What is the reason for this?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/s...fed-by-their-teachers

So 79% of teachers claim that pupils turn up hungry, I note that 'hungry' was not defined and as kids are always hungry (having had four myself I am a pretty good authority) what does this actually mean?

2/3 of teachers in the teachers survey reckon it's down to lack of care (busy trying to get to work?, not bothering because the child 'accessory' is now becoming a pain perhaps? )

Hardly surprising from a bunch of left wingers 57% blamed lack of money. This I am very doubtful about. I wonder how many of these parents pitch up to the school fag in hand? Food does not have to be expensive(so long as you are not trying to fed your family from the takeaway or ready meals).

So, fellow ABers, what are your thoughts?

[magsmay]

kids are funny...We live rurally around 7 miles from the school so have to get up early -for the bus now but by car when he was in primary. We have everything on offer at breakfast from cereal through eggs to pain aux chocolate -but my son cannot eat before 9 or 10am -I make him eat a slice of toast -he usually manages a couple of mouthfuls then thats it. When he was in primary school an nurse came in to give a talk on nutrition and asked the kids what they had for breakfast -he said half a slice of toast - I got a letter and fact sheet on appropriate breakfasts from the school! I always sent him to school with a breakfast bar in his pocket but it was never eaten. If a kid is asked if they are hungry at school and know they are going to get a drink and a biscuit they will often say yes even if they aren't -I would lol!

[FredPuli43]

Note that this worthy enquiry into the well-being of our children was sponsored by Kellogg's, who make breakfast cereal. It's a matter of bad practice. I never take breakfast; the only time I did so regularly was when our children were in the house; and surely a hungry, impoverished, parent would always ensure that the child didn't go hungry too..

[cazzz1975]

when I was a kid I couldnt face eating first thing in the morning, Not everyone can face food first thing in the morning. I dont think its fair to assume that these parents are negligent.

[ummmm]

Or spend their money on fags!

[cazzz1975]

Actually there are less smokers than ever. I wonder how many of these deprived kids own a smartphone?

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// My kids don't eat breakfast, by choice. ///

Then that is down to you, I was always taught that Breakfast was the most important meal of the day.

Even when I was in the services, if anyone fainted on parade and it was found that they had skipped Breakfast, then that was a chargeable offence.

[ludwig]

// Not everyone can face food first thing in the morning. I dont think its fair to assume that these parents are negligent. //

..or poor.

[ummmm]

They are big boys, AOG, I'm not going to try and force feed kids who are old enough to know if they are hungry or not. They have food available.

[anotheoldgit]

/// and smoking babies at the same time. ///

Blimey, surely that must be illegal?

[mccfluff]

i remember eating porridge, then i went in to a "i'm not eating breakfast stage" which still lasts now, i can;t generally face food until after 9ish.

certainly not because we didn't have food in the house

so is their any proof that these children who turn up hungry are so because they are neglected or is it just what the teachers think? (sadly i expect some are but i doubt all of them are)

[modeller]

I don't believe it. I taught for over 20 years and prior to that I visited several thousand homes , the majority of which were council houses , and during that time I could count on one hand families that appeared poor
When I say appeared poor, most still had all the normal things of life : TVs, Fridges, Videos etc. and I never saw a hungry child. I did see many obese ones.


Yes I have paid for children to have school dinners and paid for items
which required the parents to contribute but where I knew they were on a tight budget and when I didn't want the child to go without because of feckless parents.

But this is a very tiny percentage of cases.
On the other hand a teacher colleague and member of the Socialist Worker's Party could see poverty in Mayfair and in the London Hilton.

[ummmm]

//When I say appeared poor, most still had all the normal things of life : TVs, Fridges, Videos etc. //

These things are often purchased before someone becomes poor.

[magsmay]

Believe me ummmm -there are more flat screen TV's in homes on benefits than anywhere else . Overheard conversations at the school gates on parents known to be on benefits 'I'm getting my new blackberry tomo's can' effin wait' I dropped my boy off for a playday at a home that had no carpets but a HUGE new flat screen TV and a room full of X box games. Most people these days have no idea what real poverty is - when I was a kid we had no inside toilet, a small black and white TV and often just jam and bread for tea -and my dad had a job. Sorry to hijack the thread but no one is too poor to buy breakfast for their kids -unless there are other issues like drug use and then its not poverty you are dealing with is it -drugs cost more money than food.

[ummmm]

//Sorry to hijack the thread but no one is too poor to buy breakfast for their kids//

I beg to differ. If you have an income of £1,000 a month and your mortgage and bills cost £1,000 a month how do you feed yourself?

Not all poor people are on benefits. Not all poor people live in council houses where they can claim housing benefit.

[Mamyalynne]

Plus - how many of those flat screen TVs are bought from the stores that offer credit to anyone, charging astronomical interest for the privilege.

[Mick-Talbot]

Teachers 'Buying Breakfast' For Hungry Pupils

The whole survey seems like utter botox to me.
Were the questions loaded tick box answers?

Nearly one in three (31%) of those questioned said they take food into school to give to hungry pupils.

LOL.....I will show my kids this when they return from school and see what they have to say

[ummmm]

They give them biscuits from the staff room.

[daffy654]

Believe me ummmm there are more flat screen TV's in homes on benefits than anywhere else

Do you have proof of this? I can assure you that in the homes of the people I know on benefits it most definitely isn't the case!