Return to Dickensian poverty?

[B00]

Following on from the link provided by DrFilth in a previous thread...

http://www.telegraph....tired-and-hungry.html

How is this allowed to happen in this day and age?

There's a paragraph that claims a 6th former (16/17- right?) hasn't eaten for 3 days!

Surely even the poorest family could cobble 40p together to buy a reduced loaf from a supermarket?

[dzug2]

<<I'd need some convincing these problems described are not down to the individual failure of those concerned. >>

Even so they are still problems - some people are always going to fail, be less capable, etc

So how do you solve them - or are you saying they don't matter?

[ladybirder]

Maybe they should be given Vouchers for the Parenting Classes that were talked about on a thread here last week.

[anneasquith]

or maybe be given more money to get them out of poverty, and provide a decent standard of living for their children !

[pa___ul3]

dzug, how can you account for personal failings?
If we could there'd be nobody homeless, no alcoholics, no drug addicts..etc.
It's simply impossible.
In such instances you can't rely on anything that can be done on a national level, you'd hope to rely on family, friends and neighbours.

[ummmm]

Why do so many people blame booze and fags? Yes, 'some' people on low incomes drink and smoke, but many can't afford to. I know a couple living in near on poverty...he was made redundant so they are relying on her minimum wage job. They don't go out drinking...she smokes roll ups, he doesn't smoke at all. Out of her minimum wage job she has all the bills and mortgage to pay, which leaves next to nothing for food.

[Barmaid]

That is quite scary RedH.

[cazzz1975]

but these children would be entitled to free school meals so they would have at least one decent meal a day.

[EvianBaby]

Exactly Ummm, I'm sure there are some people who are spending their money on the wrong things but you can't assume everyone living in dire conditions is smoking and drinking their money away.

Helens quick sums are pretty frightening and we should actually be applauding those parents who manage to keep afloat in these circumstances. I know a few of them.

[ummmm]

School dinners are not adequate for teenagers.....not as the main meal a day.

[B00]

Agree ummmm, but faced with not eating for 3 days, surely a free school meal is better than the nothing?

[cazzz1975]

personally I cant believe that a family couldnt afford a sack of potatoes which would last a while and cheap bread, milk, cheese.

I have been very empoverished in life and when I was this is what we lived on successfully, there was no time when the kids went without food. it wasnt fancy but it was basic and filling.

[ummmm]

Of course it's better than nothing...wouldn't keep my teenage boys fed though.

[cazzz1975]

school meals are very good these days helen

[cazzz1975]

I still maintain that school meals are very good, surely your father and stepmother provide an evening meal?

[naomi24]

I find it odd that parents don't make food their first priority - even if it's only egg and chips, or beans on toast. And lack of money doesn't prevent a child from going to bed at a reasonable time.