Alliance wants free school meals to give all children a head-start

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Press Release by The Alliance 8:48am, 9th February 2007

The Alliance Party has called for free school meals for all children as part of a radical strategy to end the widening gap between children of the rich and children of the poor.

Alliance Party youth spokesperson Sarah Campbell says the Labour government is failing New Zealand youth from the very start of life and from the very start of the day.

"The problem of hungry kids is a result of the inequality of New Zealand society, and the number of children going to school without breakfast and going hungry throughout the day is a direct and visible sign of Labour's failure to eradicate child poverty in New Zealand over the last 7 years."

Ms Campbell says research from the Ministry of Social Development shows that the "disease of inequality" is on the increase, with hungry kids the latest symptom.

The Alliance is committed to the best start for all children, which requires the eradication of child poverty, and an end to hunger in schools, she says.

"Children go hungry because of poverty. Families in New Zealand cannot afford to feed their kids because of rent, school expenses, medical expenses and all the other everyday expenses that low income families have to cover in this country."

Anti-people economic policies under Labour in the 1980s and National in the 1990s were predicted to lead to this situation, and now the predictions have come true, she says.

Ms Campbell says National's introduction of market rents to state housing in the 1990s was among many measures which pushed more Kiwis to the poverty-line.

"It was basically taking food out of peoples cupboards to pay for tax cuts for the already wealthy."

The Labour government has done little to reverse these policies, and without such reforms, the cycle of poverty cannot be stopped, she says.

"Labour are offering token fiddling around the edges, and National are offering barefaced lies to get back in power," says Ms Campbell.

"Neither of the status quo parties can address this problem. The Alliance offer a fresh perspective and real solutions to the failures of Labour and National."

The Alliance supports the introduction of a universal family benefit as well as free meals in schools for all children â€" funded by the government through taxation.

The way to feed hungry school kids is to make society fairer, with progressive taxation, improved wages and benefits, truly free education and healthcare, and the immediate abolition of GST on food.

ENDS

A friend of mine looks after children under 5 and she often has kids that come to her that have had no breakfast and the the parent(s) have not provided food for the day. In the cases she described to me - the parent(s) boozed and drugged, and there was family violence as well emotional and physical. She has one kid that constantly hits and bites the other children!! She's not allowed to smack him - well I don't have to go into the PC b/S that we are all aware of. The other kids suffer as she has to spend time "managing" him etc.

Its sad to think we have to educate people to give the basics of life to children. To feed, love, clothe and provide a safe environment for them.
My mother had no role models whatsoever, was an orphan and pushed from pillar to post, but by god she managed to provide the basics of life for 5 children - and mainly all on her own as Dad was at sea. Respect, morals/values, loving discipline don't seem to exist anymore, well certainly in the minority that's for sure.

[MyGSXF]

My boys don't set foot out the bloody door till they've had breakfast.. good ole Weetbix!!! :Punk:

I HATE seeing poor little snotty nosed kids, wearing crap clothing & barefeet, eating packets of chippies, or lollies.. & their parents.. with ferkin fags hanging out their mouths!! :angry:

I'm a solo with 2 kids & pay $300pw rent! My boys wear nice clothes I hunt out at the op shops & TM, have sandwiches & fruit in their lunchboxes, & are healthy & happy.. & we live on fuck all $! Would be screwed without TM to boost things up a bit!

It's the parents ferkin useless attitudes that these poor wee buggas are goin hungry!! :mad:

rant over..

[pixc]

People on the dole for what ever reason should be given food stamps, Hand in their powerbill, any bill for that matter, so that social welfare can check it and pay it. Basically, i dont think people who are being supported by the government should have access to so much cash. Yea its an inconvenance, but hey, going to work to earn my money is inconveniant as well. While that would increase the odds of food being in the house for children, it only deals with those on welfares.

For the working poor, instead of the governement feeding the children at school, perhapes if a child isnt being sent to school regulary with food, then parents should be approched and free help offered ie, financial advisor etc.

School lunches american style isnt a bad idea tho. Infact I really like the idea of the kids having a healthy hot lunch in winter.

