You have probably heard the saying, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Well, sometimes people use this phrase to say, that even if something is said to be free, there is always a cost to be paid or some kind of condition to be met. In other words, that thing you just took because you thought it was free, wasn't really "free," for someone, somewhere, is paying the price, for what you think is "free"... maybe even you. The saying is said to have originated in the 1930's and 40's when saloons, newly opened for business after years of prohibition,, offered "free" food to customers.... if they bought a drink.
Patrons thought the lunch was free, even under the stipulation that a drink must first be bought. Maybe it didn't particularly matter to them, because they wanted a drink anyhow.... and lunch was just an added benefit. They might even ignore the fact that the drink they bought cost more than it would somewhere where lunch was not served because it came with the "free" lunch. Free lunches worked for the industry too because the consumption of alcohol is intoxicating and can be addictive. A part of the establishment offering free lunch might order two drinks and not just one, and may even be back tomorrow for another lunch.
Schools offer free lunches too. These are not really free either. Someone is funding it... and sadly, the program started to help poor and struggling families has become a major money maker for schools. Schools even get federal funding when you pay for your own lunch. Sad thing is, some people one the free lunch program do not really qualify financially, they just sign up so that they can save their personal money. They think it's "free." They are told it is "free." Well, it's not. It is not even a charity, but rather, a billion dollar business.
It was just after the Depression when the idea behind providing a free lunch at school became vogue. Children would come to school undernourished or their family was under financial hardship. Then, as now, there is often a need to help those in need. The idea was twofold. It was to help feed these hungry children and also help struggling farmers at the time. The government would purchase fro, the farmers their surplus market goods, and use this then to help the poor. Ideally, it would not make a profit for anyone. It was to be a distribution of commodities; cash to farmers for new crops, the use of food instead of wasting it, and food to people... children in particular, who otherwise would come to school without having eaten at home because there was little or nothing to eat, or to bring for lunch during school. One hand simply washed the other.
Times have changed. School lunch is a money maker an a free school lunch is not just for the needy anymore. You do not even have to go to the school to get in on the deal. All that is required is that you are a minor and show up.
Patrons thought the lunch was free, even under the stipulation that a drink must first be bought. Maybe it didn't particularly matter to them, because they wanted a drink anyhow.... and lunch was just an added benefit. They might even ignore the fact that the drink they bought cost more than it would somewhere where lunch was not served because it came with the "free" lunch. Free lunches worked for the industry too because the consumption of alcohol is intoxicating and can be addictive. A part of the establishment offering free lunch might order two drinks and not just one, and may even be back tomorrow for another lunch.
Schools offer free lunches too. These are not really free either. Someone is funding it... and sadly, the program started to help poor and struggling families has become a major money maker for schools. Schools even get federal funding when you pay for your own lunch. Sad thing is, some people one the free lunch program do not really qualify financially, they just sign up so that they can save their personal money. They think it's "free." They are told it is "free." Well, it's not. It is not even a charity, but rather, a billion dollar business.
It was just after the Depression when the idea behind providing a free lunch at school became vogue. Children would come to school undernourished or their family was under financial hardship. Then, as now, there is often a need to help those in need. The idea was twofold. It was to help feed these hungry children and also help struggling farmers at the time. The government would purchase fro, the farmers their surplus market goods, and use this then to help the poor. Ideally, it would not make a profit for anyone. It was to be a distribution of commodities; cash to farmers for new crops, the use of food instead of wasting it, and food to people... children in particular, who otherwise would come to school without having eaten at home because there was little or nothing to eat, or to bring for lunch during school. One hand simply washed the other.
Times have changed. School lunch is a money maker an a free school lunch is not just for the needy anymore. You do not even have to go to the school to get in on the deal. All that is required is that you are a minor and show up.
A June 23, 2014, Spokesman Review news article reads, "Breakfast and lunch are available to all children 18 and younger in conjunction with Central Valley's Summer School Program. Registration is not needed and children do not need to be current students to receive a meal." Calling the school, or viewing their summer school catalog, one learns that the food is provided via a special federal grant, "at no cost to the Central Valley School District."
