2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumGOP Rep Suggests Kids Clean Schools In Exchange For Lunch
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), a primary candidate in the 2014 Georgia Senate race, on Saturday suggested poor students sweep floors in order to get a free lunch, according to the Huffington Post.
Kingston opposes the federal school lunch program, which subsidizes meals for kids from low-income families, but he said that if schools do provide meals, students should learn that nothing is free.
"But one of the things Ive talked to the secretary of agriculture about: Why dont you have the kids pay a dime, pay a nickel to instill in them that there is, in fact, no such thing as a free lunch? Or maybe sweep the floor of the cafeteria -- and yes, I understand that that would be an administrative problem, and I understand that it would probably lose you money," he said at a Jackson County Republican Party meeting. "But think what we would gain as a society in getting people -- getting the myth out of their head that there is such a thing as a free lunch."
Kingston spokesman Chris Crawford told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the representative was "trying to have a productive conversation" about work ethic. "It is sad that trying to have a productive conversation about instilling a strong work ethic in the next generation of Americans so quickly devolves into the usual name calling partisan hysteria," Crawford wrote in an email to the Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. "Having worked from a young age himself, Congressman Kingston understands the value of hard work and the important role it plays in shaping young people."
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-rep-suggests-kids-clean-schools-in-exchange-for-lunch
CatWoman
(79,302 posts)tularetom
(23,664 posts)'cause he sure as hell isn't doing anything to earn the $175k we pay him.
There is no such thing as a free lunch - except for 218 douchebags like him.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)When I worked at a public school in Florida, the Assistant Principal walked around the tables at lunch. Kinder kids were told to not only pick up if they dropped something on the floor, but after lunch was over to get a BROOM and sweep under the table for any crumbs. "Mr. D. (custodian) is not here to sweep up your mess." WHAT? Excuse me? Then what IS the job of a school custodian? One teacher said exactly this to the Assistant Principal. Yeah, let's just FIRE the custodians and the kids can sweep and mop the floors. Even 4 and 5 year olds.
mwooldri
(10,303 posts)Harsh words... but Assistant Principal is onto something. Just poor execution. The custodian should be more involved with the students... there is nothing wrong about any plan that means students do some cleaning up. Scrubbing down floors, cleaning toilets? Nope.. but there's other things.
I had an incentive to help clean up after school lunch... free cookies! Those who helped got the cookies. Those who didn't... didn't. I got to know more about the dinner ladies and the caretaker. Worked well all around.
frylock
(34,825 posts)let's see exactly what it is that these shitbags do to earn a paycheck.
Gothmog
(145,313 posts)In Texas, each of the GOP Lt. Governor candidates are professing love for the teaching of creationism and there is a joke going around that the first candidate to profess a belief in a flat earth will win this race. Here, Kingston is running for the GOP Senate nomination and is trying to get an early jump for the contest as to which GOP candidate is the biggest jerk
yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)Crawford spins but gets no traction in the pig shit.
mwooldri
(10,303 posts)GOP Rep suggests kids clean schools. Great idea, as long as all students do it. Show pride in your school... everyone pitch in... custodians don't lose job but become more involved with the students.
In exchange for a free lunch? The kids on free lunches already know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Sadly some know that there is no breakfast or dinner (though some schools do breakfast... free ones too).
Developing a work ethic in school is a good thing, but the reward should be something tangible and of value to every student, irrespective of social status or financial means. A field trip, perhaps? (Paid by PTA cos some kids can't pay for a field trip.)
Leave the kids lunches alone Mr. Jackson. If those kids are hungry and thirsty.. will he be there? Sounds unlikely.
uriel1972
(4,261 posts)Are there no poorhouses.
66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)Just as soon as I see some bailed out CEOs scrubbing the toilets.
Hell, I'd even be OK if they did it in the Executive Washrooms.