Texas should follow New Mexico plan, put end to ‘lunch shaming’
The lunchroom is an aspect of school that some remember fondly — a place for friendships to be formed, dates to be asked or potential food fights to be averted. For many others, the lunchroom experience is one of shame, humiliation and — at best — a cold cheese sandwich.
When a child can’t pay a school lunch bill, the school will hold the child publicly accountable, meaning they make the student mop floors, wear wristbands identifying them as not able to pay, or simply throw the food away in front of the student. This is a practice that must end in Texas — and New Mexico has paved a way to a solution.
It’s no secret that school lunch is vitally important to students. On average, 50 percent of U.S. public school students are on a free or reducedfee lunch program, which mirrors Texas’ rate. For many kids, school lunch accounts for almost half of the food that they will eat that day. However, students still fear being shamed for using any sort of assistance program and receiving a “free meal.”
Part of this fear is based on the fact that children who are on any meal-assistance programs are often separated through hand stamps or tokens. This essentially puts a large neon sign blinking “poor” above the child’s head, which allows bullies and other kids to pick on these children and further ostracizes them.
Most families will often try to pay for their children’s lunches themselves, though if a child’s family owes more than $25, the child does not get the meal that every other child would receive that day — and every day beyond that point until the debt is paid. At best, they will get a cold hamburger bun with a slice of cheese and a carton of milk. At worst, the meal they were just handed will be thrown away in front of them — all because of something that these children have no control over.
New Mexico has finally come up with a way to solve these issues: They have made it illegal to highlight a child on any sort of food-assistance programs, regardless of whether the school is public or private.
The law requires that each child gets the same meal, no matter how much assistance the child receives. Each child will receive a hot meal, no different from any other student. It will be the administration’s responsibility to make sure that any child who may be eligible for any free or reducedfee lunch is enrolled in the program. Any outstanding debts are negotiated between the parents or guardians of the children and the school. This allows children to do what they do best: be children. They can concentrate on learning and the social development of school rather than the hunger pains that follow them throughout the day if they go without food.
New Mexico is making strides to feed its children. It is time Texas lawmakers do something to ensure that all forms of lunch shaming ends.
Though there are laws in Texas that allow for a grace period for children whose families owe money, that grace period is determined by the school — and often is not necessarily honored. Our state’s children shouldn’t be punished for their families’ inability to pay a bill. Texas needs to follow New Mexico’s example and make sure that every child is fed while in school.