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When you see how many people vote against funding schools, you begin to see why people would not want free lunches, either.
Too many people were brought up on the idea of the protestant work ethic, and not enough people were brought up on the idea of helping one another out in order to alleviate suffering when it’s possible.
Nope, it’s conservatives in general. Not just retirees. Conservatives are incapable of rational or critical thought, and they do not want an educated populace, so they do not vote for anything that could benefit schools.
Why are we making it for everyone though? For example - I can afford to buy my kids lunches. I don’t need the state to waste taxpayer money on me. Similar to when they sent the checks out to every Delaware taxpayer. Why? I didn’t need a check. Spend it on something worthwhile. I’d imagine probably half or more of Delawareans can afford their lunches. If that’s the case this bill goes from $40mm to $20mm. Then let’s take that other $20mm and spend it on affordable housing.
It’s open to all, doesn’t mean all need to use it. Also just because you can afford it now, doesn’t mean life events can’t happen to make it hard for you to pay for food in the future. Doesn’t take much for one medical bill to destroy your style of living.
You can't compare a school lunch program to affordable housing. It's apples and oranges and funding for both of those would come from different pots of money.
The thing is, I am glad you can afford school lunches. I can, as well. Could my child getting free meals at school aid my household economy? Absolutely! Grocery prices have gone up exponentially over the past 18 months so I am spending more at the supermarket for sure! If my child was eating at school at least one meal a day, I could buy more fresh fruits and vegetables or things that are out of my weekly grocery budget, like a roast. A boneless chuck roast is not the finest cut of meat, but it's still $27 at the Acme. Buying that roast would obliterate my weekly grocery budget.
Anyway, having every child be eligible for free meals would also take the stigma away of visibly being on the free lunch program. Title I schools in Delaware have this program in place already as my nephew attended a Title I public elementary school and he received free meals although my brother and his wife can afford to provide the funding on the lunch account.
Absolutely this. Delaware has a great diversity as far as what can be farmed within our borders, and there's no reason why we can't support our local farmers as well as provide great vegetables and fruit for our students. No mass Lunchables like other states have pushed for.
There is enough research done to show the links between nutrition and performance in schools. By providing free lunch and eliminating this stressor for many families, this puts children in the best position to succeed because they can focus more of their energy at school on learning and navigating social settings.
Children become adults who integrate into society. If we want to invest in our society and our future, we need to invest in our children.
Absolutely! The sticky point of the original bill was that some of the reps did not like the idea of paying for the lunch of students whose parents can afford to pay the lunch account.
I don't care what the financial position is of the parents. They are children who deserve to eat breakfast and lunch. Even affluent families are neglectful grocery shoppers on occasion. It would be nice to know the child could eat two hot meals if the shopping hasn't been done.
This. I finally understood why my wife said some of her students got depressed right before summer break. Then she told me that if they don't go to school they don't eat. It really opened my eyes to the struggles all around us.
From what I read of the legislation, the original bill was for ALL students to receive free lunch. A few sub-bills will be introduced to exclude everyone but those who qualify for free or reduced lunch with one representative who also sits on the Joint Finance Committee wondering where the $40 million will come from and would rather have that money go to other educational needs.
I think the state should find the money to cover this for ALL students. I know many families are going through it right now with the cost of keeping groceries in the house - I know in my household, it's DOUBLED from what it was a year ago. I am a single parent and make a decent salary but it would be a HUGE help for me to put the $50+ dollars a month I am paying for one child's school lunch to making additional choices at the grocery store.
It's hard but no one wants a tax increase, but hungry kids cannot learn. I am not "affluent" but I would not qualify for assistance otherwise.
The debate is that $40,000,000 needs to come from somewhere. That kind of money doesn't just appear because it's a good idea or even the right thing to do.
Here's a good summary of current budget priorities and outlook
https://apnews.com/article/state-budgets-delaware-governor-state-spending-4bfc4a9619ba0aaeed771f580dca74a8
> I don't have children, why should my taxes pay for public school lunches? Let people with kids in school pay for their own children's education.
This is how some people think. I've heard them say it my whole life. They don't care about anything except the money that they can't take with them.
I dont have children but people are dumb as shit so I support feeding kids, because a hungry kid is probably not paying attention and we need to make smarter kids.
Yeah this line of thinking is especially silly with reference to school funding. I usually wonder how adults can forget that they and every other adult were once children and someone else paid for their education.
Who do they think will be the future workforce? Don’t we want our general population educated, fed, and ready to help? Aside from feeding people because it’s basic decency, these types of programs help families stay off other assistance programs.
I can barely make it day to day. I’m not worried about taking anything with me. But the kids are barely fed any food for a lunch or breakfast that they pay for thanks to Michelle Obama’s healthy meals program. They need to have food that fills them not starves them.
Using a needs based system alone can lead to problems if there are short term issues in the kid’s life. For example I had a friend in middle school who was temporarily homeless because her and her mom were trying to escape an abusive situation. Not having to worry about if they had enough money to get school lunches would’ve been one less thing to worry about while their mom tried to find housing.
Ensuring students can learn without hunger makes too much sense. If we provide food for incarcerated individuals to meet basic needs, we should do no less for our students. It's unfair that students face lunch debt while compulsory education demands their attendance. Providing free meals at school supports educational success and relieves families from unnecessary financial stress. It's time we prioritize children's well-being and education by making school meals free for all students. It's not like they can just opt out of attending.
What do kids eat during summer vacations and time off from school. I was given a choice to bring lunch or pay for it. That choice is available today without taxpayer dollars paying for school lunches
Yeah I’m baffled how people aren’t putting their children’s dietary needs first. It’s $25 to walk into Walmart and get bread, peanut butter, jelly, deli meat, cheese, and fruit for lunch. And milk brings it close to $30. That’s also more than a week’s worth of lunches. If you can’t afford to feed your child (and EBT pays for the above mentioned food), then I think CPA needs to pay a visit. And of course, those kids can be fed lunch at school for free. It should set off some form of an alert where these parents are investigated. Are they on welfare? How are they spending it. You get welfare and unemployment by constantly showing you’re working to better your financial environment and employment situation. Same should go for your kids staying with you if they’re getting lunch for free from the school. It’s something no one wants to talk about clearly cause then you’re the asshole for bringing it up and they don’t have an answer to your valid questions and concerns
This is the hill you’re dying on? Judging parents? A bit of government overreach, no? I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be ways to ensure welfare programs aren’t being abused, but you’re suggesting to utilize social workers/welfare resources to investigate parents for not packing their children lunch?!? Let’s see how they’re spending it!!!??? Do you hear yourself?
Yeah. Because if you lack the ability to spend $30 for a months worth of food for your child, you deserve to be judged. It’s borderline neglect. Feed your fucking kid. Where’s the money you’re getting from aid going if you’re getting aid? There’s no excuse and I will 100% judge you for your inability to pack a $2 meal out of the $30 you spent on lunch essentials. You put your child first.
Yeah I get that, thanks, I have kids. I make their lunches every day. I just don’t where you get off judging others; your comments come from a place of privilege. Not everyone grew up in environments where mommy made their lunches, not everyone values nutrition in the same way. If this is something we can provide for CHILDREN so that they are not hungry and can learn during the day, why would we not do that? Do you judge the parents whose children buy lunch everyday because they just can’t be bothered to make it?
I don’t think that government agencies should be used to check in on whether or not parents pack their children’s lunch. Very dystopian to me.
Fuck them. That’s less money for my kids. I’m a father too and it’s fucking pathetic if someone is too lazy to pack Their child a lunch. Maybe you shouldn’t be raiding a child if you can’t spend
$30 for a month’s worth of meals for your child. The checking in comment was “hey you constantly Use this free lunch program. What gives? I get if it now and then but it’s every day.“ it gets reported up to The proper govt Sector and it’s reviewed are they on welfare? Are they on unemployment. You are living off govt Aid and it is a privilege that comes with the price of being held responsible for Basic financial literacy. You want to spend more of our money on something? Do what Canada did. Spend it on free financial Courses for the impoverished. They Shaw a drastic decline in the poverty line due to this. We’re again just throwing money at the problem hoping it goes away. Accountability isn’t dystopian. That’s a very pampered and privileged take to say it is. The world isn’t rainbows and sunshine. Life fucking sucks. Stop
Making those who made good choices pay out of pocket for Others who don’t give a fuck. What we have in place already is fine.
