GRAPHIC BY EMILY BECK / THE REGISTER
There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
“There are starving kids in Africa” is a com- students have discovered that they only need to
mon phrase that parents use on their children show up for their lunch period in order to get
when they leave food on their plates.
enough food for the day.
They are trying to tell their kids to finish their
Recently, several (if not many) students have
food because they are fortunate enough to have it, been taking advantage of this program. They arwhile kids in third world countries aren’t as lucky. rive at school just in time for their lunch, use their
Most children would then give their parents discount for a hot reduced meal and then leave.
an “I-don’t-care-Africa-is-so-far-away” look and
Skipping classes is defined by Ms. Kirksey as
continue to ignore their unfinished food.
“[If ] they’re not in the assigned area, if their parOther kids aren’t even fortunate enough to ent or guardian [has to] look for them... so then
have food to waste in the first place. Unfortu- we don’t know where they’re at. That’s considered
nately, Africa isn’t the only place where mouths skipping.” Students don’t necesarily even have to
are going unfed. Parents in places much closer to leave the campus so it’s very easy for students to
home have trouble keeping their kids’ stomachs skip.
full.
There are quite a few students that are skipAccording to WorldHunger.org, “In
ping all or most of their classes, but still
2010, [American] children were food
get to enjoy food at a low cost. We at the
In the
insecure at times during the year in 9.8
Register ask, is that fair? This could be
percent of households with children (3.9 OPINION considered cheating the free and reduced
of the
million households.) In one percent of
lunch program.
households with children, one or more of REGISTER
The program was built so that stuthe children experienced the most severe
dents can have a nutritional meal, even if
food-insecure condition…very low food
they can’t afford it, and still be able to go
security, in which meals were irregular and food to school.
intake was below levels considered adequate by
Without the program, some students might
caregivers.”
have to go and find work instead of attending
There is a program in OPS that was created school in order to help feed their families. Now,
for kids old enough to attend school, which car- though, they are able to both keep a healthy diet
ries a mission to feed children and teenagers that and continue to gain an education.
would not be able to afford meals regularly. This
However, there are students who are taking
is known as the Free and Reduced-Lunch Pro- advantage of the program instead of being thankgram, and it includes both breakfast and lunch.
ful that is in place in the first place for them to
While breakfast is free in elementary through enjoy.
high school, lunch actually costs money.
These students should not be able to do this.
With the lunch program, certain students If they want the food, then they should force
whose families have low incoles can qualify to ei- themselves to attend classes to earn it.
ther have free lunch or lunch at a reduced cost. In
Needing reduced lunch may be a hardship
OPS elementary schools, lunch costs $1.45, but for some families, but it is also a privilege that
reduced lunch is only $0.40. High school lunches shouldn’t be taken lightly. If students don’t think
cost $1.75, but are reduced to $0.40 also.
they should have to attend their classes, then they
With this program, all students can have the should not get their low-cost food. The program
nutrition they need at a cost they can afford. This is something that should have to be earned.
becomes a great stress-reliever for parents and
By cheating the program, the students are
students alike.
not showing their appreciation for the people
“It’s just something that we’ve always had... who have installed it in order to make life easier
we are in a situation where we have to provide. I for the those with low incomes.
mean that’s on eof those things that we’ve got to
There is always a possibility that enough peodo,” says Ms. Kirksey about the program.
ple will only attend school for the reduced lunch,
Getting your lunch each day is easy; the and the program will become less of a help and
student just has to present his or her student ID more of a bother. It is important for those stunumber and the cost for lunch is automatically dents to remember to be thankful for what they
reduced.
are being given, and not to forget that the assisThis process is simple...so simple that some tance is something to be earned—not just taken.