Fair Lawn students and parents weigh in on the possibility of free universal breakfast at schools in NJ
Free breakfast for every school student throughout New Jersey is an idea being talked about among Trenton lawmakers. The state Assembly Speaker, Craig Coughlin is floating the plan to keep kids from getting hungry while trying to learn.
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Free breakfast for every student in New Jersey is an ideal being pitched as a way to combat hunger among children and to reduce any stigma or embarrassment for those students who currently qualify for reduced or free meals at school.
News 12 heard from Fair Lawn students and parents who are on board with the idea.
“I would personally really like that option. I think it’s good that all students are constantly fed and well because it helps with brain function," said Mia Shteynberg, a senior at Fair Lawn High School.
Yes, I would definitely take advantage I don’t eat in the morning, so I’d definitely take advantage of it," said a senior named Ava Clifford.
The idea of universal breakfast is being floated by state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat from Middlesex County offered a statement saying,
“Studies have shown that childhood hunger impedes learning and can cause lifelong health problems. While New Jersey schools have made great strides over the years in serving breakfast to more students to give them a strong start to the day, we know there are still thousands of eligible children who do not participate in free school breakfast programs. Sometimes there can be a stigma to receiving free meals or difficulties in filling out paperwork to participate, so we need to remove all of these barriers to make sure that no student goes hungry," says Coughlin.
Eligibility can create embarrassment among some students who may not eat - even when families qualify.
Supporters say if everyone is allowed to eat, then no one is singled out.
In Fairlawn, as in most districts, free or reduced breakfast and lunch is provided for those families who are eligible under income guidelines.
There are no current details outlined in a bill concerning cost that could be leveled on districts or the type of food that may be provided so opposition is hard to find.
In fact, state Assembly Republicans News 12 called-on said they’d like to see specifics in a bill before weighing in.
Yet some parents like Jason Zucker who has an elementary school child said it could be of great help.
“It’s sometimes a bit of a struggle to get him to sit down and have a nice hearty breakfast at so if that was something the school could take care of for me it’s one less thing on my plate no pun intended," said Zucker.
