Half of teachers forced to feed pupils going hungry at home

[Quillan]

"Half of teachers forced to feed pupils going hungry at home"

I know we have some ex teachers amongst us, I wonder what their comment would be?

PS. Loved some of the readers comments by the way.

[Gardengirl]

It's not a new problem by any means. In one particular school, we began

to do the same over 30 years ago, as many children had only their free

school dinner and maybe a packet of crisps to eat all day. We ensured

that any children we knew were going hungry received breakfast every

morning, using school funds to pay for it as the number grew. First we

used the library corridor, then moved it to the school canteen as the

operation grew. It was then opened to the whole school, operating on the

same lines as free or paid for school dinners; parents who needed to get to work early found it a boon.

This went on for the rest of the many years I taught there, and

continues today. It's not something that has happened because of what

any particular government has done or not done. Often, families had a

good income from benefits and some had a family member or two in work.

Some families just weren't good at budgeting, while others used their

money for 'necessities'' such as cigarettes, beer, gambling, Sky TV etc.

A number of these pupils thought it very odd when it came up that we

didn't have Sky TV and other things at home that they thought of as

necessities.

I also had a box of clothes outgrown by our children and those of

friends; selected children from throughout the school were sent along to

take some suitable clothes to keep. However, some of the children

preferred to leave them in my cupboard overnight and at weekends and

change into and out of them at school after the first set of clothes

were sold on by their parents. I often read that all parents want the

best for their children. It's not true - most do, some couldn't care

less.

In a previous school, therefore an awful long time ago, families would

be moved into special units where the parents (usually the mother), were

taught the basics of hygiene, budgeting, cooking simple meals. Then

when they were returned home, usually after their homes had been

cleaned, redecorated, furnished fairly basically, most, but not all,

seemed to get on pretty well and were proud of their cooking and

parenting skills. Some called it the nanny state even back then, and

thought local authorities and charities shouldn't interfere. Personally I

think intervention at an early stage is vital.

[Quillan]

I understand and have seen the idea of 'breakfast clubs' which as you say are funded out of the schools budget but what I can't imagine is teachers bringing their own food in to school to feed the kids and followed by the implication that these kids currently don't get fed because of government cuts.

I did like one comment about the fact that the picture showed children of an ethnic background and how bad that was. I noted that the picture came from a school in Brixton which has a very wide and colourful ethnic population so its not exactly surprising. I also couldn't help notice that some looked quite well fed to the point where they were looking a bit chubby.

[Russethouse]

Goodness, why on earth can't schools teach Domestic Science as a compulsory subject. Those lessons have been more use to me than algebra or logarithms ever were and with some of the basic problems a lack of education in this sphere brings it would benefit society as a whole.....

[powerdesal]

I agree wholeheartedly RH, when did DS lessons stop?

Some years ago, when our children were at secondary school, there was an after school cookery 'club', it was primarily attended by girls but our son latched onto the abundance of females so he joined in, he really enjoyed the cooking and is now very proficient to the point of doing most of the cooking at home with his wife - I'm not sure how the girl interaction worked out though.

[Patf]

I was a remedial reading teacher for a few years, and one school I taught at, near Hull fish docks, all the teachers had to eat dinner with the children. We had to teach them how to use a knife and fork - at home it was mostly fingers.

Then another experience, I was teaching a Downs syndrome boy to read, and he was always hungry, poor lad because his Mum had him on some weird diet. I started to give him something to eat to fill him up, but his Mum found out, and did I get into trouble! He did learn to read, by the way [:)]

[Hoddy]

I couldn't agree more RH. The loss of Home Economics has, in my opinion, been one of the worst things that the Thatcher government did. It was got rid of and replaced by Food Technology which was for those who intended to make a career in catering.

The old Home Economics curriculum taught in my old school started with very basic things. Balanced diet and food groups obviously, but less obviously very basic kitchen hygiene. Many of our ethnic minority children were enjoying the luxury of running water for the first time and thought that all that was needed was to run a plate under a cold tap until it looked clean. Similarly it was fine to pour fat and oil, indeed any old thing down the sink because once it was out of sight it was gone.

We were also able to counter ideas like "that family wastes all its money on food".

