Free school meals for ALL primary school children

[FalconFN]

I don't have kids so why should I be paying to feed someone else's? Especially someone who could afford it more than me. I'm all for investing in education (that's how I got a job) but it just seems less and less of the tax I pay actually benefits me... It may sound selfish but I work for it so surely I should see something for it?

That's not how things work, I'm not in the military, I'm not ill, I don't have a disability, I don't use public transport, I'm not retired, I don't have a council house, my house isn't burning down, I'm not a oil company or a wind farm manufacturer, I'm not a prisoner, policeman or social worker. All of theses things, and many more, are paid for entirely or in part by our taxes but none of them have any direct effect on me, but we live in a society where these things matter and and have a wider impact. The alternative is an anarchic state where you only look after you and yours. Edited September 18, 2013 by FalconFN

[aris]

I don't have kids so why should I be paying to feed someone else's? Especially someone who could afford it more than me. I'm all for investing in education (that's how I got a job) but it just seems less and less of the tax I pay actually benefits me... It may sound selfish but I work for it so surely I should see something for it?

 

Not selfish at all. We used to get something back for our tax. Not any more.

 

There is already a scheme for free school meals. They could have just extended that a bit further and saved million pounds. My kids are no longer that young, but even if they were, they would still bring lunch from home as I suspect many kids would as the food in many school canteens is not to their taste. Now imagine, all the kids with special dietary needs. Halal, kosher, allergies/intolerances, vegetarians, vegans. They will have to cater for all of them on a much larger scale.

 

This is the nanny state gone mad.

Edited September 18, 2013 by aris

[aris]

That's not how things work, I'm not in the military, I'm not ill, I don't have a disability, I don't use public transport, I'm not retired, I don't have a council house, my house isn't burning down, I'm not a oil company or a wind farm manufacturer, I don't farm, I'm not a prisoner, policeman or social worker. All of theses things, and many more, are paid for entirely or in part by our taxes but none of them have any direct affect on me, but we live in a society where these things matter and and have a wider impact. The alternative is an anarchic state where you only look after you and yours.

 

Agreed - but there comes a point where you put a line between state intervention and personal responsibility. I'm not saying this is a totally bad idea - just a poorly conceived sound-bite before an election.

[Raja Clavata]

Right.

 

The idea behind this is :-

 

1.) You are crappy at feeding your kids and they are all fat. This long term will effect costs the NHS far more in treatment than having kids with at least some idea of what a healthy meal is supposed to look like. If you or your kid is not overweight, disregard this comment.

 

2.) It causes equality and lets kids mingle and sit together. This sounds stupid but we can all remember that kids where often split into three groups at lunches. Those on free meals, those with packed lunches, and those whose parents could afford to pay for hot dinner eat day. It would separate and class you.

 

3.) Kids need food, it helps them learn. You might of been lucky to grow up in a household that got lunch provided every day, but many don't. In the long term the cost of feeding kids and giving them the best possible go at life is better than paying for them via the state later.

 

4.) Arn't you the bunch who moaned when Thatcher took the free milk away, you bunch of amnesic hypocrites?

 

 

I'm not saying it's a great idea, but it's certainly not unfounded.

 

+1

[goodo123]

The difference is I don't mind paying for all the things you quoted as I may need them in the future and if I do then they will benefit me, however I can't see how paying for someone else to raise their kids is going to benefit me in any way shape or form. It's purely a stunt to win votes with the scroungers. The same as benefit raises etc etc. There are so many people who are scrounging off the state now with nothing to do apart from vote to keep those in power who feed them.

That's not how things work, I'm not in the military, I'm not ill, I don't have a disability, I don't use public transport, I'm not retired, I don't have a council hoif use, my house isn't burning down, I'm not a oil company or a wind farm manufacturer, I'm not a prisoner, policeman or social worker. All of theses things, and many more, are paid for entirely or in part by our taxes but none of them have any direct effect on me, but we live in a society where these things matter and and have a wider impact. The alternative is an anarchic state where you only look after you and yours.

[Twistedsanity]

The difference is I don't mind paying for all the things you quoted as I may need them in the future and if I do then they will benefit me, however I can't see how paying for someone else to raise their kids is going to benefit me in any way shape or form. It's purely a stunt to win votes with the scroungers. The same as benefit raises etc etc. There are so many people who are scrounging off the state now with nothing to do apart from vote to keep those in power who feed them.

 

Its not supposed to benefit you, it's supposed to benefit the kids who would otherwise go hungry and suffer from malnutrition , would you rather see a child go hungry then? The kids didnt ask to be born to oxygen thieving muppets did they

[aris]

Its not supposed to benefit you, it's supposed to benefit the kids who would otherwise go hungry and suffer from malnutrition , would you rather see a child go hungry then? The kids didnt ask to be born to oxygen thieving muppets did they

 

Except there are already free school meals available for those who need it. So the point of this exercise is what? To foster even more dependency on the state?

[FalconFN]

There was a 2 year trial that apparently had a big impact on the kids and their ability to learn, so it will have an impact as those kids will have a better chance of doing well, getting employment increasing the uk's GDP and paying for your retirement. Just because you can't see an immediate benefit doesn't mean there isn't one.

 

I'm not saying it's not a cynical vote grabber but that there are loads of govenment schemes that don't benefit me directly (we get 3 busses a week, no street lighting, rubbish broadband, never see a copper and if I have a heart attack I'll probably be dead before the ambulance arrives). It is supposed to benefit society at large not just individuals.

[Penelope]

It also supposedly lead to greater inclusivity amongst all off the children as there was no demarcation amongst those on free meals (disadvantaged) and those that paid.

 

PM on Radio 4 at 5pm yesterday had a lot to say about this policy.

