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Debate: should all kids get free school meals?

12 September 2008

According to the media we are in the midst of an obesity crisis? All the school playing fields have been sold, and our kids seem to live on junk food.

What is the answer to this?

  • Should all kids be entitled to nutrionally balanced school dinners?
  • Or should school dinners only be available to children who really need them?
  • Is this an issue that affects you?
  • Would free school meals really make a difference?

 

Have your say, and debate the issue here on PCS comment, and a selection of the best comments will be published in View, the monthly magazine for PCS members.

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  1. Targetted is better for everyone

    24 September 2008

    I had free school meals eons ago in the middle ages when I attended school. It meant that my 'dinner ticket' was handed out at a different time to everyone else's but that was really the only difference. If I didn't choose to tell my school mates, no one was to know. I loved school meals and they were nutritious - at the time there were rules about how much of the ADI was supposed to be provided for vitamins, proteins etc. But should all school meals be free. No, I don't think so. We already have a problem, partially solved by Jamie Oliver (unfortunately) that school meals have to cost the lowest amount possible - like 50p for each meal. If we have all free meals the quality will get even worse. We would also be spending our money on people who didn't need our help but could easily afford to feed their offspring. Very few people die in this country because they don't get the right amount of nutrients, even if their diet is bad. Let's allow free school meals!

    Joan Reeves
    School meals

    19 September 2008

    £33 a month, for one child to eat a nutritious meal at school!!! I used to get free school meals, but for some reason a few years ago the rules changed and I am no longer entitled. Course it affects me, it is another £33 a month I have to pay to the government! Packed lunches are not ideal in my opinion, to put as much into a packed lunch as on a dinner tray would possibly cost even more. The government needs to re-think its policy for free school meals, for sure!

    Susan Dower
    All Children Deserve The Same Treatment

    18 September 2008

    I would like to add that I think all children deserve to be treated as equals and this involves the school environment. All children should be given milk breaks and healthy snacks. School lunches should consist of a variety of refreshing healthy foods. Most of all it should be free for all children regardless of their backgrounds. It is unfair to penalise working parents who subsidise other people through their taxes all their working careers.

    Rikki Bagri
    Sorry No

    18 September 2008

    Parents get family allowance and working tax credtis or social security if unemployed. There is a responsibility to having children, if you cant provide for them don't have them.

    David Pardoe
    FREE MEALS FOR ALL

    18 September 2008

    Even though I work, I have to pay for my kids meals per week. It is very costly compared to the days when my parents use to pay for our meals. Just because you work you are out of pocket everyone should have free meals at school, not those who are on benefits.

    ASH P
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