The school advertises to their readers that this free lunch is "no cost to the Central Valley School District," but of course it is no cost to them... it is a financial benefit. They are working the system. The more "poor" "underprivileged" kids they feed, the more money they get from those who fund the program. People who pay taxes are paying for it... by the billions and investors are banking that cooks and meal processing plants needed for school lunch programs will keep them in business... providing meals to schools.
1. Why is the school's free lunch program for anyone and everyone... not just the needy or indigent?
2. What will be on the menu for the "free" breakfast and "free" lunch? Will the kids throw it away?
3. Where does this food come from? Is it old? Outdated? And who, if anybody, is getting paid for it?
4. Are children being trained to think there is such a thing as a free lunch? Are students being trained to look to the government to feed them? Are parents being trained too as they are invited to send the kids over to school during the summer to get a "free "breakfast AND a "free" lunch even if they are not enrolled in the classes at the school?.
5. What does or did the district do to get this special (unnamed) grant? Did it cost them money to apply?
The bottom line is that the schools want money. Schools all over the nation are throwing away student's food if they fail to bring lunch money to school.
Locally, KREM News in Spokane recently featured a news story about a student in public school who owed $3. Her mother was upset because "the cafeteria worker took her daughter’s food away in front of other students in the lunch line and the meal ended up in the trash." In plain English, that means that the child had already gone through the lunch line, been served her lunch and then when she had no money at the register.... owed 3.00... the cafeteria worker threw the perfectly good lunch into the garbage can, embarrassed the child and the child felt deprived of lunch.
One school offers free breakfast and lunch to anyone, the other will not even give food on loan to someone who they not only just served up the food to, but a third grade child, a student of the school, someone they know by name who has an address on file and that they can certainly collect funds from on another day. Etiquette, federal programs and grants aside, is the school with all the school personnel there for teaching and caring for kids, touching their lives or are kids just a commodity in a business, a natural resource to be mined, harnessed and used to make a buck?
Back in 2011, another local news article reported that a family having one child enrolled in the "free lunch" program would save a family about $800.00 per year.
(Aren't you interested in saving some money? )
They also said people were signing up for free food in schools by droves.
(In advertising,and logic, this is known as the bandwagon appeal.)
The report tells us that the numbers enrolled in the free lunch programs are steadily increasing and that applications for the program are available in the schools. It also says that the leaders of the program told them that "sometimes they have trouble convincing parents to sign up."
People being tempted to "save" money might need to be convinced, but hungry people needing food assistance seldom need being "convinced" of being part of a helpful food providing program, especially if it means the well-being of their kids. Could it be that there is a push to keep the numbers growing. Time and time again, its the number of needy students that bring more dollars into schools.
Schools, we know, get funding for each child who enrolls in the school and they also get federal funding for each child who signs up to receive a "free"or reduced rate hot lunch. The more who sign up, the more funding they get. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how the numbers add up. You can almost bet that enrollment in the program will increase when the newscaster on the local media is advertising that "families can save about $800.00 per child per year!" If your kids are on the free lunch program.. you can save money, (but the penalty for those who pay for lunch and forget their lunch money.... lunch goes in the trash.
They also said people were signing up for free food in schools by droves.
(In advertising,and logic, this is known as the bandwagon appeal.)
The report tells us that the numbers enrolled in the free lunch programs are steadily increasing and that applications for the program are available in the schools. It also says that the leaders of the program told them that "sometimes they have trouble convincing parents to sign up."
(Convincing? Interesting choice of words.)
People being tempted to "save" money might need to be convinced, but hungry people needing food assistance seldom need being "convinced" of being part of a helpful food providing program, especially if it means the well-being of their kids. Could it be that there is a push to keep the numbers growing. Time and time again, its the number of needy students that bring more dollars into schools.
Schools, we know, get funding for each child who enrolls in the school and they also get federal funding for each child who signs up to receive a "free"or reduced rate hot lunch. The more who sign up, the more funding they get. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how the numbers add up. You can almost bet that enrollment in the program will increase when the newscaster on the local media is advertising that "families can save about $800.00 per child per year!" If your kids are on the free lunch program.. you can save money, (but the penalty for those who pay for lunch and forget their lunch money.... lunch goes in the trash.
