Wrong number, eh cg?
Heard on the Nashville news that all the kids in Davidson County will be getting free breakfast and lunch when school starts. Wonder if they are gonna cut the food stamps to them that get free food and food stamps but I guess they got to have the EDB card to get their smokes and beer.
It's EBT and you can't buy non-food stuff with it.
I heard a lady told, they couldn't buy dog food with that card, so the lady said to her daughter, go back there and get some ground beef.
Some people use the card the way they need to and some will buy your groceries for you for money.
Don't throw the whole bushel of apples away because of a few rotten one.
I don't know if it an EDB or EDT card, don't have one. So I just call it a card. I just learned it isn't food stamps anymore.
I heard that the school board meeting was lots of fun last night. As typical, Jerry Bryant and Mike Young show now backbone. Mike Young appears to be a decent guy, but the only time I've ever needed him, he didn't have the courage to return my several phone calls.
Thank you Mr. Greene and Mrs. Turner for, if nothing else, than to create an environment where our Superintendent knows that he will be held accountable.
Now if we can just get something done about his work ethic, and his vices while working!
This was a bad hire!
5:04
EBT stands for "Electronic Benefit Transfer".
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