Derbyshire kids to get breakfast at school

[Pete]

Just read in the DT that the council is funding 25 Derbyshire primary and junior schools to give kids a breakfast every morning.

I think its a good idea.

[Old Cruser]

Why is that then Pete - is it to do with the current clime

[Pete]

Dont know much about it OC - but it looks as though some parents are sending the kids to school without breakfast. Apparently it affects their concentration and overall behaviour.

[Fly]

We used to get milk at school when I was a kid. Little bottles, kiddy sized. Mum had already fed us breakfast
Can't remember which gov stopped it 
Think this is taking it a little too far though.
So now slack parents can send the kids to school hungry and the tax payer foots the bill.
More money for the parents fags and booze, or worse !!

I'll get up at 6am in the morning and go to work. I can't sort the country out 

[Pete]

Starting to sound a bit Tory there Fly... LOL 

[Old Cruser]

Yeh Fly you jumped ship and gone Tory - or Lib??? or have you just been posting in disguise??
Shame on you as well for getting up at 6am to go to work -

[Fly]

TBH, the older I get the more Tory I do sound and feel.
Trust me, I'm not going that way though 

Milk snatcher Thatcher.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2063805/David-Cameron-milk-snatcher-Government-plan-slash-school-milk-budget.html
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/on-this-day-margaret-thatcher-free-school-milk-1971-protests-124948608.html#3dXlucT

In her defence, the tory's were going to do it any way.
http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-the-thatcher-myths/13236

[Old Cruser]

Bloody ell I took so long to modify last post - it timed me out - flippin laptop.

It does affect concentration to not have breakfast and can cause fainting.

Ok - the onus should be on the parents - anyone struggling with money could have their child refered to the school for a breakfast.

Anyone who has a child who doesn't like breakfast should send something with them.

As for the rest - they need to get their arses out of bed in the mornings!

[emmz]

I know our school is doing breakfast club, its mainly for the less fortunate kids who don't really get a decent meal at home. Its also there to help the children with other problems they may have like getting to school on time..
If it means the kids have at least 1 decent meal i am all for it

[Pete]

Well said Em, totally agree.

[Old Cruser]

I think many schools now have breakfast and after school clubs which as Emzz says may benefit the children who are not as fortunate as others but they can also be used by working parents.

I would also agree that children who have parents on the poverty line should be free breakfasts - others who have money should have to pay.

To me this is the wrong way to go about this - it is further diminishing our already family routines which keep families together.
We will be a nanny state who take control of peoples children for them - whilst they can bonk away and make more.

 The help needed is in a re education of the poor parenting skills which we are now seeing more and more in the UK.

Not all children taken into care have been sexually/physically abused some are there because of sheer neglect by parents who have little knowledge of how to parent - lots of work needs doing around this to stop children being sent to school without breakfast.

Social Services would have a good idea of who these children are and of course breakfast should be provided.

There is a shortage of foster carers, - why - because yes people have to be whiter than white to be one (and that's good) but they are then once approved expected to give their own money to help with bringing the child up -
only this week I have seen a flyer from the fostering network asking for donations to help keep a child in care until 21yrs as they are 'kicked out' of care into independant living at the age of 18yrs.

It's the governments responsibilty to help them by extending the age to 21yrs not for the F/Network to go out with the begging bowl

I would welcome the initial breakfast, but in line with other back ground work being done.
It's not the long term answer.

[JeffG]

I agree it is a short term answer to a long term problem.

YES we should give the kids a breakfast, it's not their fault their parent can't be arsed to bring them up properly, and by helping the kids in school, then maybe that's the start of the long term solution.

How to tackle the root of the problem? Dunno. I work, my grown up kids all work AND bring up families. My wife doesn't work, but looks after grandkids so others can work and takes excellent care of our T1 diabetic 8yr old, but we both help out at school and are frequently one of a handful who do. Nobody else can be bothered, even the parents you know have time you expect more of. How can you change this? Everyone expects the state to perform, either by educating/bringing up kids so they don't have to or by providing free housing, food, booze and cigs because they can't be bothered to go to work. Everyone assumes that it's someone else's responsibility.

I think the problem runs deep through our society, some are worse than others, hence the intervention of the so called nanny state. This is not ideal but until someone has a better idea then it's the best we've got so we'd all better get on board.

Give the kids a breakfast, give the slackers a kick up the arse. It won't change them but it'll make the hardworking majority feel a whole lot better!

[Old Cruser]

Hello JeffG and welcome to the forum.
That's a good post and very true and valid points you made.
Sounds like you lead a busy life.