This situation is saddening. Wasting food is a terrible thing, as is the exploitation of hunger for financial gain. Are we really so ignorant as a society that we throw perfectly good food away in a garbage can and think of school lunches as costing us nothing personally... since they are dubbed as "free?" Whatever kind of ignorance it is that leads people to believe that the lunch did not cost money and labor to grow and purchase, prepare and deliver is contagious. There's is a lot of people willing to take "free" government money, no matter the cost now or down the road.
Americans have had a wonderful a reputation for kindness and helping the needy, not only in our own country but across the sea in other lands. We used to embrace being honest and hardworking, providing for our own families and others, while being earnest in our financial gains. Now a new mentality arises, one that not only believes that everyone deserves free things from the government... like school lunch, but always thinks something like: "What's in it for me?"
School lunches are often complained about. If not the kids who dislike the flavor and textures, it's the nutritionists and over zealous politicians who get concerned about just how healthy "school lunch isn't and is? We even have, school officials forcing parents to buy lunches because some school official does not approve of what a child brings from home. Some school officials are even insisting that all children.... must purchase lunch, and they require a note from a physician, (not a parent,) to prove a medical need and excuse the child from purchasing the hot lunch from the school.
The reason for this is school lunch is a money maker. There are people in positions of power and influence that want control. they want to control not just your lunch, not just your kids your kids.. but your home. It's their livelihood to do so. More money means they keep their jobs.
In many a school it is no longer the responsibility of a parent to teach and train or even feed their kids. Parents are expected to partner with schools and while the schools manage kids and their education, parents do anything they are told to. In some places parents cannot even pack the lunch, the lunch their kids get is provided, "free,"just like the education, (Well, it's mostly free. Parents just pay for things like paper and pencils... uniforms, band... and help fund projects.) If they are lucky, when school is over for the day they might have time to spend with their kids.
Public school, you know, is a free education, (publicly funded, of course;) which means that it does not cost you, the parent, a dime... unless of course, your classroom needs tissues or the school is unable to bulk purchase basic things like pencils, paper and crayons. You will find the education too, if you work, have an income and pay your taxes, or unless if you do not qualify for the free hot lunch at the school.
If that's the case, you just might be lucky and still have the freedom to at least pack a lunch.
Lunch packing ideas here and here, just for starters.
And then, some John Taylor Gatto for dessert.
An extra helping of dessert can be found here.
Americans have had a wonderful a reputation for kindness and helping the needy, not only in our own country but across the sea in other lands. We used to embrace being honest and hardworking, providing for our own families and others, while being earnest in our financial gains. Now a new mentality arises, one that not only believes that everyone deserves free things from the government... like school lunch, but always thinks something like: "What's in it for me?"
School lunches are often complained about. If not the kids who dislike the flavor and textures, it's the nutritionists and over zealous politicians who get concerned about just how healthy "school lunch isn't and is? We even have, school officials forcing parents to buy lunches because some school official does not approve of what a child brings from home. Some school officials are even insisting that all children.... must purchase lunch, and they require a note from a physician, (not a parent,) to prove a medical need and excuse the child from purchasing the hot lunch from the school.
The reason for this is school lunch is a money maker. There are people in positions of power and influence that want control. they want to control not just your lunch, not just your kids your kids.. but your home. It's their livelihood to do so. More money means they keep their jobs.
In many a school it is no longer the responsibility of a parent to teach and train or even feed their kids. Parents are expected to partner with schools and while the schools manage kids and their education, parents do anything they are told to. In some places parents cannot even pack the lunch, the lunch their kids get is provided, "free,"just like the education, (Well, it's mostly free. Parents just pay for things like paper and pencils... uniforms, band... and help fund projects.) If they are lucky, when school is over for the day they might have time to spend with their kids.
Public school, you know, is a free education, (publicly funded, of course;) which means that it does not cost you, the parent, a dime... unless of course, your classroom needs tissues or the school is unable to bulk purchase basic things like pencils, paper and crayons. You will find the education too, if you work, have an income and pay your taxes, or unless if you do not qualify for the free hot lunch at the school.
If that's the case, you just might be lucky and still have the freedom to at least pack a lunch.
Lunch packing ideas here and here, just for starters.
And then, some John Taylor Gatto for dessert.
An extra helping of dessert can be found here.
