“I hope someday we will be able to proclaim that we have banished hunger in the United States, and that we’ve been able to bring nutrition and health to the whole world” (McGovern, n.d.). Enacting a statewide universal free meal program for public schools would be a great start to banishing hunger in the United States, as well as bringing health, self-esteem and academic advantages to children. While most states offer a free/reduced meal program, they require the family to fill out a standard application and meet eligibility guidelines to qualify. Unfortunately, not all families who are eligible for the program apply due to reasons such as, they did not know the program existed or they are too ashamed to ask for assistance. On the other
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Many families who are above the income eligibility guidelines still struggle to afford the school meals. Kids today are not as healthy as they should be, which stems from poor nutrition and a lack of food availability [research needed]. In spite of tax and Title 1 funding objections, states should elect for universal free meals within the public schools because of the health, self-esteem, and academic advantages.
Advantages
Universal free meals should be incorporated into all public school systems because the benefits would include improved health, self-esteem, and academics for all children within the school. “Recent research shows that many children who do not have enough to eat wind up with diminished capacity to understand and learn. Even mild undernutrition – the kind most common among poor people in America – can do it” (Sagan, n.d.). Presenting free meals during the school week would ensure that children have the essential nutrients needed to function and would also encourage healthy eating habits [research needed]. Another advantage of universal free meals is the …show more content…
Some object to universal free meals because they do not want to pay extra taxes to feed children of families who are not low income. However, this objection is insignificant because the number of taxpayers’ dollars that are used to federally fund the school meal program is minuscule and enacting a completely free universal program would only slightly raise taxes [research needed]. The advantage of providing and ensuring nourishment for all children far outweighs the small price that society would have to pay. Another objection to universal free meals is the potential drop in Title 1 funding because families will no longer need to fill out the necessary paperwork. However, this can be proven invalid because the schools that have been able to enact universal free meals have made the application for Title 1 funding part of the school enrollment process, making all families fill out the application regardless of their need [research needed]. Although the objections that taxpayers would waste money and that the school’s federal funding would be reduced, universal free meals within the public school system should be incorporated because the objections prove to be insignificant in comparison to the
Many families who are above the income eligibility guidelines still struggle to afford the school meals. Kids today are not as healthy as they should be, which stems from poor nutrition and a lack of food availability [research needed]. In spite of tax and Title 1 funding objections, states should elect for universal free meals within the public schools because of the health, self-esteem, and academic advantages.
Advantages
Universal free meals should be incorporated into all public school systems because the benefits would include improved health, self-esteem, and academics for all children within the school. “Recent research shows that many children who do not have enough to eat wind up with diminished capacity to understand and learn. Even mild undernutrition – the kind most common among poor people in America – can do it” (Sagan, n.d.). Presenting free meals during the school week would ensure that children have the essential nutrients needed to function and would also encourage healthy eating habits [research needed]. Another advantage of universal free meals is the …show more content…
Some object to universal free meals because they do not want to pay extra taxes to feed children of families who are not low income. However, this objection is insignificant because the number of taxpayers’ dollars that are used to federally fund the school meal program is minuscule and enacting a completely free universal program would only slightly raise taxes [research needed]. The advantage of providing and ensuring nourishment for all children far outweighs the small price that society would have to pay. Another objection to universal free meals is the potential drop in Title 1 funding because families will no longer need to fill out the necessary paperwork. However, this can be proven invalid because the schools that have been able to enact universal free meals have made the application for Title 1 funding part of the school enrollment process, making all families fill out the application regardless of their need [research needed]. Although the objections that taxpayers would waste money and that the school’s federal funding would be reduced, universal free meals within the public school system should be incorporated because the objections prove to be insignificant in comparison to the