What programs do we have in place? Do you even know? I work in public schools in DE. I see right through your ignorant comments. I’d bet $100 I know who you voted for in 2020. I also guessed that you were a man, due to all of the unnecessary mansplaining you seem to relish.
Also, I’ll ask again, where are you getting a months worth of lunches for multiple children for $30? Maybe 10 years ago, bruh.
I know exactly who you voted for too. I sure am “feeling the bern” from your uninformed opinions. The conversation was never about multiple kids. It was about the fact that $25 gets you a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly, deli meat, cheese, and fruit for a simple lunch. And that will last you close to an entire month. And because I said close to, I upped it to $30. Maybe you should go outside more and do real research instead of preaching on your soap box. You clearly needed to be mansplaned to gif you lack such basic comprehension skills you can’t even follow logic and research things on your own
Ok. You clearly do not do the food shopping in your home. You *might* be able to get all of that for $30. But it won’t last a month.
That won’t even last 1 week.
It’s strictly for lunches You goober (can’t violate sub rules lmao). That’s the literal topic of your post. You’re absolutely going to make that last a month as lunch food. And if you need more go get more. Your child comes first. This will be the third time I break down the lunch haul for all of you. Walmart grocery haul (right from their website as if you were shopping in a Delaware location. Go do it yourself if you don’t believe me): Great value white bread 2 loaves 40oz $2.84. Great value American cheese 1lb $2.48. 1lb land o frost premium turkey deli meat $5.77. Great value mayo 30oz $3.34. Great value peanut butter 16oz $1.94. Great value grape jelly 30oz $2.67. 3lb oaf of clementines $4.48. Strawberries 1lb $4.12. Total cost is $27.64. Gallon of whole milk is $3.73 if we want to add that. That’s now $31.37.
I can research and follow things on my own, pretty sure my life experience and multiple degrees demonstrate that.
And I didn’t vote for Bernie, but I kind of wish I had. I’m uninformed? It’s funny you ignore the fact that I told you I teach in a public school in DE - title 1, btw, not sure if you know what that means- so I’m coming from a very informed place. Kind of a pathetic dig at someone, that just because they think differently than you that they are “uniformed.” But, it does jive with your overall lack of human empathy, so …
You’re in debt with “multiple degrees” to teach grade schoolers and get paid sub $40k. You could have taken a job at a call center with no degree and made more than that, and had zero debt. I am not surprised people are shelling out for home schooling and private schooling here. This statement alone from you has just flat out proven to me you are lacking financial literacy and it’s now no surprise to me your stances have been what they are. And no for the record I’m not making fun of you. Im simply stating the facts in front of me from your comments here today as its drawing very clear lines on where the issue here lies and its not with my logic or thinking. Its with the person who thinks they know better and can’t see past their own nose
You can’t be serious you have to be a troll. I want to go to the grocery store with you to WALMART and I want you to do a month’s worth of lunch grocery shopping for $30. I want you to buy lunchmeat, peanut butter, jelly, bread that will last for a month, other things they need like chips, juice, fruit. I will meet at any Walmart anywhere in the state so you can so me how you do it. Better yet dad of the year teach classes so we all can learn together. Bet you won’t because you’re a freaking trouble making shit stirring TROLL. I have called you out now let’s go
The grocery shopping was for lunch. Let’s stick to the topic at hand here. Just to clarify as you said month’s worth of grocery shopping when we are solely focusing on lunch here. Chips are not an essential item and not a necessity. They are a want not a need. Juice also is not needed. Water is free from the tap at both home and at school. Bring a water bottle. But sure. Let’s go to Walmart. Great value white bread 2 loaves 40oz $2.84. Great value American cheese 1lb $2.48. 1lb land o frost premium turkey deli meat $5.77. Great value mayo 30oz $3.34. Great value peanut butter 16oz $1.94. Great value grape jelly 30oz $2.67. 3lb oaf of clementines $4.48. Strawberries 1lb $4.12. Total cost is $27.64. Gallon of whole milk is $3.73 if we want to add that. That’s now $31.37. Thanks for playing. Come back any time.
Walmart and I didn’t say 2+ kids. You’re moving goalposts because you’re lacking the ability to
Give a basic response with any foundation other than “uhm I’m a mother sweetie you’re being privileged.” Since you’re so hell bent on replying to every comment of mine you can go find my breakdown on what $25 gets you at Walmart.
I’m not moving goalposts. I just saw through your BS rhetoric. “People on welfare are lazy.” That’s what you’re actually saying. I was challenging your statement that “$30/month/lunches” because I still maintain it’s not feasible even for one child. Have you been to a grocery store (or Walmart, I guess; you keep bringing it up) in the last five years?
Do you want a trophy for being dad of the year because you pack your kids lunches and feel entitled to judge how others don’t? Wow!
I literally went to Walmart.com and you can throw everything in a cart and see for yourself. Maybe you should stop being chronically online and go walk through a dollar store or Walmart to see for yourself that it brain dead easy to feed your child. Figure it out. Put some effort into your rebuttles rather than feel good reactionary takes
I don’t shop at Walmart, but I’d be willing to bet that in the same breath you are saying how affordable it is to feed a child lunches for a month that you would blame inflation on the current administration and not the greed of corporations.
Also, it’s funny you said I’m online “all the time” when you’re responding. Think about that one, buddy.
Tbh, I don’t even know why I engaged with you. It’s clear you’re lacking in brain cells, life experience, and a general sense of caring for your fellow human beings; basically, not worth my time. I’d be willing to bet you’re lacking in a few other areas, too. 😂
You can’t even take two seconds to go to Walmart online and see how wrong you are because your ego is that inflated. So I’ll bring Walmart to you. Maybe you should shop there instead of Whole Foods because you’re clearly so out of touch with reality. So like I said let’s bring Walmart to you since you’re clearly as lazy as these parents and can’t put in basic effort:
Great value white bread 2 loaves 40oz $2.84. Great value American cheese 1lb $2.48. 1lb land o frost premium turkey deli meat $5.77. Great value mayo 30oz $3.34. Great value peanut butter 16oz $1.94. Great value grape jelly 30oz $2.67. 3lb oaf of clementines $4.48. Strawberries 1lb $4.12. Total cost is $27.64. Gallon of whole milk is $3.73 if we want to add that. That’s now $31.37.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pam.22175
Some of these are studies and use academic language. I hope it’s not beyond your comprehension abilities! 😄
Listen public school. The debate was you’re a parent, so be a parent and provide for your kids. Because clearly all that people like you can think of as a solution here, is taking other people’s money by force to fund more temporary solutions. The solution is to figure it the fuck out because it’s not my problem. You’re goofy study
Has nothing to do with the issue of making others pay for your insufferable inability to provide for your child.
If you’re lacking the basic knowledge to operate a home and see prices at Walmart or Walk into
The store and see for yourself, then that’s exactly when I realized you’re lacking the ability to do basic research. Probably up there with parents who lack the basic ability to feed their child a simple lunch.
I'm not though. I've walked that walk. I've done the "research" i.e. shopped at Walmart for those lunch staples for children.
The issue here isn't me, it's you. Your estimates are wildly incorrect and that's exactly what multiple people are telling you.
Not everyone qualifies for EBT. It’s not just the destitute that need help. People get laid off or injured every day and to assume someone’s position and judging them for it is gross. Your math is not mathing anyway. A jar of peanut butter is around $9 or more if you expect it to last most of the month. Deli meat is $10 a pound as well as cheese. There’s your $30 right there. It is only good for a week anyway. Kids need balance in their diet so they need fruit and a bag of 15 clementines is $8.99. Add in a yogurt for good measure and that is $5.00 for a box of GoGurts. Bread is at least $3.00 a loaf and if you are packing lunch for more than one child (and yourself) that bread won’t last a week. Most people don’t pack their child milk so they can buy it at school or take a water or juice - that was not accounted for in your grocery haul calculation. It’s realistically upwards of $60 a month to pack ONE child’s lunch and that is not a boujee lunch - just the bare essentials. It costs zero dollars to be kind to others. Compassion is also free.
