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Republicans Declare Banning Universal Free School Meals a 2024 Priority (newrepublic.com)

submitted 1 year ago by withersailor@aussie.zone to c/news@beehaw.org

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[–] Mummelpuffin@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Literally everyone in this comment section is missing “regardless of the individual eligibility of each student”. Everyone is getting hysterical over something that isn’t even in the cards.

Of course a lot of kids rely on free school lunches and they aren’t trying to take that away. They’re trying to restrict free lunches to kids with parents who are actually incapable of feeding them. If parents can afford food for their kids, feed your fucking kids.

[–] Spzi@lemmy.click 1 points 1 year ago

Technically a good point, but the text directly after your quote ... :

it is a meal service program reserved for qualifying schools and districts in low-income areas. The program enables schools that predominantly serve children from low-income backgrounds to offer all students free breakfast and lunch, instead of means-testing them and having to manage collecting applications on an individual basis. As with many universal-oriented programs, it is more practically efficient and, as a bonus, lifts all boats.

Yes, some free meals might go to kids whose parents, albeit from a low-income area, might be able to pay for it. But is that so much of a problem?

There are costs for checking for individual eligibility:

more administration
potential social stigma
some kids with "bad parents" who happen to be "too rich" might have no meal

I'm also unhappy this is fought on the back of the kids when it's actually about the money of the parents.