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Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images
A school cafeteria worker hands out fruit and drinks to school children at the Normandie Avenue Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles on Dec. 2, 2010, the same day Congress passed The Healthy Hungry-Free Kids Act.
It may not sound like much but there’s a new item on the school menu: water.
Across the country, administrators are scrambling to comply with a new federal requirement that free drinking water be offered at lunch as part of an ongoing push to improve the health of the nation’s 49 million public school children.
The solution isn’t as simple as pointing kids toward the nearest water fountain. Just ask Brian Giles, food services senior administrator at the Houston Independent School District, the nation’s seventh-largest district, with more than 202,000 students and almost 300 campuses:
“The majority of our schools do not have drinking fountains or ready access to water in the lunchroom,” he said.
To comply, he’s spent $60,000 to buy 3.5-gallon water coolers for each school cafeteria. In the lunch line, students can choose milk or juice, or a cup for water.
“Every kid needs access to water,” he said. “It would have been nice if the feds allocated some money for it.”
The mandate comes as schools struggle with budget cuts amid growing concern with childhood hunger and obesity. In December, President Barack Obama signed The Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act, which includes the provision that schools make water available at no charge during lunch.
Experts say water is the ideal drink for kids already drinking too many high-calorie, sugary drinks.
Like Houston, schools in Atlanta are putting out water coolers and making cups available. Other districts have invested in costlier water stations where students can fill cups or bottles.
“We’re looking at what is the most cost-effective, practical and environmentally –sustainable way to provide water to our students,” said Seattle Public Schools spokeswoman Teresa Wipple. For now, the district puts out pitchers and cups in the cafeterias of its 94 schools.
While bringing more water into schools is a good idea, researchers say it’s only part of the solution to combating obesity.
“It’s a step in the right direction but it’s going to take more than that,” said Lindsey Turner, a senior research specialist at the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
As the lead author of a 2010 study, Turner found almost half the nation’s public elementary school students could purchase soda, sport drinks and higher-fat milk during the 2008-2009 school year from vending machines, school stores and a la carte lines.
Getting students to drink the water is another challenge.
“We’re not seeing a lot of demand for it,” Giles said.
Leave a Comment:
Who felt that a soda machine in an elementary school was a good idea???? Trade it in on a water machine!
Who felt that there was something wrong with a soda machine in an elementary school? I used to get 1 soda every day after school for drinking while I walked home. The problem isn't having a soda machine, it's the parents being too lazy to teach their kids the value of moderation.
You know, self control? What a novel concept, teaching your kids something that helps them later in life! OMG!!!
Parents aren't lazy. Maybe some are, but by and large, we're a pretty industrious group. I wish all the "parents are lazy and evil" group would just stop being so darned judgmental. Especially since you're so wrong.
What if I want my kid to be able to CHOOSE what they want to drink? If they want a coke, or a chocolate milk, or a juice? Because the rest of you crybabies can't teach YOUR kids a little self control, now MY kid has to suffer by not getting that freedom of choice. So, I'm not the one that's wrong here, you are!
Tricia:
As the husband of an elementary school teacher, I can definitively say most parents are extremely lazy. Half the parents "can't find time" to read for 5 minutes a day with their kids. If you can't be bothered to try to keep your kid from drinking soda, then you're a lazy parent.
I will repeat myself for you. Parents aren't lazy. I'm a parent. I'm not lazy. That's it. I don't care about soda machines in school. I also don't care about you wishing your child can have "freedom of choice" in the school cafeteria when it comes to their choice of drink. If he wants soda, chocolate milk or grape kool-aid, bring it from home if there's no soda machine. I don't care either way. I'm just tired of you and your faction judging parents as lazy. We're not. We work really hard. That's it. This isn't about your child's freedom to drink whatever they want because I don't care if you let your kid have 1 to 4 sodas a day. I just don't care at all. He's your kid. You raise him. I care about you labeling all other parents lazy because some people think soda machines in school are a bad idea.
Moderate Matthew. So, half the parents aren't lazy by your own estimation. See? We're not lazy.
I wouldn't go so far as to try and keep my kids from drinking soda, I take my time and explain to them the consequences of drinking too much soda, but that 1, every now and then, is okay. Fortunantly, it's not too hard to point out someone that is extrememely overweight, and explain that too much of anything like sugary drinks, or desserts, can lead you to become overweight, and how it's bad for your health. The same thing my parents taught me. And guess what? Your kids will listen, and make the right choices, you'd be surprised how a little more freedom of choice actually leads to better decisions down the road in other life choices.
