Who and why?
Students who receive free/reduced school lunches are ____________ to be bullied.
a) more likely
b) less likely
c) just as likely
a) more likely
An estimated one out of __________ students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch have skipped lunches in order to avoid being shamed.
a) 3
b) 5
c) 10
d) 20
a) 3
It's very common for students who receive free or reduced lunch to be shamed, not only by their peers, but also by faculty and staff.
How could it be helpful for teachers to treat the topic of free or reduced lunch privately with their students who receive it?
Treating the topic privately helps reduce stigma, protects students' privacy, and prevents potential bullying.
Oftentimes, faculty and staff will hand out free or reduced lunch vouchers to students by calling out their names in front of all of their classmates.
Almost _____% of districts nationwide have form of “shaming policy,” in which students with unpaid meal debts are publicly acknowledged in front of their peers.
a) 10
b) 30
c) 50
d) 70
c) 50
Examples of these "shaming policies" include staff throwing away students' hot lunches and replacing them with a cold sandwich, and having students' clean the cafeteria or wash dishes.
Why is lunch such a significant time during the school day?
Lunchtime allows students to interact with one another. It plays a large role in shaping school culture. It also gives students an opportunity to observe each other and identify certain students as “poor,” which makes them more at risk for bullying. It also gives a chance for students to connect while standing in line for lunch or eating, but not if the student is unable or unwilling to get a free or reduced lunch
How could it be helpful for teachers to discuss the topic of free or reduced lunch with the other faculty and staff at their school?
It would raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote a more supportive school environment.
Universal Free Lunch is linked to _________________.
a) more bullying
b) a better school climate
c) hungrier students
d) poorer academic performance
b) a better school climate
A better school climate is linked to less bullying. UFM prevents students from being singled out for requiring free or reduced lunch. While this is not a practical solution for educators to implement alone, it does go to show that students who receive free or reduced lunch, especially those who are singled out, are at a higher risk of being bullied.
In addition to being bullied about receiving free or reduced lunch, how might the stigma and shaming surrounding this topic make students more vulnerable to bullying in other ways?
Students who receive free or reduced lunch will often skip lunch in order to avoid feeling shamed or embarrassed. Students who go hungry often face other problems, such as behavioral issues or lower academic performance, which in turn can make them vulnerable to being bullied about other things.
How could the incorporation of discussions on economic diversity into classes help decrease students who receive free or reduced lunch being bullied?
Being proactive and addressing certain biases and stereotypes about students from different backgrounds could increase the amount of understanding and empathy between classmates.