Why Shouldn't The More Wealthy Parents Pay For Their Own Children's School Lunch?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/jamie-oliver-theresa-may-lunch-snatcher-disgrace-free-hot-meals-tory-conservative-manifesto-a7744056.html

[New Judge]

Of course it’s shown good results, Mamy. Provide something “free” and people will take up the offer. But it is parents’ responsibility to ensure their children are properly fed and pay to do so. It is not taxpayers’ responsibility. The taxpayer already pays more than enough to support children.

There is a slight difference, however, between Mr Clegg's lunatic idea for younger children and free meals for those over seven. At least all under sevens are provided with a meal, regardless of means. Quite whether it was well thought through (with many schools not having the facilities to provide lunches) is another matter, hence my description.

[whiskeryron]

//It is also a parents responsibility to make sue that their children have a midday lunch.

If a person cannot afford to feed their own children, they should not bring them into the world. //. All pregnant women should be quizzed before the pregnancy is allowed to continue. ( TONGUE DEFF IN CHEEK)

[New Judge]

"All pregnant women should be quizzed before the pregnancy is allowed to continue."

( Tongue not quite so far in cheek as Ron's).

[NellieMay]

When did free school meals actually come into being? I remember having to pay for mine back in the stone age and my children paid for theirs in the 80s. Personally, with tax credits and benefits these days, there is money to pay for a school meal. Proper cooked meals do not cost a fortune to prepare.

[mikey4444]

We have had free school breakfasts in many Welsh primary schools for many years now, and Teachers will tell you that the effects of kids is marked.

[Mamyalynne]

1944

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_meal#History_2

[New Judge]

Quite possibly, Mikey.

But I keep returning to the same standpoint: it is parents' responsibility to see their children thrive. If their education suffers because they didn't have a bowl of Cornflakes before they left home in the morning it's their fault. The school does not have a responsibility to ensure children are fed.

[NellieMay]

It seems to me that priorities have changed. Schools are there to teach children, or should be. Parents have a duty to feed and nurture.

[Baldric]

It seems to me that people are becoming less able to look after/provide for themselves and their families nowadays, too much reliance on the Nanny State maybe?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes Nellie, the priorities re free school meal provision changed in the 1980s as outlined in the Wiki link above.

There is plenty of other literature on the subject.

There's no perfect scheme I fear but we need the best one for the children who most need it.

[pastafreak]

It would seem we have a generation of parents who not have the skills necessary to help their children thrive. Let's face it...being a good parent is not something we are born with. It might be a good idea to provide classes in parenting...including how to feed and clothe little ones. Then maybe there will be less reliance on the state or schools to provide such basics.

[NellieMay]

Pasta, most of it is pure common sense. We never had parenting lessons. We learnt from our family - and that includes cooking. I fear the present generation of young mothers have not had that experience from the generation above and so it goes on and on and on......