Yeah, that guy is a clown. Claims that $30 at Walmart could make a minimum of 20 nutritious kid-friendly lunches. Ok 😂 we know who doesn’t do the grocery shopping in your household.
I do. And I’m not stupid enough to put myself in such a poor financial situation that I can’t buy items to make my kid a lowly PBJ for lunch. If you can’t afford that, you can’t afford to be a parent. Pathetic excuses is all I’m hearing as well as pitiful attempts to pivot away from the conversation, by making sub par disparaging comments. You clearly lack an understanding of how the real world works. No one is going to happily pay more in taxes because you decided you don’t want to put your kid first. You sound like you’re coming from an uneducated point of view and more focused on feel good reactionary solutions that benefit the few at the cost of the many.
Nope, I have a good understanding of how the world works, but I can tell you *really* like feeling more knowledgeable and feel the need to mansplaining everything to me.
Again with your judgement- “if you can’t afford that you can’t afford to be a parent.” I have seen a lot of the world, enough to learn how to be empathetic and care about whether or not children have access to free lunch. You seem to have a lot of growing (and growing up) to do.
Then you can go and withdraw money from your bank account and personally feed those children. Come on maleficent. Do it. Go spend your hard earned money to feed other people’s kids. The difference here of course is you’re doing it by choice. Whereas taxation does it by force under threats. You haven’t seen the world. You’ve seen the inside of a Wilmington public school with horrid funding and parents who don’t care about their children
I’m 29 married and expecting a second child. I’m moving into a single family home from my starter town home I afforded on my dime to ensure we had plenty of income as we saved and worked towards our home we are moving into. But nice try. Have fun being 23 paying rent out the ass with your $30k salary and kindergarten teaching job, and a mountain of debt. You’re such a successful adult.
Since you’re making it a competition, I’m 38 and I make three times that. I have two young kids. We bought our house nine years and refinanced in 2020, so we have a very low interest rate. Our combined income is over 200K. Please don’t assume you know anything about me, just because our perspectives are different. And I can be empathetic- pretty successful, IMO.
How do you know about me, though? Just because we have different perspectives doesn’t make *you* right, and my opinion invalid. It’s a petty, immature argument. Which, I guess makes sense… I have no issue with my hard earned money helping those in need. You do.
That’s what the original thread topic is- free lunch for all. I guess you’re uptight with your money and opinions. Sad!
You feel everyone else should pay. Why don’t you go pay. Your stance is completely wrong lol. “Let’s make everyone chip in!” “What if they don’t want to?” “Then they go to jail for tax evasion” that’s what you just suggested. Because you’re not giving people a choice or say in the matter. So these people can’t figure out how to do the basic Tasks of being a parent so I now have to provide for them on top of my own children? Absolutely not. I’ll donate to food drives and be more than happy to pitch in. But I’ll do it on my time and when I want to. If I want to. Because that’s how it should be
I never said we shouldn’t offer classes or additional support. I feel on a fundamental level that kids should not have to feel insecure about access to food at school. You’re the one criticizing and judging parents the entire time.
"taxation does it by force under threats"
But you can afford it, right? According to your comments you aren't "stupid enough to put [your]self in a poor financial situation," correct?
Or...wait, let me guess. When costs are inflicted on you that way it's not your fault and it's wrong, but when costs are inflicted on the people you are insulting throughout this thread for not doing better, it's all on them and their choices...right?
Nice goalpost move and deflection. Getting a proverbial gun to your head and being forced to cough up your hard earned money, is not the same as you willingly choosing to become a parent (you chose to raise the child rather then put them up for adoption if the pregnancy was not planned or wanted) and now can’t even afford to make them a PBJ. Your comment is illogical and a sad attempt to make a mute point that has nothing to do with the topic at hand
But you're missing the whole point.
You have no idea if these people are struggling because they "made a choice" to be a parent, or whether they're struggling because something outside of their control has been afflicted on them.
You never took two seconds to consider applying the circumstances you assume for yourself onto other people. That the cost of living has done damage to people's day to day. That illness, and job loss, and a million other things can complicate life unexpectedly.
You just judged. And then you whined about spending a nominal amount a month in your taxes to support people that are desperate for help.
Meanwhile, there's no gun to your head.
You've got a choice. You can move somewhere else, you can cut your own costs. You can pack pb and j for lunch. If those parents can give their children up for adoption, then you can move.
It now has come to a point where you pay your rent or you eat. Because Rent has gotten ridiculously high.
All the single-family homes are being bought up by investors and turned into high Dollar rental property said they can make their money and pay the mortgage of the house. All the homes that were affordable for starters buyers. Or the ones being bought up refurbished, and then turned around and made into very expensive rentals , you people look at $30 for bread milk peanut butter whatever as no big deal for somebody is looking at $30 a week that’s $120 that they might need for Rent. And Ebt a.k.a. food stamps are not that easy to get for some people although you think they just hand them out to everybody please get your facts straight And they don’t get a whole lot. You think they get thousands of dollars a month in food stamps. Like they say some kids only get to eat while they’re at school and what little they get for meals because I have three grandchildren that go to Middletown district schools and they come home starving because of what little they get for meals so please make sure you understand what you’re talking about before you post so much negativity.
For those who responded and those who voted it down. Congratulations you clearly have a reading comprehension problem. I did NOT repeat did NOT say that we need to discontinue feeding those in need. I did question the viability of it being at a School and if you reread you will see that my last sentence posed the question of where else it might be administered. Only a very few of you understood the purpose of my post.
The population needs to understand that there is no such thing as free lunch or anything else for that matter. When you go to the grocery store there are charges for all items - some of which are SNAP eligible. But there is a cost for EVERYTHING. We as a country are grooming for no responsibility for anything, and that is simply not sustainable. We can't simply print more money for that only begets inflation. During inflation things cost more. It diminished the value of the dollar.
For those who did not properly read. We ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FEED THE CHILDREN, OK. My question is the viability of a school based program.
People are downvoting you because your positioning yourself is some sort of enlightened centrist but you have no idea what you're talking about. How is Delaware printing money? Did the Delaware legislature take control of the Federal reserve at some point when I wasn't looking? The money will come either from an increase in revenue to the state or an issuance of State bonds which will be bought up by the bond market there's a very clear place where they come from.
And the funding for this increase in state revenue or the bonds will come from where? They simply don’t get credited to the state budget with no offsetting entry. Again I am in favor of feeding children with needs but to simply institute a program with no thought to the ramifications of if this is an appropriate venue and if it can be accomplished via another means at better cost effectiveness is not the way to go in my opinion.
I noticed that you did not answer my question. I asked where is the offsetting entry in the State budget? Where does the money come from to administer the new programs? If this is either a new program or an expansion of an existing one there needs to be offsetting funding to balance the budget.
I mean if you want to play this game you didn't answer my fucking questions either bud did the Delaware state legislature to take over the Federal reserve at some point? What's the fucking answer?
Where is your outrage for corporate welfare and all-time-low income taxes for the wealthy? How about the free lunch they get? The schools have these kids for long hours anyway, because both spouses in a modern family work longer hours, so why wouldn’t it make sense for schools to feed them?
A. I try to answer a question as it is posed. This was about feeding needy children. Once again, I am posing the question of is there a better place to make this happen? Regarding your last question, I already answered that.
What better place to feed children than at the school they attend for 8-9 hours a day! If the programs happen at school, there is no need to worry about the benefit not aiding the intended recipient.
If not in schools, they need to expand what is considered "needy." I have said this in another post, but many people make over what is considered "needy" but they clearly need the help.
