Tired, hungry and shamed: pupil poverty ‘stops learning’

Teachers reveal impact of austerity – and say it is getting worse

Teachers have reported worsening signs of child poverty in their classrooms with pupils coming to school tired, hungry, angry and confused. Many children are wearing dirty and ill-fitting uniforms and suffering from anxiety and behaviour issues that affect their learning.

This alarming picture is revealed in a survey, by the National Education Union (NEU), of 8,600 school leaders, teachers and support staff. Nine out of 10 who took part agreed that poverty and low income were having a detrimental effect on their pupils’ education. Half felt that the situation had worsened over the last three years, particularly in primary schools.

The picture is even more depressing if independent education providers are discounted, with 97% of respondents in maintained schools, academies, free schools and further education colleges reporting concern that poverty affected their students’ learning. Over half (52%) said that the effect was large.

“The poverty gap has clearly got bigger,” said one respondent. “The number of students displaying difficult behaviours has increased and poverty is most certainly a factor.”

“The government must stop blaming schools for the impact of its austerity policies upon the most vulnerable in our society, and take action to alleviate the suffering of the increasing numbers who are living in poverty,”

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/apr/14/tired-hungry-shamed-pupil-poverty-stops-learning

Can't wait to see the comments about how all students enter school at the same spot along the starting line, and how their performance is entirely within their control.

Just in my area alone, kids would go hungry all day if it wasn’t for the free breakfast and lunch or reduced prices, but that may now have to stop because the cost is out of control. Thanks to some Trump policies, the cafeteria ladies can no longer purchase goods from Mexico, only American, which is 25% higher on average.

But let’s hurt the kids even more right?

This is a terrible state of affairs. I cannot imagine why there should be hunger in first world countries in this day and age.

eddie wrote:This is a terrible state of affairs. I cannot imagine why there should be hunger in first world countries in this day and age.

Apathy maybe? A mindset of I’m alright Jack, I’ve got mine so sod you? Or as I mentioned clueless politicians who create horrible and life affecting policies that hurt the most disadvantaged in our society.

Cass wrote:

eddie wrote:This is a terrible state of affairs. I cannot imagine why there should be hunger in first world countries in this day and age.

Apathy maybe? A mindset of I’m alright Jack, I’ve got mine so sod you? Or as I mentioned clueless politicians who create horrible and life affecting policies that hurt the most disadvantaged in our society.

Cutbacks in education and possibly parents not feeding their kids properly out of laziness perhaps - in some cases. When I worked in a classroom years ago I remember children being sent to school with packed lunches containing half eaten, cold McDonald’s burgers - I kid you not.
We have banned crisps and chocolate from packed lunches in England, we have a good policy of healthy eating in schools, so this story may stem from children’s lives at home.
I don’t know what’s going on in the world anymore. Children shouldn’t be going hungry.

eddie wrote:

Cass wrote:

Apathy maybe? A mindset of I’m alright Jack, I’ve got mine so sod you? Or as I mentioned clueless politicians who create horrible and life affecting policies that hurt the most disadvantaged in our society.

Cutbacks in education and possibly parents not feeding their kids properly out of laziness perhaps - in some cases. When I worked in a classroom years ago I remember children being sent to school with packed lunches containing half eaten, cold McDonald’s burgers - I kid you not.
We have banned crisps and chocolate from packed lunches in England, we have a good policy of healthy eating in schools, so this story may stem from children’s lives at home.
I don’t know what’s going on in the world anymore. Children shouldn’t be going hungry.

I remember you saying that years ago (about the McDonald’s). No doubt that there is laziness on some parents part. But how do you pack a healthy lunch when you don’t have transportation and the nearest grocery store is 35 miles away and there is no public transport and all there is nearby is a gas station convenience store?

I don't know much about economics but considering the taxes raised in this country I'm sure we can give school children decent meals at lunch time, its investing in the future surely.
While I agree to helping 3rd world countries to develop to a degree where they can have an economy that works for them without aid from other countries, we cannot send aid to these while our own population suffer from lack of food and other basics. There's something very wrong in world economics as far as I can see. I admit I'm a bit of a tree hugger on this subject.

Vintage wrote:I don't know much about economics but considering the taxes raised in this country I'm sure we can give school children decent meals at lunch time, its investing in the future surely.
While I agree to helping 3rd world countries to develop to a degree where they can have an economy that works for them without aid from other countries, we cannot send aid to these while our own population suffer from lack of food and other basics. There's something very wrong in world economics as far as I can see. I admit I'm a bit of a tree hugger on this subject.

Being a tree hugger is no bad thing!

At the end of the day, it comes down to profits for someone.

Cass wrote:

eddie wrote:

Cass wrote:

Apathy maybe? A mindset of I’m alright Jack, I’ve got mine so sod you? Or as I mentioned clueless politicians who create horrible and life affecting policies that hurt the most disadvantaged in our society.