With the indigenous kids it was mostly a case of mothers on an early morning shift or downright feckless. I guess most of us on this board take it for granted that there will be milk in the fridge or at least a slice of bread available when for some kids it isn't so.

As for teachers feeding kids out of their own pocket my own mother, at school during the First World War, told of it happening then.

Hoddy

[Clarkkent]

Interesting article - but mainly impressionistic journalism and anecdotal supported by bogus statistics. After all, the "percentages" quoted were from voluntary responses to an online questionnaire. In such circumstances, only people with some sort of axe to grind bother to respond.

This does not mean that it does not address some very important social issues and RH's contributions are pertinent and valuable. There are serious social problems associated with poor parenting that have to be tackled. And yes, bring back domestic science!

 

[Russethouse]

I found this article, 2 years old but still pertinent : http://www.helium.com/items/1717131-domestic-science-should-return-to-the-school-lesson-timetable-in-british-schools

On another, but related, note, it seems years ago that I added my name to a No 10 petition to encourage lessons on personal finance in school and a few weeks ago I received an email to say that it had at last reached its magic number and would go forward to the next stage (whatever that is)

Perhaps we should all write to Micheal Gove, he wants to go back to children learning poetry, maybe we could go back to DS lessons too ?

[Quillan]

You know what apart from a few retired teachers and some other retired people the readers comments seem mainly to be blaming somebody, anybody in fact yet they fail to accept any responsibility themselves or indeed do anything. You can have some effect on what schools do and teach, you can join the PTA (I expect that has a new, more politically correct name these days), you can lobby (school goveners), you can even demonstrate if you wish and if enough do it then things will change.

I take it that the Guardian is a socialist new paper [;-)] well lets be honest Labour complained like hell when all these changes started to happen, just as they did when Thatcher sold of the utilities, the railways and closed the pits. They had the opportunity to reverse things yet they did nothing. Now the Guardian (and its readers) can blame the current government for this problem. Under Labour, who committed to reducing child poverty, child poverty actually went up. I do wish these politicians, and the people they represent, got off their ar*es and did something instead of sitting around moaning, b*tching about things and blaming the other side. People need to take ownership and responsibility for their families and what goes on around them. Phew, rant over.

[Chancer]

I help out at a lycée proffesionale, most of the kids come from families that fit the above anecdotes, they are aged between 14 and 16 when they arrive dependant on how many times they redouble.

The first thing we do is to take them away on a 2 day "integration" cycling and camping trip, its to get them used to communal living, sharing tasks adapting to a disciplined environment for many the first time in their life, most of them will be boarders in the internat. Its a pretty ugly and eye opening experience to see the aggression they display when interacting with each other yet quite rewarding towards the end of the second day to see the drastic improvements in many, sadly there are often one or two that have to have their parents called to take them away, usually refusing to share a tent with someone, often a muslim.

What really shocked me was the food stops, many of them seized as many snacks as they could fit up their jumper as if it might be the last time they ever saw food, this was quite painfull for me as it was the same for me in my teens.

When they sat down to eat in the evening the majority of them were holding their knives and forks in a very strange manner, reversed and with the hands held vertical and the points facing down a bit like the shower stabbing scene in psycho, I naively asked a prof if that is how they eat in the Pas De Calais and she said that for many it was the first time they have ever eaten with cutlery, they actually schedule lessons in the canteen on how to eat from a plate with cutlery.

[Hoddy]

Q if you think that teachers or parents have any input into what is taught you are very much mistaken.

When I started teaching all the kids from my old school, in addition to doing Home Ec/Domestic Science in Years 7, 8 & 9 used to leave with a first aid certificate and knew how to hang wallpaper, wire a plug and other such useful things. These were taught in six two hour blocks per subject. As RH says basic finance would have been a useful addition. Room for manoeuvre now that the government dictates so much is virtually nil. When parents are desperate for their children to get a clutch of good GCSEs, they aren't going to want it either.

Hoddy

[Quillan]

[quote user="Chancer"]

When they sat down to eat in the evening the majority of them were holding their knives and forks in a very strange manner, reversed and with the hands held vertical and the points facing down a bit like the shower stabbing scene in psycho, I naively asked a prof if that is how they eat in the Pas De Calais and she said that for many it was the first time they have ever eaten with cutlery, they actually schedule lessons in the canteen on how to eat from a plate with cutlery.

