MOMania

By Dan

March 4, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

The problem is there is not enough stigma. There needs to be some lesson here that in life there is no free lunch, pun intended.

By Theresa

March 4, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Yes, let the children be hungry all day. We have no responsibility to make sure our weakest and youngest have food.

By Theresa

March 4, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

And by the way Dan — the best way to break the cycle of poverty (so you won’t have to provide free lunches) is through education. If the children are sitting in class starving then they are not learning. And the cycle will continue.

By Dan

March 4, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Pathetic, chugging the Kool Aid. One no we don’t have the responsibility to feed them, should we probably but there is a difference between respobsibility and showing concern. And in any case that is a social services issue, it should not be a school issue. And I never said don’t feed them I said the stigma will teach them something. As a matter of fact someone who is taught to have no shame when taking a handout, indeed someone who is taught that said handout is their “right” perpetuates “poverty” far more than missing a sandwhich. Oh and I know first hand about it so don’t think I am preaching from an ivory tower.

By kimmie

March 4, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

look, you people dont understand all parents situations. my parents seperated when i was in high school and my mom could not find money for my lunch. but do to the kids making fun of other kids that had the “free lunch” many of us just didnt eat. its sad that you wont give a child a chance to nurish themselves so that they can try to better themselves. kids cant help it. it is for the children not you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jeff

March 4, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Dan is correct, there isn’t enough stigma. Free lunchers are the greediest and rudest of students in school cafeteria’s. It’s not the taxpayers job to feed them, it’s to educate them, and judging from Georgia’s ranking in education they sure aren’t learning anything even though they are eating well. These same children are the offspring of Welfare recipients, most long term welfare abusers, who have no stigma about living off taxpayers—and will most likely join the tradition of a lifetime of “freebies” at the taxpayers expense. Therein lies the cycle that continues Theresa.

By Arnita

March 4, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

In my children’s school they use a number pad to key in their student ID. An account is created against that ID where money is deposited periodically. When the child’s code is keyed in the cost of the lunch is automatically deducted from the account. With this system no one knows who is paying or not.

By Claire

March 4, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

Theresa-The best way to break the “cycle” of freebies is to do away with them completely and quickly. The society of today is all about the freebie-America is a nation of lazy freeloaders, and it’s getting worse everyday.

By It Makes You Stronger

March 4, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

You can’t hide everything in life -the kids need to get used to standing up for themselves. Do the kids who ride the short bus get off the bus in some isolated area so the other kids don’t see them? Of course not. Do the parents who drop their kids off at school in a Mercedes have to do it in a different place from the parents who drive a beat up Prius? Of course not. Kids will always comment about stuff - it’s a rite of passage for growing up. If they can’t handle it in school, they’ll be failures in life. And - they’ll vote for people who promise rose-colored-glasses “changes” to make it seem like everything is going to be OK.

By Angela

March 4, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Dan, have you ever needed free or reduced lunch? Have you ever needed the help of the government? I’m guessing no, since you simply don’t understand the stigma attached with need based social programs. God forbid you ever end up with cancer and need to collect SSI or your kids need the free lunches. You guys keep judging people & your day will come…maybe you’ll learn something then…

By Kat

March 4, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

No wonder kids attach a stigma to other kids - these adults (or perhaps more frighteningly, parents) have the very same ideas. The kids’ situations may not be their fault - situations at home, a lost job, whatever. They should be allowed to get a meal. Education and good nutrition helps everyone. Remember, these people will be running the country one day.

By BlackGirl

March 4, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

I cannot believe…oh wait a minute, I can believe some of the comments made here! It isn’t a childs fault that they their parents can’t afford to pay for lunch. These are the same people that will tell us that we need to fight in Iraq, but we don’t need to help our own.

When I was in school students receiving free lunch got a lunch card which identified them. Today, there is no card, they’re just given a number. But let me say that many teens go without lunch. My daughter rarely eats lunch which really bothers me. Money stays on her account for weeks before I realize that I haven’t given her any money for a while. She swears the food is so nasty that she can’t eat it and it apparently isn’t cool to actually bring a lunch like she did in elementary.

Many a poor person has gone on to be hugely successful. Anybody ever heard of Oprah Winfrey? Let’s help those that cannot help themselves. If we show them how to be successful, caring individuals, we can create a generation of productive citizens.

By Dan

March 4, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Angela Yes if you read the whole post and not just the pieces you want, you would know. Yes I have been there, so your guess is as wrong as your judgement. There are many obvious misconceptions here that sound good but have no basis in reality. Tell me do you really think not eating would stop the teasing? Of course not kids aren’t that stupid. Second if a child was really hungry he/she would eat regardless. Third need based is a joke, too many kids on free lunch have $100 sports shoes and gold chains and most are not embarrassed by the free lunch, they revel in it. I have no problem with picking up the tab for the truly needy, but they also need to learn, there is a price for everything and that it is your responsibility to pull your own weight, and if others help you out then you thank them for their generosity, and repay as quick as you can

By THESINGLEVOICE

March 4, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

It is funny when poor kids need to learn a life lesson it is okay to be harsh and matter of factly but when affleunt kids go on burglary sprees and the chance of them having a criminal record comes into play, we should be compassionate and understand their circumstances and not do anything to impede their potential.It Makes You Stronger you are totally clueless. “Do the kids who ride the short bus get off the bus in some isolated area so the other kids don’t see them?”