I make my son eat breakfast..which is always a battle. I make his lunch but he doesnt eat it at school. I have requested that they make him eat it as his medication decreases his appetite. The school didnt make him eat his lunch. Halfway through the year I got pissed off at the boy and school, and told the boy to make his own lunch. Two days later i got a nasty phone call from his teacher complaining i hadnt sent him to school with no food. While i felt bad, i was pleased they called. Most schools do their best. Its the parents that need either assistance or a jolly good boot up the ass.

[Macktheknife]

Sadly there is nothing new about crap parents with no skills and even less care for their kids. This is not always a poverty problem but frequently a parenting problem. They just don't give a damn about looking after the kids needs before their own. But bad parenting is not as news-worthy as having someone else to blame for the problem.

[Indiana_Jones]

My boys don't set foot out the bloody door till they've had breakfast.. good ole Weetbix!!! :Punk:

I HATE seeing poor little snotty nosed kids, wearing crap clothing & barefeet, eating packets of chippies, or lollies.. & their parents.. with ferkin fags hanging out their mouths!! :angry:

I'm a solo with 2 kids & pay $300pw rent! My boys wear nice clothes I hunt out at the op shops & TM, have sandwiches & fruit in their lunchboxes, & are healthy & happy.. & we live on fuck all $! Would be screwed without TM to boost things up a bit!

It's the parents ferkin useless attitudes that these poor wee buggas are goin hungry!! :mad:

rant over..


I can't remember who said it, but I heard on the radio this morning someone saying it's not the parents fault. Fuck off!

Useless cunts drinking, smoknig and betting their money and OUR money away. I for one feel sorry for the kids.

These people don't give a fuck about their kids, they just see them as a way to get more dole.

btw Awesome work GSXF, keep it up :)

-Indy

[yungatart]

Children do NOT go hungry because of poverty - it is because parents have other prioirties.
How many "poor" people have a vege garden these days?

[pixc]

Children do NOT go hungry because of poverty - it is because parents have other prioirties.
How many "poor" people have a vege garden these days?

Thats a very very good point.

[pixc]

When my partner decided to start his own bussiness, our first year we bought home less then what you get on the dole. We had two preschool children and money was very very tight. I did go to social welfare once pleading poverty only to be turned away because partner was self employed. We lived on rice and mince..and the vege garden as well as seasonal fruit which i gathered in abundance and preserved. It was a very real struggle and out right depressing. But we made do and the kids never went without food (i would often only have enough meat to supply the kids and partner)

[MyGSXF]

People on the dole for what ever reason should be given food stamps, Hand in their powerbill, any bill for that matter, so that social welfare can check it and pay it. .. it only deals with those on welfares.

Tisn't a good idea to lump us 'welfare' lot all into the same cess pit though pixc.. :oi-grr: some of us DO put our kids needs, paying the bills, & buying groceries first! :yes:


btw Awesome work GSXF, keep it up :)
-Indy

Cheers Indy.. I intend to! :Punk: My oldest is in the top 5% of kids in the country his age for English.. & the little one will be the same! They are good boys, & I'll make damn sure they get a good start in life! :Punk:

[pixc]

Tisn't a good idea to lump us 'welfare' lot all into the same cess pit though pixc.. :oi-grr: some of us DO put our kids needs, paying the bills, & buying groceries first! :yes:

Yes granted..from what you say you sound like your doing a fantastic job. But i get peeved at people having kid after kid while on a benefit. I get peeved when i see them blow the money that other working people have supplied, on grog betting and smokes.

You obviously have a good handle on your finances as tough as it may be.

I know there are times when a welfare is genuine and required. I feel though that now days its more often then not a chosen lifestyle.

[Lissa]

Every morning the first thing I do is make the breakfast, toast, weetbix or yogurt.. set it on the table and sit the kids down... after they have to get dressed into their uniforms. I always make the lunches the night before, so everything is ready for them in the morning if we are running late for whatever reason. I also get their uniforms and shoes ready before going to bed the night before. Its about getting into a routine and prioritising.... my kids come first as far as I am concerned, I dont eat breakfast until they are at school.. infact havent even had my morning coffee yet.

