While I believe while heartedly in free and subsidized meals for children in need- this is not a clear example of a child in need. His parents have money for allowance- enough to pay the lunch debt. Thusly his parents have money for lunch if they don’t pay allowance. They likely did the right thing giving the child the allowance and the child paying lunch instead of using the money themselves to pay it as by giving the child choice there is a valuable lesson there.
This IS a feel good story. The use of allowance as a constructive tool is primarily to teach children fundamentals of finance and handling money and responsibility. This child did not blow their allowance on bubblegum or toys when there was an outstanding debt. They did the most responsible thing- a thing many grownups could learn from- and they prioritized their debts and a necessity over luxuries. This is a child who showed maturity and responsibility beyond their years- a child who did without frivolity and spent their income wisely.
Free lunches are a blessing to so many children who may not have food at home or get balanced meals. It’s a boon to parents who are unable to provide that to their children. The point of free lunch is to not punish or let suffer children for their circumstances being inadequate to provide for them. It is not meant to allow otherwise capable parents to mitigate their financial or care obligations to their children simply because it is easier and cheaper to allow a school to pay for and prepare a child’s lunch. In order to be able to help the children who NEED free meals it cannot be.
I want to give credit the Roseville, MN school district. The main summer/after school childcare program is run by the school district, and is held in the schools. During the summer, the program (Friendship Academy) provides free breakfast to any school age child that shows up. The thought is that for some kids, school lunch may play a significant role in their overall nutrition and they may otherwise just go without.
Are you going to make the lunches for free?
Or are you going to make the taxpayer pay for it?