Cutbacks in education and possibly parents not feeding their kids properly out of laziness perhaps - in some cases. When I worked in a classroom years ago I remember children being sent to school with packed lunches containing half eaten, cold McDonald’s burgers - I kid you not.
We have banned crisps and chocolate from packed lunches in England, we have a good policy of healthy eating in schools, so this story may stem from children’s lives at home.
I don’t know what’s going on in the world anymore. Children shouldn’t be going hungry.

I remember you saying that years ago (about the McDonald’s). No doubt that there is laziness on some parents part. But how do you pack a healthy lunch when you don’t have transportation and the nearest grocery store is 35 miles away and there is no public transport and all there is nearby is a gas station convenience store?

Are there actually places where grocery stores are that far away and schools are nearer?

I know a few children who won't have free schoolmeals because everyone else is aware when they do and parents struggle to give them packed lunches.

I know this also because although my mother was a good cook and budgeter we still found it hard to pay for school meals, we were offered free meals but I wouldn't take them because every one would know so my mother struggled to give me packed lunch. We had enough just to cover the out goings but not much more, my parents were not extravagant in any way, my father worked full time and overtime if there was any, he cared for others gardens to make extra in what little spare time he had and my mother cleaned for people too posh to do it themselves and we still just scrapped by this was in the sixties, nothing really changes.

Vintage wrote:I don't know much about economics but considering the taxes raised in this country I'm sure we can give school children decent meals at lunch time, its investing in the future surely.
While I agree to helping 3rd world countries to develop to a degree where they can have an economy that works for them without aid from other countries, we cannot send aid to these while our own population suffer from lack of food and other basics. There's something very wrong in world economics as far as I can see. I admit I'm a bit of a tree hugger on this subject.

Given the large sums of money that is already given to parents for helping provide basics for their children... surely they should be spending this money on providing food for their children...!?


If they are neglecting their children by starving them... then they need to be prosecuted accordingly...!

eddie wrote:

Cass wrote:

I remember you saying that years ago (about the McDonald’s). No doubt that there is laziness on some parents part. But how do you pack a healthy lunch when you don’t have transportation and the nearest grocery store is 35 miles away and there is no public transport and all there is nearby is a gas station convenience store?

Are there actually places where grocery stores are that far away and schools are nearer?

Yes absolutely.

eddie wrote:
This is a terrible state of affairs. I cannot imagine why there should be hunger in first world countries in this day and age.

That's the "profit motive" for you, pure and simple...

Whenever you have elitist money-centric regimes in control (irregardless of political affiliations..), looking to turn a profit on every transaction..

The current conservative-capitalist/"free market" gov'ts would rather give $£€billions€£$ to their rich mates in corporate tax breaks and handouts, then actually spend money where needed.

Even on here, we have the usual whining right-whinge snowflakes with their "politics of envy"/"lefty regressives" mantras, whenever anyone mentions the need for increased funding for education, housing or welfare in general..

eddie wrote:

Cass wrote:

Apathy maybe? A mindset of I’m alright Jack, I’ve got mine so sod you? Or as I mentioned clueless politicians who create horrible and life affecting policies that hurt the most disadvantaged in our society.

Cutbacks in education and possibly parents not feeding their kids properly out of laziness perhaps - in some cases. When I worked in a classroom years ago I remember children being sent to school with packed lunches containing half eaten, cold McDonald’s burgers - I kid you not.
We have banned crisps and chocolate from packed lunches in England, we have a good policy of healthy eating in schools, so this story may stem from children’s lives at home.
I don’t know what’s going on in the world anymore. Children shouldn’t be going hungry.

When I was a kid, not only were school dinners absolutely disgusting, but at secondary school most of us preferred to spend our dinner money on either fags or sweets. I used to get in at 4pm and eat toast and marmite. I had toast in the morning, and toast when I got in. We then had our evening meal and that was that. We never had dessert either. We were all pretty fit and healthy on that.

But I do think this definitely stems from poor parenting. Years ago we never ate processed food, so our bodies were getting the right nutrition with our evening meal. You can stuff yourself with junk food, and still be hungry, because the body is craving proper nutrition and will make you even more hungry in order for you to eat that nutrition. This is doubly so for children who are growing. Parents should be prosecuted for not feeding their children wholesome food. And you know, it's downright laziness to feed your kid on processed junk when it's just as cheap to buy natural food and cook it from scratch. How long does it take to rustle up some pasta or cook a shepherd's pie? But no, it's easier to buy it in plastic and stick it in the microwave for 3 minutes.

Vintage wrote:I know a few children who won't have free schoolmeals because everyone else is aware when they do and parents struggle to give them packed lunches.