I dont think a couple of slices of toast would cost alot of money... cant understand why kids are going to school hungry unless the parents really dont give a damn.

I have friends who are on welfare.. and they do a bloody good job, there is always food in the kids lunch boxes and the kids are happy.

[MyGSXF]

Yes granted..from what you say you sound like your doing a fantastic job. But i get peeved at people having kid after kid while on a benefit. I get peeved when i see them blow the money that other working people have supplied, on grog betting and smokes.

You obviously have a good handle on your finances as tough as it may be.

I know there are times when a welfare is genuine and required. I feel though that now days its more often then not a chosen lifestyle.

Cheers pixc.. yeah, I get bloody pissed off too when I see people fagging away, when I know they can't afford it & their kids are missing out!! & I knew a woman who was onto kid number 7.. all to the same dad.. & yet SHE was on the benefit & he lived round the corner!! <_< I have a good budgeting system happening, I pay some off the bills every week, so that when they come in each month, they are already in credit! There's the odd surprise one come in, but generally it's well under control! :yes: My oldest started Intermediate on Wed, so I scored most of his uniform out the 'buy sell paper', in xlnt nick & half the price of a brand new one! :Punk: I have a lovely home & bloody near everything I own is second hand, but with a little effort ya can score some bloody good stuff out there, for a fraction of the price of brand new stuff!! :rockon:


Its about getting into a routine and prioritising.... my kids come first as far as I am concerned, I dont eat breakfast until they are at school.. infact havent even had my morning coffee yet.

I dont think a couple of slices of toast would cost alot of money... cant understand why kids are going to school hungry unless the parents really dont give a damn.

I have friends who are on welfare.. and they do a bloody good job, there is always food in the kids lunch boxes and the kids are happy.

Definately Lissa.. routine & prioritising!!! :Punk: I do the same.. get it all ready the night before, so in the mornings it's dressed, breakfast, teeth, out the door.. with weetbix in their tummys & a decent lunchbox! :rockon:

It's all down to the attitude of the parents!!! :done:

[silverado]

It's all down to the attitude of the parents!!! :done:

If you can't feed them, DON'T breed them...

[Lissa]

I have a lovely home & bloody near everything I own is second hand, but with a little effort ya can score some bloody good stuff out there, for a fraction of the price of brand new stuff!! :rockon: You know with kids its better to have the second hand stuff... my sofa might be old and tattyish... but Iam not buying another one until they leave home, not worth it... they spill everything. Some second hand stuff can be just given a good spruce up with paint etc.. I have an old chair I am going to sand back and paint with folk art for the kids... they love stuff like that more than the new stuff... and they like to help as well.



Definately Lissa.. routine & prioritising!!! :Punk: I do the same.. get it all ready the night before, so in the mornings it's dressed, breakfast, teeth, out the door.. with weetbix in their tummys & a decent lunchbox! :rockon:

It's all down to the attitude of the parents!!! :done:Too right its the attitude of the parents. Theres only a few things that kids need in their life and its not too expensive... love, respect, food, clothing and shelter.. everything else is just a bonus.

[James Deuce]

It's not the Goverment's fault FFS.

Stupid Alliance.

[Indiana_Jones]

It's not the Goverment's fault FFS.

Stupid Alliance.


Too true. As much as I hate this labour govenment, it's true. They're not to blame. It's just shit people.

-Indy

[MyGSXF]

Too right its the attitude of the parents. Theres only a few things that kids need in their life and its not too expensive... love, respect, food, clothing and shelter.. everything else is just a bonus.

Definatley!!! :niceone:

[Guitana]

Dont ya just hate all these un-original political parties!! John Key identifies a problem that's been happening in NZ since average joe was getting fucked over by the rich man!! And all of a sudden they're all on the bandwagon what a waste of tax payers money!! This is the reason these kids do crime, theyre hungry and fucken destitute cos their useless parents cant cope with life and are too busy tryin to scrape up enough money to get to the tinny house for a spliff!!!! Thats how crime is born through stupidity and poverty the poor little shits never had a chance!!! If they start in the schools now maybe in twenty years time the crime rate will drop!!! But hey it's just as easy to build a 200 million dollar prison sorry 250 no 300 no 350 oh fuck it 400 million dose'nt matter the taxpayer will foot the bill!!!!!!!