Of course they do. And if you spent more time at a school observing and working and less time sitting behind your keyboard giving opinion about things you are only guessing about you would know that. And leave Obama out of this.

By nurse&mother

March 4, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

Although I generally don’t agree with government assistance, these are children that need nutritious lunches. They can not help the situation their parents are in.

If you want to take away other benefits that is fine by me. I get so tired of seeing so many people receiving benefits when they refuse to work. Cut that THAT out, if you want to, but let these children eat stigma free.

By Jesse's Girl

March 4, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

People, we are talking about CHILDREN here. Are you seriously suggesting that these kids can somehow help the plight of their parents?! Come one…how idiotic! We cannot punish children of impoverished parents. Exactly how does that help? What that does do is perpetuate the the feeling of not being good enough…of not fitting in…of not being liked or cared for. All children, regardless of their family’s financial standing, deserve some reprieve at school. Its there that they learn, thrive, and prosper. Its there that they can learn overcome the unfortuante circumstances they were born into. And lets please not act as if all poor children are somehow degenerates. I’ve seen the poorest of the poor raise the most beautifully spirited families.

Talk about a sense of entitlement! Some of you act as if your tax brackett dictates what you should and should not be subjected to. Wake up!!!! Every single child deserves a chance. If they aren’t getting it at home…whether intentional or not on the part of the parents…then they should damn well have a go of it at school.

Schools should not make it so painfully obvious who these kids are. They already know they are poor…they already go without. Let him eat lunch with some modecum of dignity and grace.

By Theresa

March 4, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Dear Claire, Jeff and Dan — It isn’t always welfare recipients on free or reduced lunches. To qualify for a free lunch a family of 4 can make up to $26,845 a year. To qualify for a reduced lunch a family of 4 can make up to $38,203. For example, when my husband was in grade-school, his father was a Green Beret for the United States Army. My husband was eligible for free or reduced lunch at various points in his childhood. He absolutely remembers the stigma of having to walk up to the front of the classroom to hand in his lunch money trying to make 35 cents sound like $1. Should he be made to feel inferior while his father was serving his country? Even today many soldiers’ children are often eligible for free or reduced lunches.

By FCM

March 4, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

I have seen pleanty of WIC people buying steak in the grocery (not with their WIC)…then get in a Mercedes….

If this were elementary/maybe even Middle School kids I might get upset and say let’s feed them/make them eat.

However, these are HS students. They should be learning to apply the teachings of how to take care of yourself…feed, dress, social, etc…..Some could get a job….Some probably choose not to eat.

I cannot name 5 times I remember eating in the cafeteria and eating the school food…..I usually went to the library, ROTC office, or even OUT (as a Senior)…..Skipping one meal a day won’t hurt the kid. Now if that’s the ONLY meal a day they get, yes there is a problem.

By Anyone But Hillbama

March 4, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Let’s just give everyone a free lunch. And - while we’re at it - free prescriptions, free gas, free housing, free clothing, free pet food, free cell phones, free bling, etc., etc., etc. All you have to do is stand in line and don’t question authority. Ask the citizens of Cuba how they like it - I’ll bet they wouldn’t mind a little embarrassment now and then in order to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

By Jesse's Girl

March 4, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

I am not saying there aren’t parents who are on assistance that take advantage. There absolutely are and they are teaching their kids to do the same. But how do you weed out these people? Where is the line in the sand drawn? We can’t make them eat. But we can provide a non-judgemental service once a day for the kids who wish to use it. Its the attitude about these children from some of you that really bothers me. You want to change this situation? It starts with the parents…all parents. Even the affluent ones.

By TinaTeach

March 4, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Reduced lunches were a life saver when my sister and I were in elementary school. My father was going to college to become a nurse and my step-mother was a private school teacher working for less than 15k a year. I remember very little stigma from reduced lunch which I recieved (or qualified for) all the way through high school. When I lived with my mother she was going to college to get her Ph.D. I got a job and insisted on paying for my lunches from then on out. At no point where we ever on welfare and my parents were constantly working to better our lives. I went to college straight out of school so that I can insure that my kids have good lives, not so they won’t face the stigma of reduced or free lunch. There are so many other things that teach you to better your life than a free lunch.

By Dan

March 4, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Theresa, My father was a NYC cop, and we had reduced price lunch beacuse one of my brothers was in and out of hospital through most of his elhi years. I have never said that someone should be made to feel stigmatized, nor should special rules be created to reduced any perceived stigma that may be there, because they never work and the plain fact of the matter is, anyone with self respect and a good work ethic will (and should) feel some sense of shame. When my parents had even a little extra money, she took our reduced cards and fixed lunch. There needs to be some incentive to break the cycle. If freebies are too easy (and they are) it becomes a vicious cycle

By flipper

March 4, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Hey, Blackgirl, why don’t you try parenting for a minute, make that girl a healthy lunch and tell her that she is grounded unless she brings home bread crusts and empty yogurt containers every afternoon. If she loses friends over bringing a healthy lunch she needs to find new friends anyway.