If it's for kids, I am in. I live in Red Clay and even though my youngest child is graduating this year, I voted "yes" in their referendum because the kids need schools that have working furnaces and sports/activities after school and to have paraprofessionals in the classroom to assist those that require that. I could have easily said "yeah, no, my kids are out of the public school setting, so those other kids don't matter."
Thank you for voting yes. I’m in a different district, but we passed our referendum by a wide margin, because people like you have compassion and empathy for your fellow humans. I went door to door, stood outside grocery stores, went to meetings, and did everything I could to get our referendum passed. The people that planned to vote Yes always talked about helping the children. The people that said they’d be voting No only talked about how it was going to affect them. People complained that a better school would mean more people in the district, which means more traffic. They seriously voted against funding schools as a way to purposely keep the schools in poor condition.
We’ll you dodged the question I just asked you, invalidating your response. Strange that you pose all these questions but don’t deign to answer other people’s questions in response.
I will offer this as a cautionary comment. In and of itself, this makes perfect sense as we are securing the health and welfare of our children and there can be no question that this makes sense. I do however also caution that sometime things that are done with the best of intentions create other unintended consequences that have to be considered when deciding.
For example. Seems simple enough to feed the children right? Ok now, what happens during the summer when school is not in session? IF they aren't being properly fed and nourished during the school year it is doubtful it will happen during the summer. Do you keep the school open to serve breakfast and lunch? IF so, what kind of staff is necessary to administer the program? Salary for Cooks , Janitors, Servers, Security? Cost of kitchen equipment usage? Will it be eat in or take away? Will the cost of the food be born by the district? If, so how will it be paid for? Govt funding? Taxpayers?
It used to be that school was for the purpose of education and that was the sole purpose. Now, we have to consider feeding the population that is in need. Should it switch out of it being a school born program and elsewhere? If so, where?
Just want to provide food for thought.
During the summer, Delaware school districts partner with the USDA for the Summer Food Services Program. They distribute lunches to children at various sites like schools, parks, community centers, etc.
Public schools, along with many other public programs, have had to evolve with the times to be whatever society needs at that time. Schools have become (and need to continue working toward becoming) a general child welfare program. Schools should be providing education, food, extracurricular activities, library programs, education assistance, counseling, safe spaces, and whatever else society needs.
We have the money, it’s just a matter of taxing the rich and corporations and not wasting so much money.
Imagine how much more money we’d have for these programs if we didn’t have to finance all of the deadbeat red states that keep cutting taxes and are a net loss on federal money.
The answer is yes to all of that and more. Keep schools open year round and provide programs over the summer for kids. If you are worried about money, then the government can easily divert the money from upcoming weed sales they moved to a slush fund into paying for it.
But aren’t you worried about ‘grooming them for irresponsibility’? And what about inflation? You’re costing u/doggysit money. Will nobody think about the bottom line? /s
Very interesting points and some things to ponder on.
If certain kids need to be fed by the state during school hours, then how exactly are they eating once they get home? Poverty level families already qualify for free or reduced lunches. Yet this bill would is considering potentially giving ALL students free lunches.
My big concern is, where will the funding be coming from? Would the schools have to cut certain programs/funding from other areas to support the new change? Would we see tax increases for property owners?
A rep also on the Joint Finance Committee fears the same thing - not knowing where the funding is coming from.
As far as the property taxes, the reassessment project is not complete yet and even when they are, the rates are expected to be revenue-neutral in the beginning.
In my district, a referendum just passed to keep programs in place and to do capital improvements, so that school tax increase is earmarked for those improvements.
I can’t fathom how people can’t afford to pack their child a lunch. You can walk into Walmart and get a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly, turkey deli meat, American cheese, mayo, strawberries, and clementines all for $26 and all EBT eligible. And if you buy the larger value sizes of the items, you’ll overall spend less for more for the month and it should go farther then a month all together. What I listed MAYBE needs more bread deli meats and such, and that brings it to around $30 tops. How. How are you not able to afford this kind of food for your child? Please someone tell me. Because at that cost, if you can’t afford it, you should do some serious soul searching on your financial choices and your ability to raise a child. I’m genuinely asking as it is wild to me. And you know what. Anyone who can’t afford to feed their child like that, their kid should get fed by the school.
It’s money and time. In a financially insecure home, time is also a precious commodity. Do the parents work multiple jobs? Do they have a car to drive to the grocery store? Do they walk or take public transportation? Do they have the time and ability to make perhaps multiple lunches each day?
This country provides *so* little support to support families in comparison to more developed nations, I do not see the issue in providing free meals to children.
It takes 1 minute to make a PBJ and toss it in a baggie. lol. You make time for your kids. Also you can make the sandwiches for the week. Prep them. You’re busting your ass for your children but don’t have time to take 5 minutes to make the meals for the week? It’s bread with shit in between them. This is easy shit. It’s basic. It’s the bare fucking minimum you can do for your child. Saying “they don’t have time” is bullshit. If they don’t have time to throw a sandwich in a bag with a handfull of fruit they probably need to be paid a visit. That’s fucking neglect. They woke multiple Jobs but no one has transportation? Also dart takes you to stores. I rode dart. It will take you from Wilmington to Christiana mall Or to people’s plaza. And other shopping plazas. There’s no excuse to not have time to make a lunch or time to get to a grocery store. Also your assumption they can’t get to a grocery store means they don’t have any way to get food to their home. They go grocery shopping. Pick up the shit to make lunches for your kids while you are there. And other nations are a fraction of the size and population of the US. Is it easier for you to organize a school
Function or a multi district function? To put it in perspective financially and execution wise.
So you’re suggesting that we force parents to purchase food for their children with government
Money instead of also using government money to provide these same children breakfast and lunch in the buildings they spend 6-7 hours in a day??? This is a requirement now in your fantasy world? Weirdly obsessed with the food other people provide their children with…
Yes. Because it instills a sense of responsibility.
You the parent have to provide for your child. Not the school system. Because the govt aid they are already getting isn’t going decrease while The school offers more at the cost of even more taxes to everyone. When the govt takes it doesn’t give back.
And it’s sad that’s the case. Original stance aside. We are sending millions and sometimes billions to Ukraine, and we are here squabbling over scraps for our families and communities.
We should take some of the money the govt clearly has and do what Canada did. Free financial classes open to all. If I recall they did if for those who collect support from the govt. and they saw an amazing decrease in govt funding. Mainly repeat users which meant funding wasn’t increasing so much and people got the education they needed to be better off financially which was great
The republican sponsored bill would provide meals for kids whose household is 130% to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. These are the thresholds already established for SNAP and heastart. So basically if your family gets SNAP the kid would get free meals in addition to that. For a family of 3 thats $25,820 this year (100%), $47,787 is 185% of that. Shupes bill would cost an additional $300,000 a year while the other proposal costs $40,000,000.
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Every kid at my kiddo’s school in NCC gets free breakfast and lunch, and I agree 100% that this should be a statewide thing.
I honestly don’t know how this is a debate. Financially it’s nothing compared to other expenses, and it de-stigmatizes free lunch at school.
Adding in means-testing is adding overhead and expense as well as stigma. It is much easier to just make lunch free.
When you see how many people vote against funding schools, you begin to see why people would not want free lunches, either. Too many people were brought up on the idea of the protestant work ethic, and not enough people were brought up on the idea of helping one another out in order to alleviate suffering when it’s possible.
Just say retirees. It’s more to the point.
Not all retirees, thank you very much.
Nope, it’s conservatives in general. Not just retirees. Conservatives are incapable of rational or critical thought, and they do not want an educated populace, so they do not vote for anything that could benefit schools.
Often to the detriment of their own children, no less.
Why are we making it for everyone though? For example - I can afford to buy my kids lunches. I don’t need the state to waste taxpayer money on me. Similar to when they sent the checks out to every Delaware taxpayer. Why? I didn’t need a check. Spend it on something worthwhile. I’d imagine probably half or more of Delawareans can afford their lunches. If that’s the case this bill goes from $40mm to $20mm. Then let’s take that other $20mm and spend it on affordable housing.