Prohibition,
Give me one good reason that a soda (sugar water) machine needs to be in a school.
By your reasoning of parents teaching "self-control" we could allow cigarette machines too. Parents could simply explain to their children that cigarettes are bad for them and the problem would be solved. Sugar like nicotine is addictive and used heavily overtime is just as damaging to personal health. Why do you suppose we are in the throes of an ever increasing diabetes epidemic?
Walking home from school?? Now that is a novel idea, which also burned the calories from that soda as you were drinking it.
When I was in high school we were not allowed to buy a soda from the pepsi machine in the cafeteria until after school. Pop simply was not there for lunch time consumption. I have raised my kids to make good food choices, without denying them access to those treats that we had growing up. The biggest difference between then and now is that those treats have become expectations for daily living. Just look at the menu for your local elementary school. It is just a bunch of junk. Pizza, pizza pockets, hot dogs, corn dogs, hamburgers, all over processed and just squeeking by on the nutrition value enough to get on the menu.
I understand that there are kids out there that rely on these meals and that they need to be low cost enough for the schools to afford them, but I make my daughter's lunch to send to the elementary school with her each day, and there is alway a whole grain, a dairy product, fresh fruit, a protein source, and a veggie, and I estimate that I spend about $1 a day for her meals. The school charges almost $2 a day here. The federal free and reduced food programs are just another example of how taxpayer dollars are not used wisely.
Tricia--
Who is my "faction"? lol
You state "you labeling all other parents lazy", but I never stated such, I said "most". Are you too lazy to read carefully? Or so defensive you have to lie about what I'm saying? You seem to be going great lengths to defend people you don't know, that I do, that are EXTREMELY LAZY. This seems very telling to me. The laziest parents at my wife's school are also the most defensive ones when a child's bad behavior is mentioned to them.
And Prohibition: I didn't mean to imply that you're lazy if you don't keep your kid away from soda, I meant that if you can't be BOTHERED to do so, and try to take it away from everybody instead, you're a lazy parent.
Well, Prohibition, good luck teaching your kids moderation, and freedom of choice. Post a couple pictures in 20 years.
What I can't figure out is why water isn't already available. When I went to school, there were water fountains everywhere, and we live in a southern desert. Did the soft-drink companies pay the schools to take water fountains out or something? How hard can it be. Run a bloody spigot to the wall, or better yet, put a spigot where the old one already was. I've never worked anywhere that you couldn't get water easily. School is different somehow?
Ridiculous. When I was a kid, we got milk, or got our own water out of a fountain. Not complicated. What changed?
If they REALLY want to cut childhood obesity, they'd put gym, recess. and after lunch freetime play back in the schedule. AND get rid of the soda and fruit drinks in the lunch line. When I was in school it was either milk or juice, and we got to go outside and burn off some calories and high spirits during recess and free time outside after lunch. We also had gym class every day.
My kids haven't had a recess since 3rd grade and haven't had more than 2 mandatory Phys Ed classes since 6th grade. (They're HS seniors now.)
They were too busy teaching them to take tests to ensure federal funding for NCLB, I guess.
Why haven't these schools been providing water all along. If i had a dog in my back yard all day with no water, I would be in trouble, but here we are discussing whether it's necessary for schools to provide access for our kids?
And one more thing, it's been proven (you non believers can look it up if you like) that most of us can't tell the difference between hunger and thirst. While I don't believe it will cure the obesity epidemic, it certainly will help some.
Thank you itgranny. I was beginning to think I was the only one that noticed that the article said that there is no drinking water available to school kids.
Water fountains are located in the hallway where kids can have access. Most schools never had water fountains in the lunchroom. Ever seen 100-200 kids line up to use a water fountain? Basically the feds passed a ridiculous mandate to the schools and a large tab to go with. How about schools provide reading, writing and arithmatic and let parents be in charge of feeding their OWN kids?? Kids are not getting obese from schools lunches..Kids are not getting obese because they don't know proper nutrition..They are fat because the stigma is gone (can't call them fat) and they eat too much at home!
