Lunch shaming
 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2022) |
Lunch shaming is a general term referring to when a student is singled out and embarrassed or shamed due to them or their parents not being able to pay for school lunches, or if they have any unpaid lunch debt. Lunch shaming can involve having a marker, like a stamp or wristband, indicating that the child cannot afford a school lunch due to debt or a lack of money, or it can involve being served less expensive cold lunches as opposed to hot lunches.[1][2][3][4]
Lunch shaming is often blamed on the limited meal budgets public schools have to work with in the United States, which would lead many schools to pursue any outstanding debt in order to recoup costs.[5][2][6][4] According to attorney Jessica Webster, "This is a financial transaction between school district and a parent. Kids shouldn't be placed in the middle or ever fear being turned away from the lunch counter."[7]
Many states in the US have outlawed practices that single out students who have school lunch debt.[5][4] Webster was part of the Legal Services Advocacy Project team that wrote the legislation,[8] signed by Governor Tim Walz in 2023, that made Minnesota the third state to offer free breakfast and lunch to all public school students.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Wolf, Zachary B. (May 12, 2019). "The government already knows how to end school lunch shaming". CNN. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Nosowitz, Dan (April 25, 2019). "Law Seeks to Ban School Lunch Shaming". Modern Farmer. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Morgan (July 5, 2017). "U.S. schools rethink 'lunch shaming' policies that humiliate children with meal debts". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c Choi, Candice (April 27, 2021). "How 'lunch shaming' is facing scrutiny around the US". Associated Press. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Siegel, Bettina Elias (April 7, 2017). "New Mexico Outlaws School 'Lunch Shaming'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ Moreau, William Tim; Pilcher, Jessamine Gail (February 1, 2018). "The Incentives Behind Lunch Shaming". American Bar Association. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ "School Lunch Shaming Continues in Minnesota". Hunger Solutions. November 21, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Legal Services State Support (2023). "LSAP's Enduring Efforts Now Guarantee Free School Lunches for All".
- ^ Campuzano, Eder (2023). "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signs free school meals bill into law". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2024.