I know this also because although my mother was a good cook and budgeter we still found it hard to pay for school meals, we were offered free meals but I wouldn't take them because every one would know so my mother struggled to give me packed lunch. We had enough just to cover the out goings but not much more, my parents were not extravagant in any way, my father worked full time and overtime if there was any, he cared for others gardens to make extra in what little spare time he had and my mother cleaned for people too posh to do it themselves and we still just scrapped by this was in the sixties, nothing really changes.

Infants in this country get free school dinners.

Back in the 1970's school dinners for kids above infant school were 15p a week. That equates to £2.43 in today's money. Today's dinner money is more like £10 a week upwards.

Wonder why I got a red for posting an article that I didn’t write? Anyone care to tell me?
How odd.

eddie wrote:Wonder why I got a red for posting an article that I didn’t write? Anyone care to tell me?
How odd.

Very. Have a green from me because it’s a very important topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

HoratioTarr wrote:

eddie wrote:

Cutbacks in education and possibly parents not feeding their kids properly out of laziness perhaps - in some cases. When I worked in a classroom years ago I remember children being sent to school with packed lunches containing half eaten, cold McDonald’s burgers - I kid you not.
We have banned crisps and chocolate from packed lunches in England, we have a good policy of healthy eating in schools, so this story may stem from children’s lives at home.
I don’t know what’s going on in the world anymore. Children shouldn’t be going hungry.

When I was a kid, not only were school dinners absolutely disgusting, but at secondary school most of us preferred to spend our dinner money on either fags or sweets.   I used to get in at 4pm and eat toast and marmite.  I had toast in the morning, and toast when I got in.   We then had our evening meal and that was that.   We never had dessert either.   We were all pretty fit and healthy on that.

But I do think this definitely stems from poor parenting.   Years ago we never ate processed food, so our bodies were getting the right nutrition with our evening meal.   You can stuff yourself with junk food, and still be hungry, because the body is craving proper nutrition and will make you even more hungry in order for you to eat that nutrition.   This is doubly so for children who are growing.  Parents should be prosecuted for not feeding their children wholesome food.  And you know, it's downright laziness to feed your kid on processed junk when it's just as cheap to buy natural food and cook it from scratch.   How long does it take to rustle up some pasta or cook a shepherd's pie?  But no, it's easier to buy it in plastic and stick it in the microwave for 3 minutes.

You raise some very good points. I just finished reading a book called The British at Table published in 1983. It compared diets from rationing in the war and then in subsequent decades. The healthiest was indeed the wartime diet.

Processed food in small doses is fine as long as it’s counterbalanced by much more healthier options. But as I mentioned above, when you don’t have transportation and you can only access a convenience store what do you do then? What if you can only have limited water and electricity or none at all as is the case of some of my patrons? The parents are working so in this case they are not being lazy. There is a type of food bank once a month but it depends greatly on what is available. 30 pounds of almost rotting tomatoes or squash isn’t going to help anyone if they don’t have the tools to store it properly.

I also blame a lack of proper cooking in schools. But then again properly equipped kitchens and provisions of materials is beyond school budgets these days.

Cass wrote:

eddie wrote:Wonder why I got a red for posting an article that I didn’t write? Anyone care to tell me?
How odd.

Very. Have a green from me because it’s a very important topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

You have to accept, I suppose, that it was done by mistake, otherwise it’s really rather worrying to think we have a possible under-18 on the forum.

Thanks for the green. I wasn’t begging you for one. I’d rather beg you for some of those bloody cookies you keep promising - with raisins and cranberries, if you please.

That "red" could quite easily have been an accident, especially from someone using a smartphone or tablet...

Or maybe they were so drunk they hit the 'minus' instead of the 'plus', ("shit happens").

I just gave another "green" to eddie's opening post to brighten this thread back up..

eddie wrote:

Cass wrote:

Very. Have a green from me because it’s a very important topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

You have to accept, I suppose, that it was done by mistake, otherwise it’s really rather worrying to think we have a possible under-18 on the forum.

Thanks for the green. I wasn’t begging you for one. I’d rather beg you for some of those bloody cookies you keep promising - with raisins and cranberries, if you please.

Oh yes I suffer severely sometimes from fat finger syndrome. I know I’ve done it by accident as I’ve never purposely given anyone a red ever.

You’ll have to wait till October. Cranberries are fine but raisins? Are you insane woman? I love you, but not that much.

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

That "red" could quite easily have been an accident, especially from someone using a smartphone or tablet...

Or maybe they were so drunk they hit the 'minus' instead of the 'plus',  ("shit happens").

I just gave another "green" to eddie's opening post to brighten this thread back up..  

Green for giving eds a green. Wait...I'm confused.

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

That "red" could quite easily have been an accident, especially from someone using a smartphone or tablet...

Or maybe they were so drunk they hit the 'minus' instead of the 'plus',  ("shit happens").

I just gave another "green" to eddie's opening post to brighten this thread back up..  

Why thank you. I think it may have been an error, unless someone doesn’t like news?