Higher average income means no free lunch
Since the average income in Sud-Ouest borough has risen due to gentrification, schools there no longer offer a virtually free lunch to students. But this means the poorer kids are deprived of a benefit they sorely need. Parents and community groups are protesting.
jeather 12:05 on 2019-03-29 Permalink
I continue to think it is scandalous that free public education doesn’t include coverage for lunch. And $5 for a school lunch is highway robbery. (Note that the low cost lunches were not for all students in these schools.)
This is really something we do poorly.
Tim S. 12:52 on 2019-03-29 Permalink
Actually, at our public school (EMSB) even if you pack your own lunch, you still have to pay 250$ a year for supervision.
That said, as a parent who can afford it, the 5$ bought lunch is well worth it, for both quality and convenience.
jeather 13:24 on 2019-03-29 Permalink
Yes, that was what I was saying — it’s scandalous that free public school excludes 12-1 (or whenever lunch time is). I know foods are more expensive in Canada than the US, but school lunches there do not cost anywhere near 5$, and there are in fact many good school lunches available there (though also bad ones).
Tim 22:59 on 2019-03-29 Permalink
Does anyone send their kids to school with packed lunches anymore or is that not done?
Tim S. 09:59 on 2019-03-30 Permalink
I think the vast majority of the kids at my daughter’s school pack their own. We usually do, but the hot lunch is a nice option when we’re especially busy.
Of course, even a packed lunch isn’t free, and I certainly see the argument for subsidizing lunches and breakfasts in low-income areas.
Marc 10:18 on 2019-03-30 Permalink
It seems awfully stupid and lazy to base this on the average income, especially when the designation of our boroughs is often so weird (Verdun proper, Nun’s Island and Crawford Park are all “Verdun” for example).
Kate 12:19 on 2019-03-30 Permalink
It’s a tricky one. You don’t want to force kids to bring in proof of how broke their family is. You need to apply the offer universally so individual kids don’t feel singled out. I understand why a threshold exists but it’s a man-made thing and should be tweaked if it’s causing hardship.