 

There was a 2 year trial that apparently had a big impact on the kids and their ability to learn, so it will have an impact as those kids will have a better chance of doing well, getting employment increasing the uk's GDP and paying for your retirement. Just because you can't see an immediate benefit doesn't mean there isn't one.

I'm not saying it's not a cynical vote grabber but that there are loads of govenment schemes that don't benefit me directly (we get 3 busses a week, no street lighting, rubbish broadband, never see a copper and if I have a heart attack I'll probably be dead before the ambulance arrives). It is supposed to benefit society at large not just individuals.

[aris]

It also supposedly lead to greater inclusivity amongst all off the children as there was no demarcation amongst those on free meals (disadvantaged) and those that paid.

 

PM on Radio 4 at 5pm yesterday had a lot to say about this policy.

 

 

I'm not sure how kids would know who gets a free meal and who doesn't - but assuming they do, surely it is cheaper to fix that problem than to provide free meals for all? I don't doubt that good nutrition affects learning - in which case make free school meals available to MORE kids rather than everyone. I'm sceptical that the majority of kids in the UK are malnourished or their parents are neglectful and need a state sponsored hot meal.

[Malik]

The difference is I don't mind paying for all the things you quoted as I may need them in the future and if I do then they will benefit me, however I can't see how paying for someone else to raise their kids is going to benefit me in any way shape or form. It's purely a stunt to win votes with the scroungers. The same as benefit raises etc etc. There are so many people who are scrounging off the state now with nothing to do apart from vote to keep those in power who feed them.

 

 

Now you know why labour are so popular

[Penelope]

I'm inclined to agree regarding your malnourished remark, I would suggest mis-nourished instead.

 

Kids are very savvy about the have and have nots.

 

 

I'm not sure how kids would know who gets a free meal and who doesn't - but assuming they do, surely it is cheaper to fix that problem than to provide free meals for all? I don't doubt that good nutrition affects learning - in which case make free school meals available to MORE kids rather than everyone. I'm sceptical that the majority of kids in the UK are malnourished or their parents are neglectful and need a state sponsored hot meal.

[aris]

Kids are very savvy about the have and have nots.

 

Sure, but I don't think a school meal is how they differentiate. Free school meals are the same meals parents pay for. I don't think they will be forcing all kids to have a school meal either - so many will still bring lunch from home.

[Penelope]

True, clothes, gizmos, et al, all help differentiate.

 

 

Sure, but I don't think a school meal is how they differentiate. Free school meals are the same meals parents pay for. I don't think they will be forcing all kids to have a school meal either - so many will still bring lunch from home.

[Livefast123]

A totally cynical vote grabbing tactic but I would rather pay to attempt to help improve childrens education than pay benefits to those that flitter it away on fags and booze.

 

Todays children are the future of this country and will be the ones paying the tax to keep this country going whilst our generation will be wetting the bed.

[mark g]

A totally cynical vote grabbing tactic but I would rather pay to attempt to help improve childrens education than pay benefits to those that flitter it away on fags and booze.

 

Todays children are the future of this country and will be the ones paying the tax to keep this country going whilst our generation will be wetting the bed.

that is exactly what it is but i would rather kids had a meal via cameron and clegg awful though they are than still be living under blair and browns faux socialist spend anything to stay in power bunch

[keg]

Although in austerity at the moment. Children are the future.

 

I maybe wrong. But wasnt the funeral of the boy that was beaten and starved to death Daniel Pelka today? This would of saved him from half of his suffering. Not all. But some of it.

Very good point. Whilst I have an issue with it as a benefit for all. I would rather the kids get a free lunch rather than it being paid as a benefit and then a certain minority of society use for their own ends.

[camojohn]

There's no such thing as free, working people will be paying for it thru their taxes whether they have kids or not.

It's not only working people that pay taxes.

[goodo123]

If people are moaning about kids may be starved etc then why not make the parents pay up front for say a term or year? I just think it's disgusting that I'm paying for someone else's kids to eat.

[FalconFN]

If people are moaning about kids may be starved etc then why not make the parents pay up front for say a term or year? I just think it's disgusting that I'm paying for someone else's kids to eat.

Great, so a family with 2 kids will have a bill for £600 a year whether they give their kids school meal or not? Surely the people less able to give their kids a decent lunch would then suffer the most. I couldn't afford to do that and nor would I want to.

[goodo123]

Great, so a family with 2 kids will have a bill for £600 a year whether they give their kids school meal or not? Surely the people less able to give their kids a decent lunch would then suffer the most. I couldn't afford to do that and nor would I want to.

Yes

[krugerandsmith]

Hard hats on!

 

What do you think to the announcement by Clegg today?

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2423727/Free-school-dinners-EVERY-child-years-primary-school.html

 

What a cruel man .... Making more children suffer.

[FalconFN]

In that case why don't we charge the sick more tax as I don't want 'my' taxes paying for fatties and OAPs. More's the point why not make pregnant women pay the cost of the midwife, obstetitian, surgeon etc before she is allowed in the hospital.

 

Children are a fact of life, not a life choice, and as it's the state that says it's illegal not to send them to school (which your taxes pay for), then why not let the state pay for the high priced and poor quality meals, currently provided in many schools by subn-contracted businesses run for profit.

[truflex]

Suppose that halal **** will cost more.

[four-wheel-drive]

I think that all children should get free school dinners and all children should be tought to cook as for paying for it they could deduct what it cost out of the family allowance then we would no that for five days a week all children would be fed I would also ban sweets and packed lunches from schools.

 

Tthis is the only way that we can guarantee that the money is spent on what it should be and in fact if the meals was cooked in kitchens at every school not shipped in microwave rubish proper fresh food it should not cost that much I had free school dinners when I was young in the 50s and for the most part they was very good and the pudings I am drooling just thinking about them.