Education

“Lunch Shaming” Should Not Be A School Memory

THE MADISON TIMES — Looking back on childhood memories of school, there were likely good and bad days. Today, there are youth who will reminisce on their K-12 experience and recall what we refer to today as “lunch shaming.” This is the practice of providing disparate treatment to a student because of their family’s inability or problems paying for their school meals.

Published

5 years ago

June 4, 2019

Oakland Post

Legislatively Speaking By Senator Lena C. Taylor

Looking back on childhood memories of school, there were likely good and bad days. Today, there are youth who will reminisce on their K-12 experience and recall what we refer to today as “lunch shaming.” This is the practice of providing disparate treatment to a student because of their family’s inability or problems paying for their school meals.

Over the years, national news stories have highlighted children being denied a meal because of an outstanding lunch bill. School officials have thrown the child’s meal away or given them a cheese/PB&J sandwich, as opposed to the same meal that their classmates were provided.

Incidents of students being physically pulled out of lunch lines or having their hands stamped with the words “I owe lunch money” have also been reported. In addition, school districts have denied graduating seniors their caps and gowns unless their meal debts were paid.

As if school today isn’t already hard enough for some students to navigate, these misguided policies only make matters worse. The added embarrassment and pressure of something that is beyond a child’s control further contributes to the many issues already associated with food insecurities.

Let me start by saying, this is an adult problem and children have no business being a “go-between debt collector or negotiator” in this process. States have said they can no longer allow school meal programs to operate in the red. Funding is scarce and there has been a push to get parents to comply with their portion of school meal expenses. But somewhere, that push took an ugly turn. As a state, we can and should do something about this!

That is why I am pleased to have worked with Rep. Gary Tauchen (R – Bonduel) on Assembly Bill 84 (AB 84), regarding imposing requirements related to school lunch and breakfast programs in certain schools. AB 84 would require certain schools to provide a lunch or breakfast, regardless of any outstanding financial obligation, to students who request such meals.

AB 84 would also require that schools clearly explain the application process to families regarding the eligibility for free or reduced school meals. Under this bill, children would not be punished or allowed to go hungry, while the adults (parents and school administrators) work out a solution. Sometimes, even possible solutions have violated policy, like accepting a donation to the district to cover outstanding lunch bills. With AB 84, we change that practice.

In Milwaukee Public Schools, we figured this out a few years ago. It is time to take steps around the rest of the state to ensure that all of our children and youth are on equal footing when it comes to school nutrition and access to quality meals.

Most of us are familiar with studies and data that reports many families rely on meals provided at school. In fact, in Wisconsin roughly 82 million school lunches and 26 million breakfasts are served annually.

It is my hope that we will join at least 16 other states, such as New Mexico, Washington, California, New York in passing this measure to treat all of our youth the same during school meals.

This article originally appeared in The Madison Times.

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Art

A Prolific Painter: Artist and Advocate Lois Mailou Jones

Lois Mailou Jones was a prominent African American artist whose career spanned more than seven decades, from the Harlem Renaissance to the modern art movement. She was not only a prolific painter but also an influential educator, bridging cultural gaps and challenging stereotypes through her vibrant and diverse works.

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of National Archives, Washington, D.C.

By Tamara Shiloh

Her unique journey of self-expression, dedication to art, and advocacy for African American and African themes made her a crucial figure in the evolution of American art.

Jones was born on Nov. 3, 1905, in Boston. Raised in an intellectual and supportive family, she demonstrated an early interest in art, encouraged by her mother, who believed in the importance of creativity. Lois studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where she faced racial challenges but persisted in pursuing her passion.

Her pursuit of higher education led her to the prestigious Design Art School, where she perfected her skills in textile design. Later, Jones attended Harvard University and received further training at the Académie Julian in Paris. This European experience greatly influenced her style and broadened her perspective on art.

Jones’s career began in textile design, creating works that were used by leading textile companies. However, her true passion was painting. During the Harlem Renaissance, she moved away from textile design to focus on fine art, exploring themes that reflected her heritage and the African diaspora.

