Am I the only person who thinks parents should feed their kids outside of school?

[HalloweenDoughnutAnyone]

Obviously it goes without saying I don't want any child to go hungry. But. Am I the only person who thinks parents should feed their kids outside of school?

Just that really.. it's free school dinners. Not free lunch all year round.

I don't understand why people think the tax payer should be paying even more? Maybe, if you can't afford to cover the basics (food and clothing) you should think twice before having a child?

Or should we extend free school dinners, to cover all the food a child needs inside and outside of school ?

I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush but I know people who rely on free school dinners. But have sky tv, expensive mobile contracts etc

@cantdothisnow1 I funded my Internet with my fraudulent activities but don't tell anyone

Can you imagine the frothing if there were a million Happy Meals given out to poor and unworthy children...

The rages would cause an earthquake

@Madonnawiththebigboobies

No point in a discussion . You all seem blinkered. Let me know how it goes when you are the person trying to help these families. I truly hope you have a better outcome .

Please don't get angry

I'm adding free happy meals (but only for children I think deserve them*) to my political manifesto.

*thats all children because they are all deserving.

Im going to share a story.
Man and woman have 3 kids. Man leaves women and moves overseas. Women left with no job bills and 3 kids. Women clams jsa free school dinners etc.
Shame she couldn't stick her children back in her womb until shes back on her feet.
Women now has to deal with stigma as well as a broken heart.

Well, obviously I'd advise that people dismount from their benefits horse before they collect their free McDonald's

I heard the most horrific story. Someone I know had gone to hear a speaker who retold the story of his childhood and what the reality was of growing up with a drug addict parent. This boy would go to school STARVING, and any food he managed to scavenge would be given to his younger siblings. He tried to tell his teachers but they disregarded what he said. All this while living on the outskirts of a big, supposedly civilised city. Unfortunately, some kids have a shocking life and maybe, just maybe, a decent meal during school holidays might make it a little more bearable.

@FourTeaFallOut

Well, obviously I'd advise that people dismount from their benefits horse before they collect their free McDonald's

Naturally, and of course the goats will have to be left outside.

Would you like a job in my party? I'm hiring anyone who is nice, regardless of qualifications.

Yes, sounds good. Not convinced I meet the high threshold for nice but I'll give it my best shot.

There's a lot of prejudice against McDonald's and snobbery but I think it's an excellent company. They've always done a good job of their charitable giving (e.g. Ronald McDonald houses), their menu develops, they are pretty open about sources of their ingredients, they employ older people and their bogs are immaculate in the two I visit regularly. And I could murder a BigMac too!

@RichPetunia

I heard the most horrific story. Someone I know had gone to hear a speaker who retold the story of his childhood and what the reality was of growing up with a drug addict parent. This boy would go to school STARVING, and any food he managed to scavenge would be given to his younger siblings. He tried to tell his teachers but they disregarded what he said. All this while living on the outskirts of a big, supposedly civilised city. Unfortunately, some kids have a shocking life and maybe, just maybe, a decent meal during school holidays might make it a little more bearable.

If it wasn't for the city bit that could be one of my older siblings.

Both of my brothers were chucked out of shops in the holidays for stealing food. It was generally accepted in their high school that one of them would steal something for them and my sister most days.

It was years before anyone bothered. It was only when I got a really strict teacher and my previous teacher (I was 7) went to the new Head to say "I gave lyra breakfast and snack every day last year and I know this teacher won't. I'm worried, but Mrs Carter doesn't like other teachers being involved with her class" that anything was done.

And what does that tell you lyra?

Exactly as RichPetunia says. I work in a school in a very deprived area of a large city. There are many, many pupils whose only hot meal, and in many cases only meal, of the day is at lunchtime at school. Breakfast club is also very popular- we get charity funded for this- as are extra study classes after school where we provide healthy snacks and a warm place to work. The reality is that we have very, very poor children, I work with them.everyday, who need the state to care for them.

Perhaps if Tories, like yourself, could walk in the too small shoes of one of these children they'd appreciate just how hard life is. I honestly wish you or your children never need help.

That’s right puffa, only the middle classes provide meals for their children, don’t they?

• I earned £46k pa subject to interest rises since 2000 except for the last 7 years when I had to reduce my wages for childcare for my unplanned child resulting from rape.

I have only claimed benefits for 2 years now, ever.

It isnt actually the point that I have made in this thread, but pick away.

I'm sorry that my argument was unsatisfactory for you.*

I’m sorry to hear that and I have no issue with you receiving support. However, I was responding to the post you made, claiming that you were a net contributor. You aren’t.

@rainyoutside

And what does that tell you lyra?

I'm not sure what you are getting at?

It tells me that it's not new, but it's a bigger problem now that it was then. Which is scandelous as we're much more aware of it now. Especially when it's children who are not being neglected through choice (as I was), but when people simply can't afford anymore food.

No-one picked up on it when I was a kid because it wasn't something they had much experience of. We all know it happens now so there is no excuse for the current government to pretend it's not happening.

What's even more worrying now is that for kids in my position I'd bet there are few HT's that would have taken the action mine did that day. It could have cost their career.

@Madonnawiththebigboobies

Perhaps you could shed a bit more light on the sorts of parents and their situations you come across who have given you this viewpoint?

Then we may understand a bit more where you’re coming from.....

I didn't grow up in a deprived area. I grew up in a nice area. Both my parents had "good" jobs until the drugs slowly took over.

I also live in a nice area now, yet the referrals to the uniform bank I help at have more than doubled this year.

This problem has exploded because it's not just the traditionally poor who are unable to make ends meet anymore.

The point I’m making is that actions that can appear kind (giving you as a hungry youngster something to eat) actually are not, because that prevented you being helped.

IME parents who do not provide food for their children are astoundingly rare. Astoundingly so. I bitterly resent MN piling in all parents who claim benefits (“it’s a deprived area”) with drug addicts and Daniel Pelka’s mother, FFS!

They might not have free range egg on whole meal toast with avocado. Many of them might not have breakfasts you or I would give to a child.

But. State interference can be malignant. It is not always a wise move to interfere too much in peoples family lives.

lyra my brother is a secondary teacher. He knows which children do the drugs run in the morning before school and feed their younger siblings.

He makes sure they are fed.

Some didn't turn up to school during lockdown, he delivered their meals.

Thank god there are good teachers out there.

I'm sorry you had to go through that.

It's okay for MPs to receive £125 food allowance per week, but god forbid children who are going hungry receive free meals. Jesus.

How pray do tell does he know?

The point I’m making is that actions that can appear kind (giving you as a hungry youngster something to eat) actually are not, because that prevented you being helped

I’m not sure what your point is? The teacher helping lyra prevented her from being helped by who? The government? But aren’t they exactly the people some are arguing should help? So is it best no one helps at all?