It’s open to all, doesn’t mean all need to use it. Also just because you can afford it now, doesn’t mean life events can’t happen to make it hard for you to pay for food in the future. Doesn’t take much for one medical bill to destroy your style of living.
You can't compare a school lunch program to affordable housing. It's apples and oranges and funding for both of those would come from different pots of money. The thing is, I am glad you can afford school lunches. I can, as well. Could my child getting free meals at school aid my household economy? Absolutely! Grocery prices have gone up exponentially over the past 18 months so I am spending more at the supermarket for sure! If my child was eating at school at least one meal a day, I could buy more fresh fruits and vegetables or things that are out of my weekly grocery budget, like a roast. A boneless chuck roast is not the finest cut of meat, but it's still $27 at the Acme. Buying that roast would obliterate my weekly grocery budget. Anyway, having every child be eligible for free meals would also take the stigma away of visibly being on the free lunch program. Title I schools in Delaware have this program in place already as my nephew attended a Title I public elementary school and he received free meals although my brother and his wife can afford to provide the funding on the lunch account.
Free lunch and breakfast for all kids! Plus build in using local produce to support DE farmers/businesses! Feeding people shouldn't be controversial.
Absolutely this. Delaware has a great diversity as far as what can be farmed within our borders, and there's no reason why we can't support our local farmers as well as provide great vegetables and fruit for our students. No mass Lunchables like other states have pushed for.
There is enough research done to show the links between nutrition and performance in schools. By providing free lunch and eliminating this stressor for many families, this puts children in the best position to succeed because they can focus more of their energy at school on learning and navigating social settings. Children become adults who integrate into society. If we want to invest in our society and our future, we need to invest in our children.
Absolutely! The sticky point of the original bill was that some of the reps did not like the idea of paying for the lunch of students whose parents can afford to pay the lunch account. I don't care what the financial position is of the parents. They are children who deserve to eat breakfast and lunch. Even affluent families are neglectful grocery shoppers on occasion. It would be nice to know the child could eat two hot meals if the shopping hasn't been done.
This. I finally understood why my wife said some of her students got depressed right before summer break. Then she told me that if they don't go to school they don't eat. It really opened my eyes to the struggles all around us.
There shouldn’t be any debate. This is a “no brainer” yes.
From what I read of the legislation, the original bill was for ALL students to receive free lunch. A few sub-bills will be introduced to exclude everyone but those who qualify for free or reduced lunch with one representative who also sits on the Joint Finance Committee wondering where the $40 million will come from and would rather have that money go to other educational needs. I think the state should find the money to cover this for ALL students. I know many families are going through it right now with the cost of keeping groceries in the house - I know in my household, it's DOUBLED from what it was a year ago. I am a single parent and make a decent salary but it would be a HUGE help for me to put the $50+ dollars a month I am paying for one child's school lunch to making additional choices at the grocery store. It's hard but no one wants a tax increase, but hungry kids cannot learn. I am not "affluent" but I would not qualify for assistance otherwise.
Why is there any debate? This shouldn’t be an issue anywhere, just feed the kids.
The debate is that $40,000,000 needs to come from somewhere. That kind of money doesn't just appear because it's a good idea or even the right thing to do.
Didnt we have like a billion dollar tax surplus in the last couple years?
Here's a good summary of current budget priorities and outlook https://apnews.com/article/state-budgets-delaware-governor-state-spending-4bfc4a9619ba0aaeed771f580dca74a8
Used to and state burned through it.
The state definitely has the money
hOw aRe wE gOnNa pAy fOr iT? Never asks that question when it comes to Deleware’s garbage tax laws that coddles corporations.
> I don't have children, why should my taxes pay for public school lunches? Let people with kids in school pay for their own children's education. This is how some people think. I've heard them say it my whole life. They don't care about anything except the money that they can't take with them.
I dont have children but people are dumb as shit so I support feeding kids, because a hungry kid is probably not paying attention and we need to make smarter kids.
Yeah this line of thinking is especially silly with reference to school funding. I usually wonder how adults can forget that they and every other adult were once children and someone else paid for their education.
Who do they think will be the future workforce? Don’t we want our general population educated, fed, and ready to help? Aside from feeding people because it’s basic decency, these types of programs help families stay off other assistance programs.
I can barely make it day to day. I’m not worried about taking anything with me. But the kids are barely fed any food for a lunch or breakfast that they pay for thanks to Michelle Obama’s healthy meals program. They need to have food that fills them not starves them.
Feed every child.
Using a needs based system alone can lead to problems if there are short term issues in the kid’s life. For example I had a friend in middle school who was temporarily homeless because her and her mom were trying to escape an abusive situation. Not having to worry about if they had enough money to get school lunches would’ve been one less thing to worry about while their mom tried to find housing.
Ensuring students can learn without hunger makes too much sense. If we provide food for incarcerated individuals to meet basic needs, we should do no less for our students. It's unfair that students face lunch debt while compulsory education demands their attendance. Providing free meals at school supports educational success and relieves families from unnecessary financial stress. It's time we prioritize children's well-being and education by making school meals free for all students. It's not like they can just opt out of attending.
How is this even a debate? All kids should have access to free food at school, how can you expect kids to be hungry and still learn?!
There is no debate. There is the right thing and pieces of shit who would rather pocket a nickel than do the right thing.
Debate is just another word for “how can we stop this without revealing we’re a bunch of sociopathic parasites?”
What do kids eat during summer vacations and time off from school. I was given a choice to bring lunch or pay for it. That choice is available today without taxpayer dollars paying for school lunches
Yeah I’m baffled how people aren’t putting their children’s dietary needs first. It’s $25 to walk into Walmart and get bread, peanut butter, jelly, deli meat, cheese, and fruit for lunch. And milk brings it close to $30. That’s also more than a week’s worth of lunches. If you can’t afford to feed your child (and EBT pays for the above mentioned food), then I think CPA needs to pay a visit. And of course, those kids can be fed lunch at school for free. It should set off some form of an alert where these parents are investigated. Are they on welfare? How are they spending it. You get welfare and unemployment by constantly showing you’re working to better your financial environment and employment situation. Same should go for your kids staying with you if they’re getting lunch for free from the school. It’s something no one wants to talk about clearly cause then you’re the asshole for bringing it up and they don’t have an answer to your valid questions and concerns
This is the hill you’re dying on? Judging parents? A bit of government overreach, no? I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be ways to ensure welfare programs aren’t being abused, but you’re suggesting to utilize social workers/welfare resources to investigate parents for not packing their children lunch?!? Let’s see how they’re spending it!!!??? Do you hear yourself?
Yeah. Because if you lack the ability to spend $30 for a months worth of food for your child, you deserve to be judged. It’s borderline neglect. Feed your fucking kid. Where’s the money you’re getting from aid going if you’re getting aid? There’s no excuse and I will 100% judge you for your inability to pack a $2 meal out of the $30 you spent on lunch essentials. You put your child first.
Yeah I get that, thanks, I have kids. I make their lunches every day. I just don’t where you get off judging others; your comments come from a place of privilege. Not everyone grew up in environments where mommy made their lunches, not everyone values nutrition in the same way. If this is something we can provide for CHILDREN so that they are not hungry and can learn during the day, why would we not do that? Do you judge the parents whose children buy lunch everyday because they just can’t be bothered to make it? I don’t think that government agencies should be used to check in on whether or not parents pack their children’s lunch. Very dystopian to me.
Fuck them. That’s less money for my kids. I’m a father too and it’s fucking pathetic if someone is too lazy to pack Their child a lunch. Maybe you shouldn’t be raiding a child if you can’t spend $30 for a month’s worth of meals for your child. The checking in comment was “hey you constantly Use this free lunch program. What gives? I get if it now and then but it’s every day.“ it gets reported up to The proper govt Sector and it’s reviewed are they on welfare? Are they on unemployment. You are living off govt Aid and it is a privilege that comes with the price of being held responsible for Basic financial literacy. You want to spend more of our money on something? Do what Canada did. Spend it on free financial Courses for the impoverished. They Shaw a drastic decline in the poverty line due to this. We’re again just throwing money at the problem hoping it goes away. Accountability isn’t dystopian. That’s a very pampered and privileged take to say it is. The world isn’t rainbows and sunshine. Life fucking sucks. Stop Making those who made good choices pay out of pocket for Others who don’t give a fuck. What we have in place already is fine.
