Eat your Wheaties
I got a call this morning from a reader who was upset about the Guilford County Schools' universal free breakfast program (which could be not-so-universal next year). He remarked that students shouldn't be getting free breakfast at all, since the students who qualify for free lunch likely also get food stamps. So why pay for their breakfast at school when the taxpayers already are paying for them to eat at home?
It's probably a remark school officials have heard before. There is no doubt Guilford County has children who are in need (just take a peek at the numbers of students in those free or reduced meal programs.) School officials said principals, who have worked hard to promote the breakfast programs, don't want to give them up.
The research that suggests a good breakfast is key to starting the school day out right is pretty convincing. And school leaders say some children only eat at school.
I wonder if teachers, parents or principals can provide some examples or how the free breakfast program is working at their schools. Are kids participating? And do you see a change in their behavoir or academic performance?
