Utah Lawmakers Call Tossing School Lunches An 'Abuse Of Power'

[RandySF]

A pair of Utah lawmakers are looking to fight a school lunch policy that resulted in the seizure lunches for 40 students whose parents had outstanding balances.

"To me this rises to the level of bullying," Sen. Todd Weiler (R) said according to the Salt Lake Tribune. "Children were humiliated."

Weiler and state Sen. Jim Dabakis (D) visited Uintah Elementary School in Salt Lake City on Thursday in response to a Tribune report that the lunches of 40 students were thrown away because their parents owed money to the school.

The lawmakers held a press conference to address the policy. They said the plan on working together to craft legislation to make sure students at the school "don't go hungry at school" according to the Tribune.

Weiler said someone should be fired over the policy.

"I think it's an abuse of power," Weiler continued. "The person came into a school and used her power to humiliate and embarrass children and I think we ought to draw a line and say that's not acceptable behavior."


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/utah-lawmakers-lunches-weiler-dabakis

[defacto7]

1. Hopefully there will be one

nutrition-manager without a job.. and that person should stand server duty as a public service.

[Hekate]

2. Good-- a reaction, and a bipartisan one at that. nt

[rocktivity]

3. Rocktivity Calls Tossing School Lunches An 'Abuse Of Children'

Last edited Fri Jan 31, 2014, 02:29 PM - Edit history (2)

"The person came into a school and used her power to humiliate and embarrass children and I think we ought to draw a line and say either 'You're fired' or 'You're under arrest.'"


rocktivity

[Scuba]

6. +1

[Enthusiast]

4. There is a word for someone that would take a child's lunch away.

ASSHOLE

[davidpdx]

8. I'm not sure even that is strong enough

[Enthusiast]

9. Yes, it's only a start.

These assholes need to be hounded out of their position of authority.

[freshwest]

5. GOOD!!

[LynneSin]

7. It baffles the mind - they tossed the food in the garbage

Why waste the food in the first place if the kids already have it???!!!

I think firing is not enough - the people who did this should be arrested for child abuse and bullying! What these people did was criminal.

[mstinamotorcity2]

10. An abuse of power !!! How about

just plain DUMB!!!

[riversedge]

11. It is hard to believe this story but seems it is true. Makes

me wonder about America in general. Lots of issues do but this one really hits the gut.

[riversedge]

12. I have to say that I am

wondering about this food workers who just tossed the food. Did they speak up at all? Were they conflicted about tossing the food? Were they afraid of their jobs if they spoke up?

Obviously this nutrition manager is stupid also!


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/school_lunches_thrown_away_debt

....Jason Olsen, a spokesman for the school district, told the newspaper that a child-nutrition manager visited the school and decided to withhold lunches after becoming aware that a large number of Uintah students had outstanding lunch balances.

The mix-up occurred when cafeteria workers were unable to determine who owed money and who didn't until after lunches were distributed, Olsen said, so students' lunches were thrown away and they were given milk and fruit instead....

[LWolf]

13. He's right.

Meanwhile, everyone at my public school is eating. Everyone. When someone has an outstanding account, we call parents and pressure them to fill out the paperwork for free lunch, which most of our student population is eligible for, but some decline "government charity." We also call in our FAN representative to meet with the family to see what needs they have that she can help with. We don't stop feeding them; we just push up the family support. She also keeps me well supplied with granola bars, pretzels, and other non-perishable snacks in my classroom that I can make available to anyone at any time; that way, I can keep an eye out for someone who skipped lunch (parents sometimes tell them to) or just seems hungry and toss out some bags of snacks randomly; some kids who don't "need" them get fed too, but nobody here seems to care about that. Since I allow non-sugary snacks in my room as long as they are handled cleanly, neatly, and without distraction, kids are always eating in my room. If I throw out a few bags, they will all pull out their snacks and share, so nobody is singled out as "needing" food. Other than the constant "need" the growing adolescent has to eat, of course.