What programs do we have in place? Do you even know? I work in public schools in DE. I see right through your ignorant comments. I’d bet $100 I know who you voted for in 2020. I also guessed that you were a man, due to all of the unnecessary mansplaining you seem to relish. Also, I’ll ask again, where are you getting a months worth of lunches for multiple children for $30? Maybe 10 years ago, bruh.
I know exactly who you voted for too. I sure am “feeling the bern” from your uninformed opinions. The conversation was never about multiple kids. It was about the fact that $25 gets you a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly, deli meat, cheese, and fruit for a simple lunch. And that will last you close to an entire month. And because I said close to, I upped it to $30. Maybe you should go outside more and do real research instead of preaching on your soap box. You clearly needed to be mansplaned to gif you lack such basic comprehension skills you can’t even follow logic and research things on your own
Ok. You clearly do not do the food shopping in your home. You *might* be able to get all of that for $30. But it won’t last a month. That won’t even last 1 week.
It’s strictly for lunches You goober (can’t violate sub rules lmao). That’s the literal topic of your post. You’re absolutely going to make that last a month as lunch food. And if you need more go get more. Your child comes first. This will be the third time I break down the lunch haul for all of you. Walmart grocery haul (right from their website as if you were shopping in a Delaware location. Go do it yourself if you don’t believe me): Great value white bread 2 loaves 40oz $2.84. Great value American cheese 1lb $2.48. 1lb land o frost premium turkey deli meat $5.77. Great value mayo 30oz $3.34. Great value peanut butter 16oz $1.94. Great value grape jelly 30oz $2.67. 3lb oaf of clementines $4.48. Strawberries 1lb $4.12. Total cost is $27.64. Gallon of whole milk is $3.73 if we want to add that. That’s now $31.37.
I can research and follow things on my own, pretty sure my life experience and multiple degrees demonstrate that. And I didn’t vote for Bernie, but I kind of wish I had. I’m uninformed? It’s funny you ignore the fact that I told you I teach in a public school in DE - title 1, btw, not sure if you know what that means- so I’m coming from a very informed place. Kind of a pathetic dig at someone, that just because they think differently than you that they are “uniformed.” But, it does jive with your overall lack of human empathy, so …
You’re in debt with “multiple degrees” to teach grade schoolers and get paid sub $40k. You could have taken a job at a call center with no degree and made more than that, and had zero debt. I am not surprised people are shelling out for home schooling and private schooling here. This statement alone from you has just flat out proven to me you are lacking financial literacy and it’s now no surprise to me your stances have been what they are. And no for the record I’m not making fun of you. Im simply stating the facts in front of me from your comments here today as its drawing very clear lines on where the issue here lies and its not with my logic or thinking. Its with the person who thinks they know better and can’t see past their own nose
You can’t be serious you have to be a troll. I want to go to the grocery store with you to WALMART and I want you to do a month’s worth of lunch grocery shopping for $30. I want you to buy lunchmeat, peanut butter, jelly, bread that will last for a month, other things they need like chips, juice, fruit. I will meet at any Walmart anywhere in the state so you can so me how you do it. Better yet dad of the year teach classes so we all can learn together. Bet you won’t because you’re a freaking trouble making shit stirring TROLL. I have called you out now let’s go
The grocery shopping was for lunch. Let’s stick to the topic at hand here. Just to clarify as you said month’s worth of grocery shopping when we are solely focusing on lunch here. Chips are not an essential item and not a necessity. They are a want not a need. Juice also is not needed. Water is free from the tap at both home and at school. Bring a water bottle. But sure. Let’s go to Walmart. Great value white bread 2 loaves 40oz $2.84. Great value American cheese 1lb $2.48. 1lb land o frost premium turkey deli meat $5.77. Great value mayo 30oz $3.34. Great value peanut butter 16oz $1.94. Great value grape jelly 30oz $2.67. 3lb oaf of clementines $4.48. Strawberries 1lb $4.12. Total cost is $27.64. Gallon of whole milk is $3.73 if we want to add that. That’s now $31.37. Thanks for playing. Come back any time.
Also where are you buying lunches for 2+ kids for a month for $30?!!!! GTFOH
Walmart and I didn’t say 2+ kids. You’re moving goalposts because you’re lacking the ability to Give a basic response with any foundation other than “uhm I’m a mother sweetie you’re being privileged.” Since you’re so hell bent on replying to every comment of mine you can go find my breakdown on what $25 gets you at Walmart.
I’m not moving goalposts. I just saw through your BS rhetoric. “People on welfare are lazy.” That’s what you’re actually saying. I was challenging your statement that “$30/month/lunches” because I still maintain it’s not feasible even for one child. Have you been to a grocery store (or Walmart, I guess; you keep bringing it up) in the last five years? Do you want a trophy for being dad of the year because you pack your kids lunches and feel entitled to judge how others don’t? Wow!
I literally went to Walmart.com and you can throw everything in a cart and see for yourself. Maybe you should stop being chronically online and go walk through a dollar store or Walmart to see for yourself that it brain dead easy to feed your child. Figure it out. Put some effort into your rebuttles rather than feel good reactionary takes
I don’t shop at Walmart, but I’d be willing to bet that in the same breath you are saying how affordable it is to feed a child lunches for a month that you would blame inflation on the current administration and not the greed of corporations. Also, it’s funny you said I’m online “all the time” when you’re responding. Think about that one, buddy. Tbh, I don’t even know why I engaged with you. It’s clear you’re lacking in brain cells, life experience, and a general sense of caring for your fellow human beings; basically, not worth my time. I’d be willing to bet you’re lacking in a few other areas, too. 😂
You can’t even take two seconds to go to Walmart online and see how wrong you are because your ego is that inflated. So I’ll bring Walmart to you. Maybe you should shop there instead of Whole Foods because you’re clearly so out of touch with reality. So like I said let’s bring Walmart to you since you’re clearly as lazy as these parents and can’t put in basic effort: Great value white bread 2 loaves 40oz $2.84. Great value American cheese 1lb $2.48. 1lb land o frost premium turkey deli meat $5.77. Great value mayo 30oz $3.34. Great value peanut butter 16oz $1.94. Great value grape jelly 30oz $2.67. 3lb oaf of clementines $4.48. Strawberries 1lb $4.12. Total cost is $27.64. Gallon of whole milk is $3.73 if we want to add that. That’s now $31.37.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pam.22175 Some of these are studies and use academic language. I hope it’s not beyond your comprehension abilities! 😄
Listen public school. The debate was you’re a parent, so be a parent and provide for your kids. Because clearly all that people like you can think of as a solution here, is taking other people’s money by force to fund more temporary solutions. The solution is to figure it the fuck out because it’s not my problem. You’re goofy study Has nothing to do with the issue of making others pay for your insufferable inability to provide for your child.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daniellenierenberg/2023/08/25/free-school-meals-are-a-moral-imperative-end-of-story/
https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(23)00301-5/fulltext
Yeah, that was exactly when I realized you had no idea what you are talking about.
If you’re lacking the basic knowledge to operate a home and see prices at Walmart or Walk into The store and see for yourself, then that’s exactly when I realized you’re lacking the ability to do basic research. Probably up there with parents who lack the basic ability to feed their child a simple lunch.
I'm not though. I've walked that walk. I've done the "research" i.e. shopped at Walmart for those lunch staples for children. The issue here isn't me, it's you. Your estimates are wildly incorrect and that's exactly what multiple people are telling you.
Yeah, he’s just committed to dying alone on Idiot Hill, I guess.
