In Response to The Mental Alchemist's Save Our Free School Meals (2/2)

(1/2), (2/2).

Many parents are rightly offended by the council coming along and preaching 'the guildhall alone knows best'. Oddly enough when the Tories inferred single parents were all a disaster area the right-on left rounded on them; when a Labour Council Cabinet infers all parents have not a clue and need the Council to help them, there is not a cheep. Anyone who thinks, furthermore, that pizza, chips, or burgers have vanished from the schools need to look more closely at the meals roster in some primary schools. Furthermore there are those who believe they have had children and it is their responsibility to look after them.

Nobody on the City Council, not even the much demonised Tory Two, argue there should not be free school meals to help those in need. Nobody argues that this needs-based provision should be handled in a sensitive non stigmatising way (though we all know the main culprits for stigmatising pupils are often the systems in the schools themselves).

Nobody argues there is a debate to be had on the nutritional content of school meals. However, to argue that what is proposed is '... the end of free school meals in Hull' is either crass stupidity and lacking in awareness of the debate; political charlatanism of the worst order; or the self indulgent interest of someone with a stake in the outcome. In any event it is plain wrong. What is at stake is an argument, set against dwindling budgets and swinging cuts imposed by a Labour Government (that is so concerned this is a great experiment it neither underwrites the council costs nor rolls it out across the country), about provision.

Nowhere does our leaden Alchemist point out that universally provided school meals are leading to a reduction in take-up within certain schools; nowhere does the champion of disingenuousness refer to the very many children who rush off to their local sweetshops and takeaways across lunchtimes (good results there for improved learning!); nowhere does this culinary guru refer to the packed lunch system; and nowhere is it mentioned that the sons and daughters of the rich by getting free meals may be reducing the amount of money available to those really in need.

The bottom line is the real debate should be to ensure what is on offer to all is nutritionally beneficial, and that those who can pay, do and those who cannot do not. It should be about the powers available to teachers to stop children bunking off to the chippie (pretty minimal in truth), and it should not be held out as a panacea towards the educational failings in this city. I would even accept an argument that there should be a debate on secondary school food, call me old fashioned but that is when the critical exams are taken.

I am not really certain that gay rights, children's rights, or even the abolition of slavery were won '... by people like us ... by the people choosing to do something and make a noise about it ...' The Clapham Sect had little to do with the proverbial man on the Clapham omnibus let alone anywhere else, and the idea there were mass protests reducing quivering governments to appeasing militant gays and children in some form of Runnymede surrender defies most historian's take on events let alone those of us who lived through them. This has to be a level headed argument and people need to make choices.

Universal free school meals can be maintained and can be delivered but some of us think that if the price was cutbacks in public lighting, waste collection, more charges for other services then that is a price too far to extend them to those not in need. (the barking idea that there are three million pounds to be found in '... taking away members' privileges', again unspecified, beggars belief that anyone can believe they exist at such levels!)

If the price of healthier school meals was a cut in pointless bureaucrats such as over-staffed equalities units, personnel departments, health and safety meddlers, and bean counters that may be considered worthwhile by most - except the families and individuals concerned. Mental Alchemist is not only leaden but is not even a Mental gymnast, more mentally slipshod. As School Reports were once fond of saying 'must try harder'.

Opinions - Save Our Free School Meals By The Mental Alchemist
	Q. What do you get if you cross neo-liberal economic policy with a liberal party city council? A. No bloody change and the end of free school meals in Hull. I sat in stunned belief whilst watching Look North today, as it was announced that Hull City Council have put a price on the health and wellbeing of all our children, and it's less than £4 million. It actually cost the council a Read more...

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