Prohibition: You've got to be kidding. Do you read three sentences into things before you decide how to be angry about it? I'm baffled why water wasn't available before. Seems pretty basic. They are ADDING access to water. Your (possibly diabetic and fat) kids can still get their corn syrup fix should they choose too.
Bottom line is there is nothing free in the school cafeteria. This so called free water is taxpayer funded water. People with no kids in school will have to be paying some of the cost of it. How about having bottled water available and let the parents of the kids pay for it?
Yet another move by the "We know what's better for you" police.
I wish these people would just go somewhere and dry up.
Devil's son: There are plenty of parents out there who can't even afford to feed their kids. There are plenty of children who only get to eat at school. A school cafeteria should have a water fountain. That's pretty basic. Suggesting that anyone buy bottled water is ridiculous. Bottled water itself is ridiculous (most of it is municipal water that is transported and sold at a ridiculous markup), but that is another issue.
Dave: It's water for christ's sake! No one is telling anyone what is better for them! They are making a basic thing available that should already have been. I don't understand the current trend of looking through everything with such a negative "the government is stupid" lens. Some things are ok!
Jack, it's still my choice.
We have schools here that prevent parents from sending any drink THEY deem inappropriate. There, choice is not given.
First it's water, then it's the food, then it's clothing... what's next, Jack?
Devil's Son and Davet, what in the hell's wrong with you???? It's water, a basic need for all of us and should have been offered all along but probably wasn't due to immoral, capitalist folks like you. (Coke or Pepsi my little kiddies? My portfolio needs money.)
That principal said it would be nice for the fed to provide funds for water in the cafeterias? WTF, who builds a school without putting access to water for the kids. Were the buildings designed by Coke/Pepsi or something? Water is a pretty simple thing to plumb in cafeterias, since it's already there in the dang kitchens. What idiots....
For those that want choice, I agree sort of. But if they don't have room for a water fountain, and the soda machine is standing there, I say kick it to the curb, and put in a water dispenser. Choice is great, to a point. Of course, after a thousand kids get in line and take forever to decide on what to eat, I can see why people would want a single menu and no choice. I know my 6yr old girl takes forever to decide on the most simple menu decisions.
DaveT, For a lot of us, if we never see or hear of another American child going thirsty, hungry or cold it would be a good thing.
Dave: Clothing has been mandated for as long as I can remember, and for good reason. In any form of public service, you must plan for the extremes - the best and the worst. There are plenty of good parents and plenty of crap ones. Water should be available to all kids. I can't believe this is even a serious discussion.
Personally, I'd take it a step further and not allow soda machines in any school before high school. If parents want to send stuff with their kids, then let it happen that way.
Big difference between soda and cigarettes! Cigarettes are NOT LEGAL for those under 18!! Last I checked, soda is!
OK, why would there be soda machines in a lunchroom but no drinking fountains or faucets? That is just bone headed behavior on the part of the administrators who approved the building - don't go looking for the money from the feds (i.e., all of us tax payers) - take it out of the salary of the administrators who approved the building in the first place!
Most of you posters missed the key point in the article. That's ok, you went to public schools so you're forgiven. It's not that schools don't have water fountains, it's that they don't have any 'IN' the cafeteria. That's what the new law says they have to do. So who's the bonehead now? The schools, or the authors of the legislation who can't comprehend the idea of going outside for a drink at the fountain?
My boys go to a small town school and this article made me curious, so I asked them. At lunch, they have a choice between regular milk, chocolate milk and yes, a water fountain in the cafeteria. There are also water fountains in the halls. No soda machines at the school. Apparently we can send them to school with sodas or sugar-juice boxes, but, um, ain't gonna happen. They seem happy with the choices they have. They're allowed a soda occasionally at home but not often. Looks like common sense is strong in the country - or that corporations can't make enough money in small schools to justify stocking the machines.
You think drinking soda every day is "moderation"? Your metabolism may be able to handle it, but in general it's just another cause of fat kids who are getting served garbage for lunch and topping it off with sugary drinks.
We're talking about elementary schools. These kids are not mature enough to have some freedoms- like choosing between soda and water at lunch time. Ask any 5thgrader if he'd rather stay up all night playing video games, or go to bed early and be well-rested for school. Which would he choose? Is it the choice that is best for his health and well-being? Step up, parents. When your kid gets diabetes and needs special treatment from the school, you will surely be hollering for the school to provide it.