The real stigma of school lunch is the 20 or so pounds that the kids pack on eating that over-processed, fried, starchy cr_p. My neighbor started letting her formerly thin daughter eat that garbage because she claimed to be too “busy” to spend 5 minutes packing a lunch. Now after just a few months, her daughter is a fat cow like so many of the FRL kids that eat that garbage.

It should be a crime that kids are forced to eat food like that.

By mel

March 4, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

When I went to high school, I had just moved to the US. My parents were divorced. Mom worked one job. I had two siblings. We lived with other family members, because we could not afford a place of our own. I did have free lunch at school. I thought it was wonderful and nobody ever made fun of me. We had the card system that the lunch lady had to punch every day. I turned out well. Although working for the state, I do not make half as much as I would on the private sector. And yet, according to the state, I am now living in poverty because they don’t pay me enough. I don’t have enough energy to get another job, since I am in college for my second degree and I work for the army as a guardsman. There is a need, and the children have no fault for being in that situation. While it should not be a handout, it should teach the children responsibility.

By Jesse's Girl

March 4, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Well Flipper…thank you for your educated take on the issue. I’m sure Blackgirl appreciates it. But we aren’t talking about how healthy or unhealthy school food is. Surely we can all agree that it sucks big, fat hairy ones. Given the choice…most thoughtful parents would go another route. BUT…we are talking about the ones that truly need it because their parents cannot afford any other way. Its those kids that need and deserve to eat their lunch with their friends without wondering if anyone noticed they got it for free. Being a kid these days is so much harder than it used to be. It won’t kill us as a society to make one small part of it a tad easier on them.

By mamaj

March 4, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

I’m just so speechless right now that I can’t seem to find the words to express my feelings about some of the comments here. So I’ll just say, as long as some of you live in this world, may your circumstances always be so bright as to never need a handout or a hand up from another human being!

By Todd

March 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

I took my lunch to school with me everyday: Capri Sun, Peanut Butter Sandwich, some chips (in a plastic bad—not individually bagged), and sometimes a cookie.

These fat kids can do the same thing. I have taught at high school in Savannah where all the public schools have Papa John’s pizza everyday as an option, and now at a middle school.

Only a handful of hundreds bring their lunch. The rest get their free lunch and then get up and buy their soda for $1.00 and get their ice cream as well. So much for being poor …

By Rusty

March 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

I have no problem with giving a child a meal.The stigma and embarressment of yesteryear no longer exist.The problem I do have is the Food stamp/wic vouchers disguised as credit cards. The little black ones with the peaches on it. Watch them at wal-mart with a load of groceries that we can’t afford bejeweled in the “bling” as they swipe that card like it’s a Visa gold card and DARE you to have a problem with it. Must be freakin’ nice.

By SS

March 4, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

My husband worked at AT&T for 29.5 years. We have a large family, never been on welfare, paid all our own taxes, bills, etc. At the point we had half the kids raised and gone: married, in college, we were on a plan to have our home paid off in a few years and be totally debt free. Then the ax fell. AT&T forced him into early retirement even though at 46 he was too young to retire, plus we still had the youngest kids still to complete raising to make it on retirement.

A few years prior to this event, we moved from one part of Atlanta to another, and yes, we used the reports put out by the different districts and counties showing all the stats including how many receive free/reduced lunches and we did use that as one of the criteria because it does speak for an area as to how well kids are doing and how well parents are supportive of the teachers and kids in school. We moved from an area that was 70+% free/reduced lunches. The neighborhood our house was in and the schools serving it was surrounded by multi-family dwellings containing very transient very depend people who gave very little as a whole, to the community or schools. They were takers and it brought that area and schools down.

So we moved and in moving we did look at the stat of % of free/reduced lunches. It did help us get into a neighborhood of good schools.

But then fast forward to the three years we needed to put our kids into the program so they could eat. No kids can not go without a meal, or shouldn’t. It does so affect ability to think and function and to fight off viruses etc. Are there those that abuse the system? Yes. But my kids at their respective schools used the program. Was it embarrassing? Yes. I don’t know they were made to purposely made to feel humiliated it was just the way it is set up. It did bother me to some degree, but, like someone said there is no free lunch and if the price to feed my kids those three years we were out of work was to put up with the stigma, fine, so be it. It has created character in us we did not have before. We are humbled, we are more aware of others who may be in a similar situation. Those were the only years we had no way to provide Christmas for our kids and the schools social workers did a very kind compassionate job. We have been raising kids for over 30 years we have had kids in school for 27 years. Ask all my kids what their morning routine was: While I fixed them breakfast, they made their lunches. Not until these three years I speak of did we every use public assistance.

It took that long for my husband to land another job, in spite of all of his qualifications and education, we will testify that age discrimination is alive and well and how the heck to you prove it? If I had not seen it with my own eyes, that he was placing 100’s of applications rarely would he get called for an interview. If he pushed it he would, and when he would show up and be the obvious oldest in the group, and he would be the only one not called for a second interview….well that is another story/blog for another day.

Another blog for another day too would be how the company gave us a $75,000.00 severance package, which was not too shabby, however, you can guess how that shoved us up to higher tax brackets, we didn’t see half of it. I even called our state senator and asked is there not some provision to allow people in this situation to keep that money to prevent from having to go broke and his reply was, wow, I have never thought of that maybe I will have to look into that. Even if he did, it would not take care of our immediate problem of the moment.

