2.13.18
Suggested lead: If you're not familiar with the term
"lunch-shaming," don't worry. There's a good chance it will soon be
illegal in Washington anyway.
Dan Frizzell has more.
Wrap (:70 total):
PETERSON:
“We have an opportunity to make sure that our school districts are not
stigmatizing kids just because they might not be able to afford lunch that day.”
[:07]
That’s state Representative Strom Peterson speaking in
Olympia, talking about a bill he introduced that would ban the disturbing
practice of lunch-shaming and make sure every Washington K-12 student could eat
a decent meal, regardless of inability to pay. Lunch-shaming happens when kids
are singled out in the school cafeteria and given a bare-bones lunch, sometimes
in a paper bag that distinguishes it from the typical lunch served to other
students. There are even reports of cafeteria workers taking a meal away from
students and throwing it away when it’s discovered the youngster hasn’t got
lunch money that day. Peterson, an
Edmonds Democrat, said enough was enough.
PETERSON:
“This bill came to me when I was visiting my mom back in New Mexico where I grew
up and I saw that the New Mexico state Legislature had passed one of the most
progressive lunch-shaming bills in the country.
And I said, well, I think the great state of Washington
can certainly follow suit.” [:15]
Most Republicans voted to retain the practice, but
Peterson’s legislation was OK’d by the House and now moves to the Senate for
consideration. In Olympia, I’m Dan
Frizzell.