Her early works were influenced by European Post-Impressionism, featuring landscapes and still life, but Jones’s style evolved over time. After spending time in Haiti, she was deeply inspired by Caribbean culture, and her palette became more vivid, her subject matter more symbolic. The influence of African and Caribbean culture is evident in her later works, where she used bright colors and geometric patterns to convey the spirit and stories of the people she encountered.

Her contributions to African American art were significant during a time when Black artists struggled for recognition. She often focused on themes of African heritage, pride, and unity, blending African illustrations and portraits with Western artistic techniques to create a unique visual language that celebrated Black culture.

She was also a dedicated educator. She began her teaching career at Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina and later became a professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she taught for almost 50 years. Through her teaching, she influenced generations of young Black artists, encouraging them to explore and express their cultural heritage through art.

In the 1930s and 1940s, she worked to exhibit her work alongside other Black artists, helping to create a platform for voices that had long been excluded from mainstream galleries.

Recognition and Legacy

Jones achieved significant recognition throughout her lifetime, both in the United States and internationally. She exhibited her work across the globe, including in Paris, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Jones continued painting until her death in 1998, leaving behind a rich legacy of artistic achievements and contributions to art education. She broke boundaries by celebrating Black identity and heritage at a time when these themes were often marginalized.

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California Black Media

New California Law Will Protect Students During Extreme Weather

On Sept. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will protect students from extreme weather conditions by requiring the California Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts to implement during weather patterns harmful to student health. Authored by Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), “Yahushua’s Law” or Senate Bill 1248 addresses an extreme heat-related fatality in Lake Elsinore. During the summer of 2023, a student died after participating in physical education suffered extreme heat-related illness.

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Robinson

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Sept. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will protect students from extreme weather conditions by requiring the California Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts to implement during weather patterns harmful to student health.

Authored by Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), “Yahushua’s Law” or Senate Bill 1248 addresses an extreme heat-related fatality in Lake Elsinore. During the summer of 2023, a student died after participating in physical education suffered extreme heat-related illness.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Sen. Hurtado stated last Spring. “I commend the family of Yahushua Robinson, the twelve-year student who lost his life due to heat related illness during on-campus physical education, for lending their emotional strength and compassion for others in order to help ensure that no other student loses their life this way.”

Supporters of the legislation say the lack of uniform guidelines and protocols across schools and school districts in California intensifies the issue, creating an urgent need for safeguards to ensure student safety during extreme weather conditions.

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California Black Media

More Than 1.2 Million Youth Pre-Registered to Vote, Secretary of State Weber Announced

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber announced on Sept. 26 that more than 1.2 million young people between the ages of 16 and 17-years-old have pre-registered to vote since the state launched the initiative in September 2016. The state program automatically activates voter registration for pre-registered youth when they turn 18 years of age.

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber. Photo Courtesy of ShirleyWeber.com.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Weber, who has visited dozens of high schools across the state to promote voting initiatives, said that students are eager to vote and look forward to casting their first ballot, and “the numbers back them up.”

“Young Californians want to be engaged, active participants in our democracy and they can position themselves to do so by preregistering to vote,” said Weber.

Weber said that she is committed to encouraging young people to pre-register to vote, adding that she looks forward to partnering with the California Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, school officials, and leaders of community-based organizations to expand this effort.

According to Weber’s office, approximately 42% of young voters are registered Democrats, while over 13% are registered Republicans. Another 35% of young voters registered as having “no party preference.”

For more information, Californians can visit the online pre-registration website at www.RegisterToVote.ca.gov. Registration is open to residents who are 16 or 17 and meet all the following criteria:

A United States citizen and a resident of California.
18 years old or older on Election Day.
Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

More information about pre-registration for California youth can be found at sos.ca.gov/elections/pre-register-16-vote-18.

Upcoming key deadlines and dates for the November 5, 2024, General Election can be found at here.

Plus, visit http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2024-primary/section-08-general-election-calendar.pdf to view a complete California General Election Calendar with more voting details and updates.