More on school meals
I am completely baffled by one of the arguments against my position. Apparently by saying that schools should not be allowed to force school dinners on children I am denying choice…
I am seeking to offer choice. Parents are responsible for their children, they must be allowed choice in what they feed their children.
Schools are free to offer school meals, free of charge or for a fee. They should be free to offer what they want to the children (within budgetary restrictions). Parents can then decide whether a packed lunch or school dinners are best for their child.
What I object to is taking choice away and the forcing of school dinners. How keeping that choice there is removing choice I don’t know.
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September 6th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Your bafflement is because you don’t understand that parents don’t have the choice you think they do. Especially if they are poor, living in deprived areas, and with huge peer pressure.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:50 am
They do have a choice.
They have a choice between school meals or packed lunch.
If they are poor then surely the incentive is in favour of free school meals.
Living in a deprived area makes no difference that I can see.
Peer pressure - people can choose to ignore peer pressure. If people choose to give in then fine. Unless you consider people incapable of resisting peer pressure, in which case surely you doubt free will and the very basis of liberalism - freedom to choose and act as you wish (excepting where your actions interfere with the equal rights of others)
September 6th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
It’s a pity that beside Tristan there seems to be only few real liberals in the Lib Dem party.
No, I don’t mean that there would be more liberals in some other British party, unfortunately that’s not the case.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Tristan - I think you are right that adults ought to be assumed to be capable of resisting peer pressure. The amount of branded products, awful blockbuster movie sequels and tasteless fast foods consumed by pre-teens and teens each year however suggests that their ability to resist peer pressure is considerably less.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I don’t think the more limited agency of children is in dispute. Its the parents who decide if their child takes a packed lunch and school meals.
I am really suprised and disappointed and the amount of debate this issue has caused. Thinking you would like children to eat more healthily, and then leaping to compulsory school meals just doesn’t make sense from a liberal perspective.
September 10th, 2007 at 3:03 am
Alternatives do not a choice make.
September 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
If you feel passionately about dramatically improving the quality of food kids eat in school then have a look at http://www.mertonparents.co.uk We are organising a free parents conference on oct 16 during the day in London. Come along and argue about free choice as much as you like!