Just let me say we are extremely grateful for the program. We paid our taxes and supported it all those years and still do now. I do not mind being the helping hand that I KNOW more and more are needing. Yes there will always be those in their high priced sneakers and gold jewlery, using and abusing the system. BUT, there are those who truly do need a temporary hand. And we humbly thank you for that.

And just so you all know who have passed all the judgments my kids did work—-it paid for their clothes they bought at Walmart, and they paid for their siblings clothes and school supplies. Gratefully we came away with health benefits, so we had insurance, but it has risen sharply each year so that a large part of our income pays for our insurance.

But we have been richly blessed between family, friends, community and church to stabalize and my husband is now reemployed for the last 5 years and has clawed his way back up to near where we were when he was retired. We are about $$20,000 shy of where he was when he was made to retire. He started at this company at the bottom rung which put us $60,000 short a year, but he ate the humble pie and hung in there, kept up with his work ethic of being on time working hard and never missing a day. I am in nursing school and will graduate with my RN in about a year. We hope to never be found in that position again. We will officially retire in about 10 years.

The stigma is painful, I guess it works to boot some of them who would hang on out, it works to keep some out, but it defintely makes a family humble and builds character.

Once again, thank you to those who unknowingly gave us the hand we needed.

By Gus

March 4, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Wow, there are some mean-spirited folks on this site. Let the kids starve? Hmmm, that’s nice. Hell, why don’t we take away their health insurance too. While we are taking away their freeloader meals and insurance, why don’t we make them pay for school like other Third World countries do. These people don’t pay property taxes, shouldn’t they pay something toward the education? That will teach these kids that it sucks to be poor and toughen them up for real life later on. I am sure they will appreciate it. It will also give the good, honest, hard-working folks someone to kick around for fun.

By Theresa

March 4, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Hey Gus — If you’re referring to the second comment in the group — it was sarcastic —

By rj

March 4, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

i am a former teacher…when i hear talk about free/reduced lunches, i think of two things i consistently encountered: 1.)students receiving free lunches although their parents drove pimped-out escalades; 2.)pregnant parents signing their children up for the free lunch program. why are you having another child if you cant afford to feed the ones you have?

By Em

March 4, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

When I was in highschool I got a part-time job and paid for my own lunches, I took the city bus to my job. If the kids want to eat “cool food” and are old enough to work they should do it for themselves themselves.

By Stacey

March 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

My son’s school assigns a four student ID that is used for lunches, checking out library books, etc. As others have pointed out, with this system, only the cafeteria workers know who pays full price, who gets reduced price and who gets free lunch.

I now post money to my son’s lunch account online and they send me a “Low Balance Alert” once his account drops below a specified amount. I used to send the money by him until a few months ago when a cash payment wasn’t posted (both he and his teacher say he took it to the cafeteria) and he had to eat the “alternative lunch” which was a hunk of american cheese on white bread and milk. He faced the stigma of not being able to eat what everyone else ate because there was no money on his account. Meanwhile, the kids receiving free lunch had their choice of entrees. At least they didn’t have to face a stigma.

By Jesse's Girl

March 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

SS…I sincerely pray my children are blessed enough to marry into a family like your’s. Thank you for being such an awesome role model in love, humility, grace and servitude.

By parentof4

March 4, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

I think all children should eat. Also depending on old the child is, the current program at my child’s old school did not allow for them to understand they had to pay for the lunches. All you did was give them the last 4 of your social and boom you had your lunch. My child did not know who was putting money in that account. In fact, there was a mess up and the youngest boy would eat breakfast at home, then go to school and ate breakfast then ate lunch. I saw no difference in the account and started to complain that they let my child go through 3 weeks with out eating. Come to find out they had him on free lunch and did not hit my account. All he said was “I just have to give them a number and they let me walk away with the food without paying.” Did not teach him anything good.

However, I do believe children should not feel stigmatized because of their parents plight. Given today’s economy you are going to see higher numbers on that list. Maybe if they taught the children how to live within their means then the cycle of poverty will be broken. How you should not have a fancy car yet live in a run down apartment. How just because your cousin has a big house you do not have to have one also, unless of course you have saved up and paid cash for that big house. Cash for homes is a novel concept that America does not have anymore. It is not the child’s fault their parent cannot make enough money to pay for the overpriced nasty lunch. For those who state you should not have a child if you cannot pay for it…Look at where gas is now, from when my oldest was born in 1996. I was paying no more than 86 cents per gallon. No one would have thought then that gas would top $4 by the summer. When those prices rise, everything else rises. When the government gave out low interest rates, housing prices rose, when housing prices rose…apartment prices rose. So on and So on…you can plan, but prices have risen far above the usual cost of living.

By the way I pay regular price for my children’s lunch, that is if they accept it.

By Chris

March 4, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

Why are schools in the food business anyway? I personally think that schools should stop serving lunch and make the kids and teachers bring lunch from home. That will take away any stigma attached. Then the schools could spend that money on books, and supplies instead of food.

By Theresa

March 4, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Chris — this is from the NYT story “Today, the United States Department of Agriculture spends $8.3 billion a year to provide free and reduced-lunches …” It’s not coming out of school budgets —

By Chef

March 4, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

I am sure I am going to regret this based on the tone of some of the previous comments but here goes.