Brian Giles of Houston just stated what is wrong with our entire structure when he stated that the federal government should provide money for the water. It should not even have been necessary to mandate water being available in a school cafeteria, yet when the federal government was forced by local inaction to require it, he wants them to pick up the tab. Yo, Mr Giles, I can go into BK or Mickey D and get free water with my meal, yet you can't manage to give it to your school kids? I bet many of those kids, if they grew up with free water in school would be happy to drink it, especially the poorer ones. I can even begin to remember the number of times I wished I had a glass of water during lunch when I was a school kid.
I worked in a school for many years and I also didn't (and still don't) understand why there were never water fountains in the lunchroom. Many times in our school the water fountains didn't work or we were told not to use them. It shouldn't cost anything to the kids to be able to get a drink of water. This is poor planning when school districts build very expensive new buildings without providing good quality, working water fountains. Old buildings have better water fountains. "Unfunded mandate" to have access to clean water? Really?
And no, you can't just wander out into the hall whenever you want to when you are a child at lunch.
And water is NOT a choice for those who get free or reduced lunch, which are the same children who are most likely to benefit from this change.
And yes, it is going to be a problem when 240 kids want a drink of water.
And....it is probably going to cut into the bottom line of those companies contracted to provide school lunches when water is free......so sad.
What happened to drinking fountains? Not cool enough anymore?
Install drinking fountains, for gods sake. Why is this even a problem? The schools will save money in the long term. Oh, forgot, our country seems to have forgotten how to think in the long term.
Installing drinking fountains as a replacement to serving water during lunch won't do a damn thing. No kid is gonna get up multiple times from his table just to get a drink. You want your drink sitting right there with you as you're eating. Drinking fountains are used primarily while going to and from class.
hand out paper cups in the lunch line for those that want water, and then go fill it in the fountain. how hard is that?
Yeah very simple..300 kids lining up for a drinking fountain?? Seriously are you that clueless?? If it were that simple it wouldn't have had to be mandated! And no you can not just provide a faucet.
I think the article said they didn't have water fountains in the cafeteria.
As opposed to 300 kids lined up at a water cooler? Most kids will go for the milk or juice option anyway.
No water fountains in the cafeteria doesn't necessarily mean no access. In my school, the cafeteria doubled as the gym, so the water fountains were immediately outside, in the hallway. I think we even had two there, since it was a busy spot.
I never went to a school in my life that did not have at least one drinking fountain in the cafeteria, who's designing these schools?
agreed
My son's schools don't have have water fountains in the cafeteria. My oldest son's school has one outside the cafeteria, but not inside. They also sell water....they don't offer it as a beverage choice.
The schools I attended and the ones I've been in over the more recent years, the cafeterias are also gymnasiums (as well as the room that also serves as the theater, concert and pep rally hall) so they all had a drinking fountain near the bathrooms. The only time they seemed to get used though was either during performances or as a way for a kid to get a couple of minutes out of the classroom.
I really don't understand why the schools have to scramble to make this happen. I'll say it. THIS is the problem with America. That we can't figure out how to offer kids water at lunch time without having it mandated by the federal government, then we complain about the government being too large.
I always thought that drinking fountains in schools was mandate of law. I guess I learned something new.
I agree. Should have been a common sense installation.
There always has been water available to the kids. The mandate is to make water available in the cafeterias, most of which do not have drinking fountains, since drinking fountains are typically in hallways so kids can have a quick drink between classes. There was no funding to accompany this mandate.
The kids were never going to wither away and die for lack of water.
Then apply the profits from the soda and candy machines that ARE available in cafeterias to fund the free water? Kids are eating in the cafeterias. Water should be there.
Ya got to be kidding me. Ask any School Superintendent It's all about the kids. Now look at administration pay and benefits. I know, by making sure the kids have water it would just be throwing money at the problem. Heh Perry you skirt is showing. We got rid of recess next water and lunches, what can we do with those pesky kids? Send them to a good christian church.
