A New Jersey school has a lot of explaining to do after they didn't feed a kindergartner lunch because of a billing issue -- John Robert was denied food because his parents had an outstanding bill -- one they say they forgot to pay because it was the first few days of school and things were, presumably, a little hectic. The parents, Silvia and John Caravella, found out that their son didn't get fed through a note the teacher sent home.
Understandably, they're angry. Why didn't any faculty member speak up for John Robert and lend him the $2 so that he could get some lunch? Especially since he's autistic and can't necessarily stand up for himself.
It's really hard to believe that an adult would let a kid go without lunch -- you'd think someone would have intervened and given the kid some money, or a sandwich, or something, but no. It's hard to wrap my brain around. Why didn't anyone come to John Robert's defense?
The school district says it was an "unfortunate oversight", which, yes, it is, but you have to wonder about the quality of a staff who just doesn't care enough to see that their students, most specifically the ones with special needs, get the help that they require.
On the other hand, it was also an oversight that the Caravellas didn't pay their bill; I suppose one could argue that we should also wonder about the quality of the parents who let the payment of their autistic son's lunch bill slip through the cracks, but somehow, hmm. It doesn't bother me as much as it does that a faculty knowingly denied lunch to a child with special needs.
The parents didn't show willful neglect, but the school's staff did. There are rules, like you have to pay for lunch, but sometimes, common sense should take over, and those rules should be broken.
The Caravellas say they're now considering private school.
What's your take on this story?
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Comments 229
At my daughter's elementary school, if there is no money in her lunch account, the policy is they will let her eat as long as she doesn't owe more than $10. Last year, whenever she would get down to around $5 in her account, I would get a note home in her backpack, a voicemail, and an email daily letting me know she was running low. The school does everything they can to inform the parents. At $1.80 a day, that gave me more than enough time to add money to her account. The parents are negligent, not the school.
I'm guessing they will pay for their son's private school with money from a future lawsuit? Ridiculous. Schools generally do have policies that do allow a small grace period with not paying for lunch, as many other posters have said. The parents are 100% at fault. I'm tired of hearing people blame teachers for EVERYTHING under the sun. In all honesty, teachers simply can't afford to pay for every student that doesn't pay for lunch, book fees, overdue/unreturned library books, etc. Parents are taking advantage of the public school system, and instead of anyone looking at them to fix it, people blame the teachers. It's sad.
we filled out free lunch form for our boy when he first started school at 3 yrs old. The school board lost his and at least 50 other student's forms as a result they all went hungery my son's teacher called asking why we was letting him go hungery upon my proding he told me he had not received lunch for the whole 4 weeks.
I don't care the school should have fed him. What would you say if it was your kid? The school knew who he was and could easily tell the parents you need to pay this bill this is how much you owe. It is never acceptable to let a child go hungry.
This will somehow become the fault of the teacher, she will get fired and mom and dad will live to not pay another school lunch bill Why do parents feel they have no accountability any more? Everyone should feed, educate and raise their child for them. This is just irresponsible parenting.