Could've just fed all the kids in NZ for a year!!!

[Beemer]

Children do NOT go hungry because of poverty - it is because parents have other prioirties.
How many "poor" people have a vege garden these days?

I agree 100% - good, basic food does not have to be expensive. So many people who plead poverty (and it's not always those on a benefit who are the culprits) actually aren't poor, they just choose to spend their money on things other than food, power, etc. I bet that most of these kids have parents who spent at least $5-$10 a week on Lotto, more on cigarettes and booze, and probably takeaways as well. Most people who really ARE poor prioritise - they go without certain things but food isn't one of them.

Where does it end if we start providing breakfasts - will the next step be lunch, then free shoes, etc? It just gives the parents even more excuse not to bother providing properly for their children.

[Finn]

Schools are there to educate (they fail at this too), not feed the little shits. As for the bleeding hearts that say their parent(s) don't have any food, well perhaps not, but they'll have plenty of booze, sky, LCD TV, DVD, PlayStation, dope and a bit left over for gambling.

Socialism at it's best.

[ManDownUnder]

Children do NOT go hungry because of poverty - it is because parents have other prioirties.
How many "poor" people have a vege garden these days?

Logic at it's finest... bling for that one!

Here's a thought. We have fruits trees at our place, currently dripping with pears. The birds are loving them, but if anyone wanted to come and pick them for personal consumption (or preserving...) go fo it!

[Lissa]

Schools are there to educate (they fail at this too), not feed the little shits. I agree... Alot of parents think that schools are there to feed, teach good manners, teach them social skills, how to tie their shoe laces etc etc.. they arent. I want my kids to learn to read, write well, do their maths... Its my job to teach them everything else and feed them.

[Citroenjunkie]

What a pleasure, comments from people who know what they are talking about. I am a teacher and work in one of Auckland's poorest schools. We have heaps of children coming to school hungry, but if you ask they will happily tell you what they watched on sky last night or how to play the latest PS2 game. Their parents often drive flashier cars than I do and always have enough money to party hard on the weekends. None of this is the government's fault, except perhaps in that the benefit system has been open to bludgers for too long, and when they do try to sort it people who are genuinely in need often suffer first.

I grew up in South Africa where if you didn't work and earn you starved. Not many people died, but it did happen. People took looking after their families a lot more seriously, I think, because there was no security blanket.

Somehow, and I am not sure how, we need to engender a sense of responsibility. Teenage pregnancy, hunger, low school achievement etc all need positive parenting not government intervention.

[mstriumph]

..................."Children go hungry because of poverty. Families in New Zealand cannot afford to feed their kids because of rent, school expenses, medical expenses and all the other everyday expenses that low income families have to cover in this country."..................................

Bollocks

Children go hungry - here and in NZ - because the 'welfare' state pays benefits to their parents [or whatever] in money instead of foodstamps and rent/services credits

those parents spend those benefits on themselves

THE PARENTS are guilty for misusing the benefits
THE STATE is guilty for fostering a system that allows it to happen

end of rant - as you were............

[Hitcher]

So we're to have a country where everybody becomes a beneficiary. Fantastic. So much for working hard, scrimping and saving to improve the circumstances for yourself and your family, only to be hammered by punitive and unnecessary taxes so the Government can pay money back to you.

And when it comes to "beneficiaries", why should they get paid in cash to spend on Sky TV, dog food (yes, it is the unalienable right for all needy people to feed tinned pet food to at least one large canine), cigarettes, booze, gas for a Falcon or Commodore, hire-purchase "repayments" (yeah, right) on flat-screen TVs etc, pokie machine and lotto contributions, etc, while their kids starve?

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this picture?

[The Pastor]

I don't eat breakfast usally - maybe a little pot thing of medow fresh yogert. You only need 1 meal a day to live comfortably off (1 a week to survive off) anything more is a waste....


I eat lots of lunch because I have heaps of moeny to buy my foodz woop