Twenty six years ago when I had to use free lunch coupons that were a different color than the full price coupons, it was humiliating and I stopped eating lunch every day. As the new kid at middle school and poor in affluent east Cobb county, I was teased and taunted.

Fast forward twenty two years when my husband was diagnosed with cancer and we were struggling to stay solvent (and yes, we had jobs and health insurance for those of you who think we were riding the government gravy train), our children qualified for reduced meals. They did not know it at the time because they were able to enter their lunch number and no one ever knew. That is a vast improvement to the old system.

In a perfect world, the community rallies around families who need this type of assistance but until that happens, the free and reduced lunch program is a necessary program in public schools.

By Nan

March 4, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Well, once again the majority of the comments run true to form for the AJC. I swear the most selfish, narrow-minded, and hateful people on the planet read this paper.

By Silent Running

March 4, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

I think everyone has it backwards.

The free lunch kids who aren’t eating in the lunchroom aren’t doing it because of stigma.

They’re doing it because school lunch food is generally not good. Most lunchrooms have nutritional guidelines which makes for some non-tasty meals. Add to it that almost every child would rather have a chocolate bar than string beans or mystery meat. And that’s what Mama’s packing in those sacks. Chocolate bars and other sugary snacks. All tasty and nothing healthy.

By don imus

March 4, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

I understand the concept of free and reduced lunches, but you have to there are PLENTY of people who take advantage of the system.

When the student is dropped off at school in a Denali or some ride sitting on dubs, you have to wonder….they can afford the car, but not lunch for their kid.

By mike

March 4, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

My brother and I qualified for free lunches after our father passed away. We were in 7th and 8th grade. It was humiliating and we opted not to eat and hid while the other kids got in line for thier hot meal.

BTW, we both now make high six figure incomes.

By NICK

March 4, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

If getting another “free hand-out” isn’t cool at skool, then DON’T EAT LUNCH.

No one should be “entitled” to a free meal. That is what is wrong with this country. Too many “so called poor people” expect everything given to them.

Maybe, by being to embarrassed to accept another free “hand out”, these kidz will work harder then their parents did and actually be “contributors” to society, rather then parasites, who “sponge” of tax payer money.

By don imus

March 4, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

way to go mike….you overcame the adversity of being teased as a child to make a “high 6 figure income” (which no one can ever validate on a blog)

why would you even feel compelled to tell us what you currently make, who cares…what does that have to do with ANYTHING.

Oh by the way, I made 2.74 million dollars last year.

By MrLiberty

March 4, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

Thank god for these wonderful kids. They haven’t been brainwashed by the schools and the liberal media yet. They recognize that this food is acquired on their behalf through THEFT and they want no part of it. They are above CHARITY. Good for them.

Calling something “aid” doesn’t make it not charity. If the money for it wasn’t acquied through peaceful, voluntary means, then it is the product of THEFT. You who steal on behalf of these children are criminals. You who would vote for some government employee to steal on their behalf are criminals.

The real problem is that newspapers like this one continue to hammer home the ideas that such things are not CHARITY, or otherwise. You types live and breathe off the continuance of these wastefull and IMMORAL programs so you need more and more to sign up.

What is truly disgusting is that schools take all this money and waste it on food nobody wants. Now if only the kids could see that their education is funded in exactly the same IMMORAL manner then we would be all set. We might finally start getting new generations that aren’t in love with socialism and who yearn for the opportunity to grow, work, and live in a free society for a change.

Ha Ha - even the kids are smarter than you!

By momof4

March 4, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

I feel very sorry for the children and don’t think they should suffer the stupidity of their parents. If you can’t afford a couple bucks for lunch everyday, please don’t reproduce. However, when people have no pride in taking care of their own, there should be a stigma. Handouts only beget more handouts when there is no pride.

By FCM

March 4, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

My ex decided he was not going to pay child support. My rent got hiked. Only my paycheck….I thought, OK I will look at ‘free lunch’ guess what I made 5K too much! My youngest ate a daycare (THANK GOD)…My eldest did eat at school..full price…

You know who didn’t eat? Mama…I don’t regret it…but seriously, some folks who really need it aren’t getting it and those who do get abuse it.

By J

March 4, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

I am a white, professional college graduate, raised in Cobb County, in a two-parent household, and my parents had jobs all of their lives. Because of my parents’ low income level, I qualified for a reduced price lunch and we had (in the ’80s) different-colored lunch tickets than other students. I usually did not eat lunch because I felt ashamed when other children asked me why my tickets were a different color. I didn’t tell my mother because she was simply trying to get her kids fed and would have also felt ashamed or angry. What makes me sad is that 20 years later kids are still dealing with this same situation…I thought we might have figured this out by now.

By deidre_NC

March 4, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

you know, sometimes its not the parents fault either-i have been laid off for 2 1/2 months now and can not find a job-i had to put my teen daughter on free lunches and i thank god they are there for her. i only hope all of you holier than thou people who put down ones who are on this program never lose you job-husband-health-whatever- i guess your kids would starve to death before you lower yourselves to get any help. grrrr at you all with this judgemental attitude

By Rusty

March 4, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

You are not going to tell these people not to reproduce. It’s what they do.Kids I can’t feed = $ from the gubment.Why spend my money to feed them when the gubment will. It is what’s owed to me for 400 years of opression. Why exercise any personal responsibility when I Can and will DEMAND someone else pay for my existence.There is no shame in soaking up what’s owed.

