Rashford, recently awarded an MBE for his campaign work, took to Twitter after Neil Foden, the strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, Gwynedd, warned parents the school cook would not give food to any pupil 'if their debt has not been cleared, or in the future, to children whose accounts do not have enough money to pay for lunch'.
Rashford said: 'Has the pandemic not taught us anything? Can we not be understanding? Come on now.'
He added: 'For many children, lunch at school is the only meal they'll get.'Surely even a footballer - never the brightest - must understand that you have to pay for things in life?
Mr Foden said a 'handful of pupils' had run up debts totalling close to £2,000, and explained the stance further in an interview with the BBC on Thursday.
That's, what, an hour of 'work' for the likes of Rashford? If he's so concerned why doesn't he offer to clear the debt?
While there has been some sympathy for the letter from some people, most of those who contacted local media condemned the move.
Well, of course - the vast majority who read this and thought 'Good for him!' have better things to do.
Another mother said on Facebook: 'Shocking. I was £6 in debt and only realised yesterday. I completely forgot as I've been so busy with opening a new shop, running a business and caring for 4 children it slipped my mind. Not once did the school my children attend message or phoned me. They understand parents are busy and this can happen sometimes. Glad my children don't have a head teacher like this.'
When you're running your business if someone 'forgets to pay' for your goods or services, I wonder what your reaction is...
Lauren Cleary said: 'Even if the parents are spending all of their income on TVs and cigarettes (like the mainstream media would love you to believe), it's still never ever the child's fault. Shameful - where's his duty of care?'
His duty of care doesn't cover freeloaders.
This does not affect those who qualify for free school meals, just the feckless who cannot be bothered to take responsibility for their spawn. The general response should be "Oh Dear. How sad. Never mind". Which it appears to be that of most respondents.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Michael is correct. This does not affect anybody in genuine need who will probably be covered by free school meals. The massive debts of two grand (how on earth does someone run up a two grand debt on school dinners?) are probably from those parents who could afford to pay for school meals but do not choose to do so.
ReplyDeleteThey had to have been pretty lenient about collecting payments if people were managing to get £2,000 in arrears. I'm certainly showing my age when I recall that a week's dinner money used to be five shillings and we were sent to school every Monday with two half crowns.
ReplyDelete"The general response should be "Oh Dear. How sad. Never mind". Which it appears to be that of most respondents."
ReplyDeleteYes, I think 'compassion fatigue' has now set in - for good!
"...how on earth does someone run up a two grand debt on school dinners?..."
And why has action not been taken long before this amount was allowed to accumulate?
"I'm certainly showing my age when I recall that a week's dinner money used to be five shillings and we were sent to school every Monday with two half crowns."
I think, luckily, mine was (jusr) post-decimal!