A big fight over breakfast in the classroom

A big fight over breakfast in the classroom

Opponents argue that taxpayer money is going to waste and kids are losing valuable classtime for something that isn't necessary.

More and more often, kids are eating cereal in the classroom as soon as they get to school — and it’s sparking a fierce debate over whether or not that’s appropriate.

Many schools are attempting to increase the number of children eating breakfast by serving it in the classroom, as evidenced by a national survey by the Food Research and Action Center, which found that 50 of 62 districts polled offered breakfast in class or at least had food carts where children could get an items and bring it into the classroom, according to an Associated Press report.

However, the program has its opponents. In the Los Angeles Unified district, parents and teachers say that low-income children are getting less class time as a result of the initiative, and food is being wasted.

Federal school breakfast programs first began in 1966, but most schools didn’t participate that well, and typically served the food items before school started in the cafeteria. Since not all children got to school early, not everyone could participate, and those that did get to school early often decided to play outside instead.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses free or reduced price meals for low-income students at schools, which means that meals that aren’t even come out of the public coffers.

Although there aren’t any scientific studies that prove that eating breakfast is necessary to perform well academically, proponents argue that it’s just common sense.

The number of children in what are considered low-income families has been on rise, increasing from 32 percent in 1989 to 51 percent in 2013, according to the Southern Education Foundation, which found that for many students, the food at school may be the most substantial meal they get that day.

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