Blog: Teacher Gives Breakfast in the Classroom Failing Marks

Whoever says that the Los Angeles Unified School District's  Breakfast in the Classroom deserves an A+ is delusional. 

As a primary teacher in LAUSD, I am supposed to send kindergarten students to get food for 24 classmates.  The large coldpack boxes are places on dollies for these five-year-olds to push across campus. 

The food, sometimes expired, sometimes moldy, or inappropriately frozen (like fresh fruit) is passed out.  About 80 percent of the food goes right to the trash because the children will not eat it, contradicting the claim that the children are now more well-nourished. 

School district rules prohibit saving or giving away uneaten food.  Milk, sometimes curdled, is to be poured down drains which clogs up the ancient plumbing.  We have been given BIC colanders with which to drain cold cereal in the classroom sink.  We do, now, have a lovely menagerie of cocroaches and ants that live in our classrooms. 

Sticky spilled milk is on the floor until the teacher or a volunteer can mop it up due to the cuts in custodial services.  Less trips to the nurse?  This is probably true since many schools no longer have on-site nurses due to budget cuts.  A survey sent to some schools after 4 days into the program asked if test scores and teacher effectiveness were up.  Really?

Public schools have been providing free breakfasts and lunches since Lyndon Johnson was president.  This is not a new concept.  And, of course, teachers want children to be well fed before starting a rigorous school day. 

LAUSD should start a full out campaign to encourage children to arrive BEFORE school to eat an appealing, nutritious breakfast, continue the Second Start breakfast serves at recess for those who missed the early opportunity, and give our students a full instructional day without vermin.