By MrLiberty

March 4, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

Here’s a wakup call to all of you parents.

Say you live in a $150K house and you pay $1000 per year in school taxes. Let’s be generous and say a $250K house with $2000 in taxes. Say you have just 2 kids. Let’s be conservative and say that the state spends $7500 per kid on education. Let’s keep all numbers the same for the 12 years each of the kids is in school. Of course we know that both assessments and taxes will likely go up, but so will state spending. Work with me here - no adjustments are going to really impact this analysis.

So during the course of 1 child’s education, the state will spend $90K. $180K for the 2 kids by the time they are out of high school. Assuming the kids are 1 year apart, you will pay into the tax pool $26K over the course of the 13 years they are in school. You will probably never live there long enough to pay the full bill.

Who is paying the other $154K? That’s practically another house ! I’ll tell you who. Businessmen (who will pass their costs onto consumers - the poor are always hit first by rising prices), the retired folks in the neighborhood (unless their county has an exemption - but you will see shortly why it shouldn’t), the single folks in the neighborhood, and the married without kids. By the way, GA schools are still in the bottom 5 right??? All the rest of this money is coming from income taxes, sales taxes, and every other kind of tax that feeds into the general revenue of the state. Add 2 more kids and now were well over $300K. Nice free lunch don’t you think?

And please don’t tell me that my great property values are because the schools are so great and that’s why I should be happy to pay for your kid’s education. Also don’t pull out the line about how much trouble the kids would be getting into if they didn’t have free schooling. I believe in restitution, and that’s what they would be doing. I’m also not against prison, both for the kids and their irresponsible parents.

So we began this discussion about kids not wanting to eat free lunch because they feel stigma. Why is it nobody feels stigma about the charity program that is the schools themselves?? The socilists have really done a great job havent they.

The government STEALS on your behalf and pays teachers to indoctrimate your kids. They package it up as something everyone is entitled to and you debase your morals and willngly accept it. Homeschooling the only answer.

By FCM

March 4, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

Hit ‘enter’ too soon.

In my case both children were under 10…Its my understanding the article/question is about High School people (aka young adults)….

Additionally, in my case I reviewed my options went to the school as a last resort figuring at least then I would know my child got ONE healthy meal a day…in the end the child did, at school and another at dinner at home (cereal at breakfast)…..Still there were many nights I had not had lunch, said I was not hungry then ate off their plates when they went to bed or drank milk or just ate popcorn…..It can be done if necessary….and then when I was able I got a couple of loans and got back on my feet…but I guess that is what makes me have the view I do.

By deidre_NC

March 4, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

ps-my daughter is not treated any differently because of having free lunches. she also isnt embarrassed because she knows i work my tail off to support her. times are rough here in the mountains! (as elsewhere)

By Necie

March 4, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Momof4

WOW!!! I suppose you are independently wealthy and not at risk of EVER experiencing poverty. I make a very good living and my kids have had the luxury of not needing the free lunch program. But with the way the economy is today who knows what may happen! People are losing their homes, their jobs, their livelihood! How can you have such STUPID words to add to this blog? People like you are the reason why children feel so badly about accepting the free lunch. They have to EAT!

I have three kids. My two youngest love it when they brown bag a lunch. My oldest wants to purchase every day. I just make sure they have the money on their account and the rest is up to them to decide. Not all kids have this choice. I am grateful that I can offer it to my children.

I’ve never had to be on the free lunch program growing up. But I knew some children who did. Their parents were not stupid. They were just less fortunate (financially) than I.

I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE BELIEVES THAT “CHARITY” IS THE EQUIVALENT OF “THEFT”!!! What ignorance!!!!!

By Kat

March 4, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

How do some of you posters know which kids use the reduced (or free) meal tickets and which don’t? Do you follow them through the lunch line and then out to the cars in the car-driver lanes to see who gets into which type of car and whether or not it’s a lease versus a paid-in-full car? I’ve never had a free lunch, but I completely understand why some people would need this as an option, especially in today’s job-shaky environment. I think that if we can help members of our community (esp the smallest members), then we should do so without hesitation. Maybe some of you are just jealous of the rides of some folks at pick-up time.

By Jesse's Girl

March 4, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

Some of you are forgetting how blessed you are. Nothing is promised and fortune can be fleeting. How about doing what you can for those around you..in your community? Bemoaning free lunches is so trivial..it hurts my heart. The point is not whether these kids and their families deserve it. The point is to do it because it is the right thing to do. We cannot make people use logic or be the way we think they should be. But we can show them that somewhere along the line….someone gave a damn.

By jen

March 4, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

I believe it’s not fair to make children go hungry because of their parent’s shortcomings or extreme circumstances. You know, financial disasters do happen. There are such things as sudden medical problems, job layoffs, incredible rising of cost of living expenses that no one has control over, etc. Some families can not help that dad suddenly got diagnosed with cancer. Parents can get laid off work. Some moms or dads get divorced and refuse to pay child support. What’s a responsible, hard working parent supposed to do who’s footing the entire bill for their children? My point is, sh-t happens, and children shouldn’t go starving all day every day when they have no control over life’s circumstances or parents’ job situations. Now, for those people who obviously have the money(driving the Denalis) and expensive sneakers-to prevent those who would abuse the free/reduced lunch program, the only way to fix that is to get human intelligence involved, if you want a more fair system. Send a case worker to these people to investigate what they have, and can afford. Let them see bank records, or W2 statements, taxes, monthly expenses and see how much money is going toward an expensive car payment, etc, and counsel the parents if the system is being abused. That is the only way to stop or at least reduce freeloaders. Everyone’s situation is different and you never know. As for the people who TRULY need help, I have no problem whatsoever of helping them.