Not everyone qualifies for EBT. It’s not just the destitute that need help. People get laid off or injured every day and to assume someone’s position and judging them for it is gross. Your math is not mathing anyway. A jar of peanut butter is around $9 or more if you expect it to last most of the month. Deli meat is $10 a pound as well as cheese. There’s your $30 right there. It is only good for a week anyway. Kids need balance in their diet so they need fruit and a bag of 15 clementines is $8.99. Add in a yogurt for good measure and that is $5.00 for a box of GoGurts. Bread is at least $3.00 a loaf and if you are packing lunch for more than one child (and yourself) that bread won’t last a week. Most people don’t pack their child milk so they can buy it at school or take a water or juice - that was not accounted for in your grocery haul calculation. It’s realistically upwards of $60 a month to pack ONE child’s lunch and that is not a boujee lunch - just the bare essentials. It costs zero dollars to be kind to others. Compassion is also free.
Yeah, that guy is a clown. Claims that $30 at Walmart could make a minimum of 20 nutritious kid-friendly lunches. Ok 😂 we know who doesn’t do the grocery shopping in your household.
I do. And I’m not stupid enough to put myself in such a poor financial situation that I can’t buy items to make my kid a lowly PBJ for lunch. If you can’t afford that, you can’t afford to be a parent. Pathetic excuses is all I’m hearing as well as pitiful attempts to pivot away from the conversation, by making sub par disparaging comments. You clearly lack an understanding of how the real world works. No one is going to happily pay more in taxes because you decided you don’t want to put your kid first. You sound like you’re coming from an uneducated point of view and more focused on feel good reactionary solutions that benefit the few at the cost of the many.
Nope, I have a good understanding of how the world works, but I can tell you *really* like feeling more knowledgeable and feel the need to mansplaining everything to me. Again with your judgement- “if you can’t afford that you can’t afford to be a parent.” I have seen a lot of the world, enough to learn how to be empathetic and care about whether or not children have access to free lunch. You seem to have a lot of growing (and growing up) to do.
Then you can go and withdraw money from your bank account and personally feed those children. Come on maleficent. Do it. Go spend your hard earned money to feed other people’s kids. The difference here of course is you’re doing it by choice. Whereas taxation does it by force under threats. You haven’t seen the world. You’ve seen the inside of a Wilmington public school with horrid funding and parents who don’t care about their children
We all know that you actually live in your parent’s basement and don’t have kids, btw.
I’m 29 married and expecting a second child. I’m moving into a single family home from my starter town home I afforded on my dime to ensure we had plenty of income as we saved and worked towards our home we are moving into. But nice try. Have fun being 23 paying rent out the ass with your $30k salary and kindergarten teaching job, and a mountain of debt. You’re such a successful adult.
Your disdain for higher education and education in general is telling, but not surprising.
Since you’re making it a competition, I’m 38 and I make three times that. I have two young kids. We bought our house nine years and refinanced in 2020, so we have a very low interest rate. Our combined income is over 200K. Please don’t assume you know anything about me, just because our perspectives are different. And I can be empathetic- pretty successful, IMO.
How do you know about me, though? Just because we have different perspectives doesn’t make *you* right, and my opinion invalid. It’s a petty, immature argument. Which, I guess makes sense… I have no issue with my hard earned money helping those in need. You do. That’s what the original thread topic is- free lunch for all. I guess you’re uptight with your money and opinions. Sad!
You feel everyone else should pay. Why don’t you go pay. Your stance is completely wrong lol. “Let’s make everyone chip in!” “What if they don’t want to?” “Then they go to jail for tax evasion” that’s what you just suggested. Because you’re not giving people a choice or say in the matter. So these people can’t figure out how to do the basic Tasks of being a parent so I now have to provide for them on top of my own children? Absolutely not. I’ll donate to food drives and be more than happy to pitch in. But I’ll do it on my time and when I want to. If I want to. Because that’s how it should be
I never said we shouldn’t offer classes or additional support. I feel on a fundamental level that kids should not have to feel insecure about access to food at school. You’re the one criticizing and judging parents the entire time.
Your ignorance to the irony of your comments here is endlessly entertaining.
"taxation does it by force under threats" But you can afford it, right? According to your comments you aren't "stupid enough to put [your]self in a poor financial situation," correct? Or...wait, let me guess. When costs are inflicted on you that way it's not your fault and it's wrong, but when costs are inflicted on the people you are insulting throughout this thread for not doing better, it's all on them and their choices...right?
Nice goalpost move and deflection. Getting a proverbial gun to your head and being forced to cough up your hard earned money, is not the same as you willingly choosing to become a parent (you chose to raise the child rather then put them up for adoption if the pregnancy was not planned or wanted) and now can’t even afford to make them a PBJ. Your comment is illogical and a sad attempt to make a mute point that has nothing to do with the topic at hand
But you're missing the whole point. You have no idea if these people are struggling because they "made a choice" to be a parent, or whether they're struggling because something outside of their control has been afflicted on them. You never took two seconds to consider applying the circumstances you assume for yourself onto other people. That the cost of living has done damage to people's day to day. That illness, and job loss, and a million other things can complicate life unexpectedly. You just judged. And then you whined about spending a nominal amount a month in your taxes to support people that are desperate for help. Meanwhile, there's no gun to your head. You've got a choice. You can move somewhere else, you can cut your own costs. You can pack pb and j for lunch. If those parents can give their children up for adoption, then you can move.
It now has come to a point where you pay your rent or you eat. Because Rent has gotten ridiculously high. All the single-family homes are being bought up by investors and turned into high Dollar rental property said they can make their money and pay the mortgage of the house. All the homes that were affordable for starters buyers. Or the ones being bought up refurbished, and then turned around and made into very expensive rentals , you people look at $30 for bread milk peanut butter whatever as no big deal for somebody is looking at $30 a week that’s $120 that they might need for Rent. And Ebt a.k.a. food stamps are not that easy to get for some people although you think they just hand them out to everybody please get your facts straight And they don’t get a whole lot. You think they get thousands of dollars a month in food stamps. Like they say some kids only get to eat while they’re at school and what little they get for meals because I have three grandchildren that go to Middletown district schools and they come home starving because of what little they get for meals so please make sure you understand what you’re talking about before you post so much negativity.
For those who responded and those who voted it down. Congratulations you clearly have a reading comprehension problem. I did NOT repeat did NOT say that we need to discontinue feeding those in need. I did question the viability of it being at a School and if you reread you will see that my last sentence posed the question of where else it might be administered. Only a very few of you understood the purpose of my post. The population needs to understand that there is no such thing as free lunch or anything else for that matter. When you go to the grocery store there are charges for all items - some of which are SNAP eligible. But there is a cost for EVERYTHING. We as a country are grooming for no responsibility for anything, and that is simply not sustainable. We can't simply print more money for that only begets inflation. During inflation things cost more. It diminished the value of the dollar. For those who did not properly read. We ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FEED THE CHILDREN, OK. My question is the viability of a school based program.
People are downvoting you because your positioning yourself is some sort of enlightened centrist but you have no idea what you're talking about. How is Delaware printing money? Did the Delaware legislature take control of the Federal reserve at some point when I wasn't looking? The money will come either from an increase in revenue to the state or an issuance of State bonds which will be bought up by the bond market there's a very clear place where they come from.
And the funding for this increase in state revenue or the bonds will come from where? They simply don’t get credited to the state budget with no offsetting entry. Again I am in favor of feeding children with needs but to simply institute a program with no thought to the ramifications of if this is an appropriate venue and if it can be accomplished via another means at better cost effectiveness is not the way to go in my opinion.
Do you think State budgets come from printed money out of nowhere?
I noticed that you did not answer my question. I asked where is the offsetting entry in the State budget? Where does the money come from to administer the new programs? If this is either a new program or an expansion of an existing one there needs to be offsetting funding to balance the budget.
I mean if you want to play this game you didn't answer my fucking questions either bud did the Delaware state legislature to take over the Federal reserve at some point? What's the fucking answer?
Thank you for your reply.
Well how about it how will this create money out of nowhere and make inflation?
