We Do Have The Power To Make A Difference

Roberta M. Helming: Keeping food from children is nothing short of abuse
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Sep 22, 2010 @ 11:56 PM

How would you feel if you learned that children were being denied lunch or breakfast at school because they had no money to buy a meal?

I can’t believe the Norwich Board of Education (Sept. 17 Norwich Bulletin) discussed a potential policy change at its Sept. 14 meeting that would, if implemented, stop giving free lunches to children who often come to school without a lunch or money.
The problem is the school’s “oops” lunches that consist of a sandwich and juice, and/or for breakfast, a piece of fruit. “Oops” meals are a free, one per day, snack.
There are no limits as to how many “oops” lunches children may have during the course of the school year. That’s a problem for the board, which is considering putting a limit of no more than three per school year per student. After three, nothing until payment is received. Are they serious?
As a side note, a piece of fruit is not a healthy way to start a day — but it’s better than nothing. A growing child needs breakfast with protein and carbohydrates. Without that, classroom performance suffers. An underfed body equates to an underfed mind, which reduces grades.

OK, I admit it. I’m not a fan of welfare, especially for people having children they can’t afford. Regardless, the children are born, many under never-ending, difficult conditions. The least we as a society can do is scrape together the 40 cents to feed a child whose family doesn’t have the means or who is being raised by irresponsible adults.

There should never be a doubt in a child’s mind that they will be fed at school like all the other children. Even incarcerated criminals get their three meals every day.
Feed first, collect after
If the Norwich Board of Education wants the school system to be reimbursed, that’s fine, but let’s not put the cart before the horse. Feed the children and then seek out answers from parents regarding lack of payment. It’s sad that in America we’re debating whether to feed schoolchildren or let them go hungry.
It’s this kind of depravation that causes children to develop emotional problems. They see themselves being treated differently.
I agree the larger issue — children coming to school without lunches or lunch money — needs to be studied. But resolving the issue needs to have the least negative impact on children — after all, this isn’t their fault.
Just the thought of possibly withholding food from children seems criminal.
To the Norwich Board of Education: You should know better. It was painful to realize you’re even thinking along these lines — abusing children by withholding food.
Roberta M. Helming is a freelance writer from Ledyard and regular contributor to the Norwich Bulletin. She can be reached at RMHelming@aol.com