Public School Lunch Costs.

In 1946, president Hary Truman signed a law establishing nationwide public school lunches. Public schools have provided free lunches for all students for the past two years. Ever since the pandemic, free school lunches have ended for most schools. Many people argued that you should not be educating children on how they are able to just get free handouts from the government, referring to free meals. As of right now, California, Colorado, and Maine have made a continuing policy to have free public school lunches. 

 

Why should schools provide free lunches? Having lunch during school is essential, all schools have to provide meals for students. Different studies show that when students get free and reduced lunches they aren't worrying about where their food is coming from. It has also been proven that free or reduced lunches decrease obesity rates and increase the good health of students. Many low-income families can not afford the cost of school lunches all year round. So free and reduced lunches help lessen the burden for not only these families but also all families. 

 

Negatives effect of free and reduced lunch. One example of a negative effect is that schools that have a high volume of students who take advantage of free lunch are not given as much funding as schools that have fewer kids who use the free and reduced lunch plan. Another negative consequence of free lunch is some parents may feel that they have to use this "plan" even if the lunch their children are served at school is less nutritional and less filling than a lunch brought from home. 

 

In my opinion, I think that school lunches should be free. Personally, it makes the most sense. I guess it really does not affect us students as much, mainly affects our parents or who pays for the lunch. I feel having free school lunch is one less things for families to worry about, especially lower class. 

 

Questions:

-  Do you think all schools should have free lunches? Why or why not?

- Should they at least lower the costs of the lunches right now?

- What people are the non-free lunches going to affect the most?

 

Sources:

- http://https://frac.org

- http://https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org

- https://www.marketplace.org

 

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Replies

  • Super job Paige!!

  • I think that if the lunch is not of high nutritional value and quality, we shouldn't have to pay nearly $4 for it. I understand that in order to make food for nearly 400 growing teenagers, it won't be of the highest quality, but they could lower the prices and make it worth the money. 

  • In my personal opinion, I think that school lunches should be free, especially with the current quality of lunches. But, I do understand why we half to pay for them. I would not have a problem with that if they would lower the cost or increase the quality of the lunches.

  • I my opinion as a student yes, but I can see why we still have to pay for school lunches. I think that school lunches should be free for some people who can prove that they are struggling with their finances if they already don't do that.

  • I think if the quality of food goes up, than the amount of money they cost should to. but as of now, its a little expensive for what we are putting into our bodies. I don't think free lunches are necessarily a good thing for the school because its not cheap to get all that food in the first place.

  • I have mixed feelings on this topic, because they do have programs to those with low-income so it's easier to afford it. I'm not saying this isn't a major cost for those who even make more money, but I think free lunches should only be an opportunity for certain people, but otherwise the prices should be lowered.

  • Having free lunches could possibly raise taxes which could reverse the point of free lunches in the long run. I think it could be beneficial to make school lunches cheaper for students. After all, sometimes the school lunches are not very good, and are not worth the couple of dollars they cost.

  • I think that it is good that school lunch cost money everything else is almost literally free and if you need it paid for that badly you can do that one thing west they pay for it. I think how much we pay for it doesn’t even pay the school back so yes school lunch should cost.

  • Free lunches have many benefits for students, especially those who can't afford them but at the same time, schools wouldn't be able to afford them. I think the price should at least be lowered because it helps people who can't afford to pay that much for them.

    • Yes, I agree, if they can not be free they could be lowered a little bit. 

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