CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A public school cafeteria worker has quit over what she considers a “lunch shaming” policy in a Pennsylvania school district.
Stacy Kotiska says she quit last week after she had to take a hot lunch away from an elementary school student because the child’s parent had fallen more than $25 behind in paying for his school lunches.
The Canon-McMillan School District enacted the policy to deal with a backlog of about 300 parents who owed tens of thousands of dollars. Now fewer than 70 parents owe money, and the district says the policy isn’t meant to shame students.
The policy says students from kindergarten through sixth grade will lose their hot lunch and get a sandwich and fruit if their parents owe more than $25. Older students get no lunch at all if their parents owe that much.
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Adults are so childish.
This kind of harassment of people who happen to be without money at a certain time, and harassing and embarrassing their children in their public schools: I think it’s not just rude it’s unconscionably blatant discrimination. Not only will it affect their child in his/her social setting, it could affect the child’s attitude toward school and toward getting education in general, all for a few measly dollars in lunch money? Come on, America. Schools DO offer free lunches to children whose parents fall into poverty, but that is not reviewed on a weekly or monthly basis; usually reviewed only once or twice a school year. It should be easy for a parent to enrol their child in free lunches, or put a month of them on a school lunch credit plan for a month or so, until the parent is back to work and able to afford it again.
Some large cities, Philly and Boston for example, have eliminated the charges for ALL STUDENTS for food and offer free breakfast and lunches to all, no matter of income of parents. The fees are partially federally paid, partially paid as just a part of the tax base of the city that supports schools. Teachers and staff have to pay, guests to the school are asked to pay, but students get food as part of their nurturing educational plans. This should be nationwide. We can afford to feed our children.
The policy says students from kindergarten through sixth grade will lose their hot lunch and get a sandwich and fruit if their parents owe more than $25. Older students get no lunch at all if their parents owe that much.
Just the right age to make a kid hate school and starve half the school day…entering his/her adolescence. Sorry but that is not just rude, embarrassing, retaliatory, and insensitive to the needs of the STILL-GROWING-CHILD… THAT is inhumane.!
Somebody looks like they haven’t missed many lunches —
That is not necessary.