By Necie

March 4, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

MrLiberty

Uh… In your “calculations”, have you thought of including all of the MANY MANY other taxes and lottery funds that the schools receive??? Stop whining because you own a little business and pay a little bit of tax. It was YOUR choice to have a business of your own!!! GROW UP AND STOP THE WHINING!!! THIS BLOG ISN’T ABOUT YOU AND YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXES!!! YOU’RE IN THE WRONG BLOG!

By Producer

March 4, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

The “mean ones” on this post are the freeloaders who insist on seizing the sweat and wealth of others to pay for their own bad choices and irresponsibility. It isn’t anyone’s job but your to pay for your kids, whether it be health care or food.
The non productive will destroy this country.

By Dan

March 4, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

J you might be sad but the experience probably served you well by making you strive to lift yourself. Thats the whole point, not to starve anyone but to illustrate that there is always a price to pay. and the harder you work the less chance of you having to suffer that indignity again

By Producer

March 4, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Charity is voluntary, taxes are not!

By MrLiberty

March 4, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Necie

I don’t think that charity is the same as theft. Charity is where you get something from someone who has voluntarily given of themselves on your behalf.

THEFT is where the man from the government shows up at your door demanding the money at the point of a gun. This is not a service you voluntarily signed up for, but rather one your neighbors in the majority “signed” you up for through the ballot box and the corruption of the supposed protections of the Bill of Rights.

You, nor the poor family has the right to come to my house and steal money for someone’s lunch. You do not choose to lead a voluntary effort to raise money for a fund to pay for lunches for poor children. Instead, you claim to be peaceloving while employing the guns of the state to STEAL the money from my pocket.

Yes, I can tell the difference. CAN YOU? And can you spot which side of the moral compass you are being supported by???

By Andrea

March 4, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Some of you people are really hateful. It is not the child’s fault that their parents cannot afford lunch. What good does hurting a child do? They did not create the Federal school lunch program. What’s next, tell people who don’t pay property taxes their kids can’t go to school, or maybe we should put renters and apartment dwellers in special schools with less resources since they don’t pay? I am sure some of you would LOVE that idea!

At my child’s school, all the children use their ID number and no one knows if it is free or is their parents have paid using an account. That is the way it should be.

Oh and we do not qualify for free/reduced lunch. But I prefer to send my child’s lunch because it’s healthier for her. She may buy lunch 4-5 times a month. $1.75 is a lot for a picky eater who will just trash her lunch anyway.

By Andrea

March 4, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Some of you people are really hateful. It is not the child’s fault that their parents cannot afford lunch. What good does hurting a child do? They did not create the Federal school lunch program. What’s next, tell people who don’t pay property taxes their kids can’t go to school, or maybe we should put renters and apartment dwellers in special schools with less resources since they don’t pay? I am sure some of you would LOVE that idea!

At my child’s school, all the children use their ID number and no one knows if it is free or is their parents have paid using an account. That is the way it should be.

Oh and we do not qualify for free/reduced lunch. But I prefer to send my child’s lunch because it’s healthier for her. She may buy lunch 4-5 times a month. $1.75 is a lot for a picky eater who will just trash her lunch anyway.

By Theresa

March 4, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Amen Jesse’s Girl —Fortune is fleeting and we thank God every day that we have good jobs, a roof over our heads, food to eat and clothes to wear. WE are so blessed and we NEVER know when that might change. We try to be prepared but sometimes, somewhere we might need help from others. We try to give help now to those who need it. Who knows what the future holds.

By Liz

March 4, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

I’m not at all surprised by some of the responses to this article.

A few years ago, my ex stopped paying child support. By the time it was all over, he was well over $16,000 behind. I was working full time and doing the best I could. My kids had to utilize the free lunch program…we just didn’t have the money to pay all of our expenses and afford money for lunches. And yes, we got rid of all the extra expenses (cable, cell phones, eating out)and were still strapped every month. I was grateful that they were able to eat hot breakfast and lunches each day. Their school used an account number assigned to each child so that no one knew who was paying full price or receiving free or reduced lunches.

Fast forward a few years…we’ve moved here, I have a great job and am no longer single. The program worked and my kids didn’t feel ashamed. They knew it was only a temporary solution. They are giving kids…they remember having nothing and they give what they can, when they can.

The program worked and helped us.

By Rusty

March 4, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

Producer, you are preaching to the choir. They are taking whats “owed”.This is not going to stop. The free lunches is just a fraction of the “stick it to the man, i’m gettin mine” mentality that’s now epidemic. Attn freeloaders, spare us the “what about the children?” crap! Most of these parasites knew they could’t feed these kids when they had them! Self control is what seperates us from animals.

By on the fence

March 4, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

This is a tough one.

You hate to penalize the child/children for the irresponsibility of the parent (yes, almost always one parent household).

