Lunch shaming in spotlight

Nothing’s free

Regarding “Advocates fight alternative lunches” (Page A3, Monday), free food should come with consequences as life is full of consequences. I attended a school where some parents who had the money just didn’t care enough to give their kids more than a cheese sandwich. Any kid who fails because of a free cheese sandwich was probably going to fail anyway.

When there are no more rich liberals in this country because they have given all their money to the expensive social causes that they champion, I will listen to the call for more money. William Grigsby, via HoustonChronicle.com

Compassion

Though many families thankfully don’t reach this level of poverty, most of us have definitely weathered our share of financial ups and downs. Kids cannot take credit for their parents’ wealth, and should not shoulder shame for their family’s hard times. Working on the financial aspect is necessary and a step in the right direction, but the situation is also an ideal opportunity for a lesson in compassion.

We learn that getting through tough times is a lot easier with the emotional support of friends and community. Being there for someone when they need a shoulder to lean on is often as beneficial to the giver as the receiver. When kids learn that life problems are not shameful things to hide, they grow up to be healthier, more well-adjusted adults. They learn that the value of being part of a community is that we get to be there for others when needed, and can count on them when it’s our turn to need help.

I’m not naive enough to believe lunch shaming can be easily stopped; it’s an ongoing problem, like any form of bullying. But let’s not just accept lunch shaming as a given, and only work on how to hide a child’s issues so he/she won’t stand out. The children with no lunch money have a financial problem, but the ones with a need to lunch-shame may have a problem that’s even more important to fix. Susan Ellis Brittain, Houston

Plan meals

Parents should be responsible for feeding their children, not school districts. Going to a supermarket or grocery store isn’t a major hardship, as eating is essential to living.

It’s probably better that parents plan their children’s meals anyway; most school lunches aren’t really nutritious when the cafeterias do a mostly poor job of preparing fruits and vegetables that end up uneaten. Rarely is anything made fresh; most of it comes from cans or frozen plastic-wrapped entrees. Michael I. Nguyen, via HoustonChronicle.com