When things are made free there will always be uptake and more 'need' created in the process as people's willingness to pay themselves is eroded. But these two school stories provide a sharp contrast.
On the one hand there are calls for the existing free food programmes in low deciles schools to be expanded because parents aren't providing it; on the other is an effective new e-learning programme in Auckland's poorest suburbs, where (in Tamaki) the average income is $19,000 but the parents are finding the $3.50 per week for their children to participate.
At you would expect the first call comes from government - or an agency of - the Children's Commissioner. Whereas the second expectation and request for parents to contribute is from the private sector.
It is too easy for parents to expect others to pick up the slack for them in this country. It becomes a habit. But as the second story demonstrates, not an unbreakable one.
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3 comments:
Well they (the parents) are acting to their own advantage in both cases, although in the first there is a distinct lack of personal responsibility.
How is it that charities like Kid's Can etc exist and continue to receive wide support in our community? Because there aren't enough of us questioning whether the need is real, or more of a perception issue.
And the playdough thing...ugh! To pretend we are so poor in this country that flour for playdough and macaroni used for necklaces should be used for food makes me so annoyed I just don't know what to say. Too much emotion.
It's like a celebration of the poor out here.
PS If you can't provide necessities of life that isn't where the state/a school/ a church steps in to provide them for your kids, that is the point where they get taken from you and you get prosecuted.
Obviously we need more prosecutions, less pandering.
From a comment over at FrogBlog:
SPC
Posted August 28, 2012 at 6:42 AM
Food in schools is to be recommended to government
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10829909
The debate over insulation of rental property.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10829422
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10827838
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10827865
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