It's astounding that our schools not only have to provide proper education, but now have to act like health departments for the children is insanity...The education system is being shattered while debate continues on in the capital why the country is broke and stagnant...I still ask if you have a specific party deemed your party, what have they done for you ??? Has a politician ever came to your door asking to make your next car payment ? Has a politician ever offered to watch your children for a parents night out ?? Has a politician ever rushed into the emergency room in dire need to know the status of you or a family member ??? If we want our children educated and able to compete on a global basis we need some answers quick...Our political figures need to map a plan and map it quick...Ever wonder amongst all the conflict our fore fathers could work together, and a today's politican couldn't work together to take attendance ??? Lastly why are they still writing laws they understand ??? So much for The People, By The People...I wish the capitol a giant pink slip as your employer...
You really are over thinking this. A cafeteria should have a water fountain. Period. The fact that there are any out there that don't is ridiculous. The government shouldn't have to mandate this, they should have already been available. That's like saying "we are scrambling to provide power outlets in our classrooms!"
What a waste of time and money. There is a drinking fountian somewhere close by. Mandate that the lazy bum parents pack a lunch for their kids with a container of water.. Eliminate the lunch program completely. It isn't governments job to feed your kids, ITS YOURS!!
Remember reality? Like the fact that there are plenty of children who only get to eat at school? It isn't their fault their parents suck. At least give them this.
I remember a time before the Tea Party, Fox News, and Republicans in general had convinced everyone they should be irate about every stupid thing. Oh, those were the days.
The schools where I'm at already have kids bring water bottles from home. They even have regulations on what kind can be brought.
Isn't making the child choose a cup for their water instead of milk or juice making them pay for it?
All these crazy rules are why I get out of bed 30 minutes early every morning to pack lunches for my girls and my husband. I know what they are eating and drinking because I make it and pack it up for them every morning. Most of the time the drink included is water, unless the youngest requests milk.
So you are saying that you are responsible and loving parent. That seems to be missing these days. So many of the parents at my school refuse to pack lunches for their kids. They almost laugh at the idea of making a lunch. Why pay for a healthy lunch when the kids can get a free or reduced lunch and it requires filling out one sheet of paper. We don't have enough parents who have the time or who will make the time to make lunches. I praise your efforts and I know that other teachers do notice.
This is and will continue to be against school rules in Chicago. Bringing your own lunch will soon get your child jail time - believe it.
I would do the same thing I did when my daughter's daycare told me she HAD to be offered fruit juice at 2 years old. I got a note from the doctor stating she HAD to be offered water instead of fruit juice. I am positive my doctor would write a note stating that for health reason's my daughter could not eat school lunches. I would remove her from her school before I allowed them to force the issue on me.
Ahh! Nobody is making the children choose water. They are making it available!!
If I don't pack a lunch I'm not a responsible or loving parent? Wow...thanks for that! My son happens to like the lunches provided by the school (that include milk as a drink BTW...not soda)
A generation ago schools districts abdicated responsiblity for school lunches when they turn over management of cafeterias to commercial interests, whose sole interest is making money providing the cheapest products for sale to the children at the greatest profit. Eliminating water fountains in the cafeterias forces the children to buy a drink. In many districts there is a litany of junk food to choose from as opposed to the planned meals that were served when lunch programs were funded by the district.
It is interesting that schools are built without access to one of the basic needs of life--water. I guess it seems old-fashioned when you can sell the other drinks. Water should be free in schools, and kids should have to line up at certain times of the day and get a drink. Hydration is as important as food and maybe moreso. I just bet you would begin to see thinner, happier and more focussed children.
There are drinking fountains in the hallways of every school. Water is available.
HWilson: Soda and candy machines are also readily available in most every cafeteria. Why? Because that is where kids are eating. Water fountains should be too.
Interesting that the kids are now getting some attention as to their physical needs. When I was in elementary school, we got a quick drink at the water fountain twice a day and a half pint of milk at lunch. That is well below what it takes to keep a kid safely hydrated. Now, somebody is paying attention -- finally.
They just want kids to drink more fluoride...
Mandrake.....
Awesome "Strangelove" ref., Squid! Nice to see another Kubrick fan.
Take the snack machines, and soda drinks, out of the schools and have water coolers installed! That's the way it was when I went to school! Before the soda kings offered up money to fund schools administrators, teacher, and janitors, pay raises, and benefits increases! Closed campuses would also reduce crime, obesity, and smoking in, & around schools! {:-)}
Un-Funded mandates should be illegal, and, any politician who attempts to force that on any state should automatically receive jail time for attempting to force that down any states throat.