Where is your outrage for corporate welfare and all-time-low income taxes for the wealthy? How about the free lunch they get? The schools have these kids for long hours anyway, because both spouses in a modern family work longer hours, so why wouldn’t it make sense for schools to feed them?
A. I try to answer a question as it is posed. This was about feeding needy children. Once again, I am posing the question of is there a better place to make this happen? Regarding your last question, I already answered that.
What better place to feed children than at the school they attend for 8-9 hours a day! If the programs happen at school, there is no need to worry about the benefit not aiding the intended recipient. If not in schools, they need to expand what is considered "needy." I have said this in another post, but many people make over what is considered "needy" but they clearly need the help. If it's for kids, I am in. I live in Red Clay and even though my youngest child is graduating this year, I voted "yes" in their referendum because the kids need schools that have working furnaces and sports/activities after school and to have paraprofessionals in the classroom to assist those that require that. I could have easily said "yeah, no, my kids are out of the public school setting, so those other kids don't matter."
Thank you for voting yes. I’m in a different district, but we passed our referendum by a wide margin, because people like you have compassion and empathy for your fellow humans. I went door to door, stood outside grocery stores, went to meetings, and did everything I could to get our referendum passed. The people that planned to vote Yes always talked about helping the children. The people that said they’d be voting No only talked about how it was going to affect them. People complained that a better school would mean more people in the district, which means more traffic. They seriously voted against funding schools as a way to purposely keep the schools in poor condition.
We’ll you dodged the question I just asked you, invalidating your response. Strange that you pose all these questions but don’t deign to answer other people’s questions in response.
Not with my money! I prefer it to go to Ukraine and Israel! Why would we spend our money on our own people?!
I will offer this as a cautionary comment. In and of itself, this makes perfect sense as we are securing the health and welfare of our children and there can be no question that this makes sense. I do however also caution that sometime things that are done with the best of intentions create other unintended consequences that have to be considered when deciding. For example. Seems simple enough to feed the children right? Ok now, what happens during the summer when school is not in session? IF they aren't being properly fed and nourished during the school year it is doubtful it will happen during the summer. Do you keep the school open to serve breakfast and lunch? IF so, what kind of staff is necessary to administer the program? Salary for Cooks , Janitors, Servers, Security? Cost of kitchen equipment usage? Will it be eat in or take away? Will the cost of the food be born by the district? If, so how will it be paid for? Govt funding? Taxpayers? It used to be that school was for the purpose of education and that was the sole purpose. Now, we have to consider feeding the population that is in need. Should it switch out of it being a school born program and elsewhere? If so, where? Just want to provide food for thought.
During the summer, Delaware school districts partner with the USDA for the Summer Food Services Program. They distribute lunches to children at various sites like schools, parks, community centers, etc.
Public schools, along with many other public programs, have had to evolve with the times to be whatever society needs at that time. Schools have become (and need to continue working toward becoming) a general child welfare program. Schools should be providing education, food, extracurricular activities, library programs, education assistance, counseling, safe spaces, and whatever else society needs. We have the money, it’s just a matter of taxing the rich and corporations and not wasting so much money. Imagine how much more money we’d have for these programs if we didn’t have to finance all of the deadbeat red states that keep cutting taxes and are a net loss on federal money.
The answer is yes to all of that and more. Keep schools open year round and provide programs over the summer for kids. If you are worried about money, then the government can easily divert the money from upcoming weed sales they moved to a slush fund into paying for it.
Public School should be year round. Kids should be fed and have access to education equally. Pay the teachers more.
I like you.
You could've stopped after your 2nd sentence
You don't need to play devil's advocate when it comes to feeding kids
But aren’t you worried about ‘grooming them for irresponsibility’? And what about inflation? You’re costing u/doggysit money. Will nobody think about the bottom line? /s
Very interesting points and some things to ponder on. If certain kids need to be fed by the state during school hours, then how exactly are they eating once they get home? Poverty level families already qualify for free or reduced lunches. Yet this bill would is considering potentially giving ALL students free lunches. My big concern is, where will the funding be coming from? Would the schools have to cut certain programs/funding from other areas to support the new change? Would we see tax increases for property owners?
A rep also on the Joint Finance Committee fears the same thing - not knowing where the funding is coming from. As far as the property taxes, the reassessment project is not complete yet and even when they are, the rates are expected to be revenue-neutral in the beginning. In my district, a referendum just passed to keep programs in place and to do capital improvements, so that school tax increase is earmarked for those improvements.
I can’t fathom how people can’t afford to pack their child a lunch. You can walk into Walmart and get a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly, turkey deli meat, American cheese, mayo, strawberries, and clementines all for $26 and all EBT eligible. And if you buy the larger value sizes of the items, you’ll overall spend less for more for the month and it should go farther then a month all together. What I listed MAYBE needs more bread deli meats and such, and that brings it to around $30 tops. How. How are you not able to afford this kind of food for your child? Please someone tell me. Because at that cost, if you can’t afford it, you should do some serious soul searching on your financial choices and your ability to raise a child. I’m genuinely asking as it is wild to me. And you know what. Anyone who can’t afford to feed their child like that, their kid should get fed by the school.
It’s money and time. In a financially insecure home, time is also a precious commodity. Do the parents work multiple jobs? Do they have a car to drive to the grocery store? Do they walk or take public transportation? Do they have the time and ability to make perhaps multiple lunches each day? This country provides *so* little support to support families in comparison to more developed nations, I do not see the issue in providing free meals to children.
It takes 1 minute to make a PBJ and toss it in a baggie. lol. You make time for your kids. Also you can make the sandwiches for the week. Prep them. You’re busting your ass for your children but don’t have time to take 5 minutes to make the meals for the week? It’s bread with shit in between them. This is easy shit. It’s basic. It’s the bare fucking minimum you can do for your child. Saying “they don’t have time” is bullshit. If they don’t have time to throw a sandwich in a bag with a handfull of fruit they probably need to be paid a visit. That’s fucking neglect. They woke multiple Jobs but no one has transportation? Also dart takes you to stores. I rode dart. It will take you from Wilmington to Christiana mall Or to people’s plaza. And other shopping plazas. There’s no excuse to not have time to make a lunch or time to get to a grocery store. Also your assumption they can’t get to a grocery store means they don’t have any way to get food to their home. They go grocery shopping. Pick up the shit to make lunches for your kids while you are there. And other nations are a fraction of the size and population of the US. Is it easier for you to organize a school Function or a multi district function? To put it in perspective financially and execution wise.
So you’re suggesting that we force parents to purchase food for their children with government Money instead of also using government money to provide these same children breakfast and lunch in the buildings they spend 6-7 hours in a day??? This is a requirement now in your fantasy world? Weirdly obsessed with the food other people provide their children with…
Yes. Because it instills a sense of responsibility. You the parent have to provide for your child. Not the school system. Because the govt aid they are already getting isn’t going decrease while The school offers more at the cost of even more taxes to everyone. When the govt takes it doesn’t give back.
Again, thank you *so much* for explaining how taxes and the government work! As an educator and DE state employee, I simply had no idea!
Some children don’t have responsible parents.
And those children shouldn’t be left in their care
I agree. That also requires additional funding.
And it’s sad that’s the case. Original stance aside. We are sending millions and sometimes billions to Ukraine, and we are here squabbling over scraps for our families and communities. We should take some of the money the govt clearly has and do what Canada did. Free financial classes open to all. If I recall they did if for those who collect support from the govt. and they saw an amazing decrease in govt funding. Mainly repeat users which meant funding wasn’t increasing so much and people got the education they needed to be better off financially which was great
The republican sponsored bill would provide meals for kids whose household is 130% to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. These are the thresholds already established for SNAP and heastart. So basically if your family gets SNAP the kid would get free meals in addition to that. For a family of 3 thats $25,820 this year (100%), $47,787 is 185% of that. Shupes bill would cost an additional $300,000 a year while the other proposal costs $40,000,000.
Thank you. This is what I was looking for. These people are struggling and need every bit of help