[/quote]

Tell you what it does not change much with age either. I have had one or two French quests who's table manners and eating technique has been somewhat alarming to say the least.

One quick story though that involves English guests and cutlery. We had a couple who booked demi-pension along with some other couples. The husband turned round a the food table and said "This is the first time my wife has used proper a knife and fork for a while. We usually only allow her plastic ones as she suffers from manic depression and the doctor told us it would be safer not to give her metal ones". There were a few coughs and splatters not to mention looks of horror from one or two of the other guests. I have to say the first thought that went through my mind was what an appalling thing to say about your wife, with her there (or not even) and in front of strangers. Perhaps it was not so strange that the wife made a stab at him in the past with a mouth like that. I felt quite sorry for her and she was actually quite a nice lady although a bit 'slow' but then that was probably the drugs she was on. I know its not good form but I did smile at the startled look on the the other guests faces though.

[Richardbk]

I dont dismiss this problem ,but this seems to be a rather sensationalist report.

The percentages do not tally for what would seemingly be mutually exclusive answers or reasons. Hence I have some doubt as to the accuracy of either the report or the article.

[Frederick]

Make sure the parents are reminded what their child benefit is for  Its not theirs it is prvided  to feed and dress the child and was brought in I believe so that a prosecution could be  supported if after reciept of the benefit the child was starved and  neglected 

Tell them if they dont have any excuse not to  provide a child with  food .. The state pays them to provide it

[Hoddy]

I agree that some parents do need a reminder about that. I remember one mother who having got her child back from care took him back in again because her family allowance book did not arrive quickly enough.

I'm not sure if prosecution would work though. One of our parents was taken to court for failing to ensure that he daughter attended properly. They were about to fine him but because he already owed so much in unpaid fines he was sent to prison for ten days which wiped out the debt and so did no good to anyone.

Hoddy

[Russethouse]

Frederick, Family allowance is only £11.50 for second children, it's not much, but that doesn't excuse any one and makes lessons that would include feeding children appropriatly and economically all the more important.

[Chancer]

You dont need lessons on how to cook micro-chips, there is a pictogram on the box!

[cooperlola]

Good lord, you mean people exist who actually learnt something in domestic science classes?  Yawn-o-rama.

[Russethouse]

Our DS teacher was pretty tough - no slacking allowed !

If you wanted to, she would teach you how to make lace at lunchtime sessions and is a published author on that topic :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pamela-Nottingham/e/B001KIY5CK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

[woolybanana]

If half of teachers are forced to feed the kids, what are the other half doing, watching?

[powerdesal]

Strangely enough, when I joined the RAF many years ago, at OCTU ( Officer cadet training unit ) there were 'lessons' on dining etiquette, which included which knife and fork to use etc. Even then the standard of cutlery holding was surprising - I was quite shocked to see that potential Officers were not full 'trained' in the art of proper dining - I certainly was and that was coming from a northern mill town cobbled street background. These days it must be even worse. At first I found it quite demeaning that It should be expected that I would even need to learn how to eat properly, my parents would have been horrified ( had I told them - which I didn't )

[Quillan]

[quote user="woolybanana"]If half of teachers are forced to feed the kids, what are the other half doing, watching?[/quote]

Extra PE lessons to help the obese kids get slimmer?

[cooperlola]

[quote user="Russethouse"]

If you wanted to, she would teach you how to make lace at lunchtime [/quote]And was there anybody interested?  What a horrid idea.  If a button falls off a shirt I chuck it out.  Making lace... cripes.  These sorts of lesson were just legalised torture for me.  Second only to games.  Both seemed to attract teachers who had no understanding nor comprehension of anybody who was unco-orinated and cack-handed and who seemed to delight in showing up anybody who was not adept at practical subjects. 

[woolybanana]

Perhaps Macodnalds might be persuaded to furnish nourishing breakfasts at the schools, of the type that they used to serve in HK. Scrambled eggs with trimmings, waffles with syrup. After all, they want loyal customers so why not start young