The only sure way to ensure the system is not being abused is to evaluate each and every household to make sure they are in fact eligible for ANY government assistance and have a plan to wean themselves off of generational gov’t dependency (I know, dream on…).

Remember, you need a license to drive a car or fish, but any idiot can conceive a child…

By JJ

March 4, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

My daughter packs her own lunch every morning. It’s healthier than anything in that school lunchroom, and it’s cheaper and I know she is getting a good solid meal.

Her lunch consists of either a sandwich or a salad (sometimes both), a piece of fruit, and a bottle of water. She takes it in the old fashioned brown bag, and simply throws it away.

The lines at the high school are so long, by the time they get through the line and to their table, the bell rings and they don’t have the time to eat. So that’s a waste of time, food and money.

By Sabrina

March 4, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

Producer:

Before I begin, let me just say that I am on my lunch hour. I work for the state of Georgia. I work very hard for the state of Georgia, but I barely make $20,000 a year. I am a single mother and my child receives “free-lunch.” She is also a straight A student. Her teachers rave about how much they enjoy having her in their class. Sure, I could have made better choices when I was younger. I could have tried a little harder to find funding for my education. I could have chosen a better man to make a child with. But, I didn’t do those things, and I can’t change that. I am not lazy. I come to work everyday, and put my absolute best forward. I make sure my daughter does her homework and understands what she has learned. My personal motto is “Anything worth doing is worth doing well!” and I teach that philosophy to my child. Please don’t try to stereotype those who receive assistance as being lazy and unproducing because that is just simply ignorance. Let’s just hope that you never find yourself in a bad situation, and need a little help yourself!

By Sabrina

March 4, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

I got so caught up in that one statement that I forgot to say what I wanted to say.

Why are we serving fast-food and “food of minimal nutritional value” in schools in the first place? When I went to high school, you weren’t even allowed to bring any food that was “not of the brown-bag variety.” And, that’s quoting the handbook!!

By MrLiberty

March 4, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

deidre_NC

By the way, don’t get me wrong. I give a significant amount of my income to both charitable causes that I can deduct as well as other causes that cannot be deducted. I might even consider giving money freely so that these kids could have a hot lunch, but guess what? Nobody has ever asked me.

Rather than risk finding out that this cause does not rise to the level of importance in my life that something else does, or that I might not find the cause worthy on its own merit, those who only know how to do good through violence have chosen to just have government come take the money from me instead. Having already given tens of thousands of dollars to worthless school systems to educate children I don’t have (while my mother worked 2 jobs to be able to afford private school for me (along with the stolen money for the government schools), I find it quite annoying to pay for meals too.

AS for Necie, boy I really hit a nerve. All along you thought that putting your kids in government school was just about as american as apple pie. Nobody every told you that you were just a thief or at best, the recipient of stolen property did they?? Truth hurts doesn’t it? And by the way, all those other taxes, they are just more violence inflicted on other people or businesses. I see you hate business in general. I don’t own a business, but I know how costs are transferred. Poor first, then the middle class, then the rich. Sad but true. And as for the lottery, just another scam to con the poor out of their money on the false promise that they can actually become rich without hard work.

Government doesn’t produce anything. Any money they get is through an act of violence (theft). And by the way, if we are going to be talking about “free lunches”, then a discussion about the biggest free lunch of them all - a 12-year government education - is certainly appropriate. Maybe you just need to get thicker skin, or begin homeschooling. Nothing I am saying is incorrect.

By Producer

March 4, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

My comments are addressed to the millions of people who are abusing the program that was designed to help those who truly need it. It’s the fraud, the lifestyle of the worthless ones who play the system that has me and the others upset. I’m tired of being forced to support those who aren’t my responsibility.

By Brandon

March 4, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

This apparent hate towards making sure that every child has a chance and does not follow in the footsteps of their “freeloading” parents is appalling. Children are not responsible for their parent’s mistakes or financial situation. I personally applaud parents that push their kids to do the best they can in any environment to move them forward, and pushing them away from their mistakes.

I received free lunch until seventh grade. My grades were fine, I was on the honor roll, and I had the chance to go to the best high school in Atlanta. There, I took home many trophies in competitive debate and went to nationals three out of the four years there. I also was editor in chief of the school’s nationally recognized literary magazine (which was recognized again the year i was editor), an associate editor with the school’s newspaper (which received the high school world’s equal to the pulitzer prize years in a row), and served as stage manager/actor in three major productions. I’ve worked for a major theater, and am now managing an interactive agency.

In short, before we get into blaming the kid for freeloading off of the system, look at the potential we unlock by making sure that kids aren’t distracted by how hungry they might be at school and have them focusing on learning.

My family is in a better place overall, and I’d like to say I’ve earned that free lunch.

By jen

March 4, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Let’s take the advise of “if you can’t afford it then don’t have kids” statement. Ok, a family has two kids and both parents have great jobs. They all use no programs or handouts. Suddenly, mom gets in a car wreck, and is in a coma, and stays that way for who knows how long. The family has lost half their income, the father suddenly has to use the food program at school. Would you tell that dad “you shouldn’t have had kids” with your nose stuck up in the air? What about the family who’s business got destroyed in a natural disaster one day. Would you say the same to that parent? If everyone was so conce