That being said, at the local level, any school caught off guard by the concept of kids needing water during lunch time, and not having the capability to provide water in the amounts needed during lunch time, needs to have that particular school board fired. Immediately. On the spot.
As an elementary school teacher, I have seen the need for decent and nutrious school lunches. Too many parents (yes, those that can afford to purchase meals) send the worst junk possible for meals, as it is easier to give in to a whining child rather than properly parent. I've seen breakfasts of candy bars and soda and lunches of pickles, chips and kool-aid, explained away by parents who say "they won't eat anything else." So yes, although it seems unfair, schools can and should step in to educate students not just in academic subjects, but also in taking care of one's self. Because too many parents just can't be bothered...
This is the 21st century. How can ANY school not have access to drinking water?
Kids are really overweight these days and it is a huge problem in this country! Why should they have access to sugar at school !give them the heart attack, fast food, cavity causing crap in your own home.Kids do not know moderation.. Hell... a lot of adults do not know moderation ..How about we all support the kids gardening programs in school? how about education on how to eat and even how to cook meals. Kids deserve for us to care what goes into their bodies because they are building habits for a life time when they are kids
"Oh-bah-mah's No Child Left Behind Thirsty Act" won't cost us a dime - just $3.00 an 8oz bottle when purchased from a GREEN COMPANY selected by Oh-bah-mah. Here it comes - water shortages - and by necessity a pint of water will soon cost more than a gallon of gasoline. Also - out of necessity the poor will have their water delivered to them by a fair liberal quota system. Those of us on the edge of poverty will necessarily have to die of thirst and or famine for "The Word" - "The Truth." It's coming soon to theaters in in or near your neighbor-HOOD.
And yet for some reason the tebaggers hate it when people call them racists...
And Toasty, your unshakable, prescient knowledge that beecent is a member of the TEA party comes from what? Your consistent need to put down everyone that doesn't agree with you?
Experience mostly. You get good at spotting them pretty quick when you follow current events.
S GA Peach- While I agree that some parents do not send healthy lunches... The schools need to start serving other things than chicken nuggets, pizza and burgers everyday. If we teach the kids that that is what they can eat everyday, then we can not be upset if that is what they want. My kids HATE school food, not only is it gross but they would rather have a Caesar or chef salad.
Paddleboard--those are not the lunches I see in our cafeterias. Baked chicken, salisbury steak, chicken and rice, soup and sandwiches, tacos, chili and fish are amongst the meals. And yes, there are days of burgers, pizza and chicken sandwiches. And there is a salad bar available on certain days, as well as a program to introduce fresh healthy snacks weekly. It's sad that more schools can't follow a model of moderation...
I wish that the lunches were better. Most parents that i know have complained but here are some of the excuses we get. "The pizza is specially made to be low in fat. It's healthy" The same goes for the nuggets, chicken patties, burgers and hotdogs. About twice a month there is something served that not like what would be served at a fast food restaurant. Then there is the issue that in highschool the kids have lunch at 9:00am which is ridiculous (school starts at 7am) They keep adding students (200 this year) and not added an additional lunch. There are kids that stand in line at lunch the whole lunch period and never get through the line. In order for my daughter to eat lunch, she brings stuff from home.
There needs to be standards applied to all schools. How is it that some schools have great lunches and others have crap. We live in a very nice area so even that does not seem to make a difference.
To be fair, I do have to state that my daughter's school is trying to offer good choices. They have a chef salad a few times a week, but still offer all the crap. There are 3 choices a day for lunch! I didn't ever have more than one. What was on the menu was what was for lunch, period. If you didn't like it, you brought lunch or went without.
Oh, and for some reason the only way for my kids to get water at school is to spend $1.25 a bottle for an 8oz bottle of water. It is not an option with their lunch if they eat a school lunch
Your child's school is teaching the wrong lesson on so many levels!
And the list goes on....
Look at the lunch lady in the picture! When did we start having to have the lunch lady behind bars in a protective environment? You wonder about drinking fountains? I'm wondering how many of those 7 year olds in line are coming in with guns and knives so we have to put the workers behind protective barriers!! If we're having to do this then our problems in schools go way beyond having water for the kids.
Does it bother anybody else that a school cafeteria worker has to pass out food from behind a reinforced glass window?
I thought those are sneeze guards to keep one sick kid from infecting the entire batch of whatever?