Mandate Serves Taxpaying Families, Untangles Red Tape and May Start National Trend: 90% of OK Schools Eligible for Funds to Feed All - Why Aren't They?
I’m concerned that current cafeteria options like green hot dogs, soy burgers, and cracker pizza lack the nutrition kids need for learning and growth. Research shows that diets high in processed foods can lead to poor focus and health outcomes. I propose reinstating the ‘You Are What You Eat’ poster to raise awareness and updating the menu with nutrient-rich options like whole-grain wraps, fresh fruits, and lean proteins, in line with physician recommendations. We should collaborate with the school to explore cost-effective ways to improve meals, such as partnering with local farms or hosting student taste tests. Can we discuss steps to prioritize healthier options for our kids? They can also learn to understand the economy of their choices.
Such productive and sensible suggestions. I remember reading a study that showed the removal of sugar, processed foods and bad carbs from youth facility diets was more impactful than psychotropic pharmaceuticals in improving behavioral health in kids.
Sincerely appreciate the perspective. My inner libertarian wishes government run schools didn't exist, but they do. Keeping an eye on how they're prioritizing the spending of taxpayer funds is a critical part of containing the mushrooming bureaucracy. For many districts, it's quite possible that feeding all kids with the money citizens already provide through taxes could be cheaper than charging some parents. An astonishing indictment about government's habit of adding administrative positions to every function. Thanks for reading.
I agree with both of you. As a boy the schools I attended didn't have prepared meals, so I carried my lunches to school or went home to eat. Lunch wasn't much, usually a sandwich and an apple, maybe a cookie or some chips. Most probably the lunches offered by the public schools are more nutritious, but my kids complained about the mystery meat and too-much-tomato-sauce pan pizza and likely dumped food in the trash cans. However, they never accepted my suggestion they pack their lunches. Anyway, the feeding facilities are in place and are not going away, so they should be put to the best possible use. I remember the hassle of keeping up with the food bills, and at least one occasion when my kid was not allowed to eat because we'd neglected to pay, so yeah, make it all free and pay for it by not replacing the next bureaucrat who retires.
And now I have to revise my opinion of Mr. Walters, which was about as low as it could get during the Bible fiasco. He's doing some good work, and he's not afraid to wade into the deep swamp of public education to institute some much needed reform. Next up, maybe, how can the Norman school superintendent job possibly be worth more than the U.S. presidency? One of the presidents was heard to ask "Is our children learning?" Walters could ask our Norman guy that question.
And thank you V1SUT, for another excellent article.
Thanks for the kind words and for reading. School lunches have certainly had their ups and downs in quality, nutrition and palatability over the years. Glad to see OK questioning food additives and toxins within this mandate.
Removing the legacy media lens and allowing this elected official to fully answer about his policies was indeed enlightening. The data about spending increases and administrative bloat in OK public ed certainly backed up Supt Walters' assertions. As for Norman PS's highly paid head... the local school board declined to discuss their decision-making process with V1SUT.
The only reason we are having this, and so many other problems with "public" schools is because...wait for it...we even HAVE "public" schools, in the first place.
First - they are NOT "public" schools.
“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.” ― Confucius (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/106313-the-beginning-of-wisdom-is-to-call-things-by-their) . Can the "public" attend these schools? Can you? Aren't you a part of the "public"? Can a child that does not comply with their requirements (vaccines, etc.) attend them? Aren't they part of the "public"?
WORDS MATTER!!!
They are, in fact, GOVERNMENT schools. They are run by...the government. They are funded by taxpayer money taken, by force, by...the government. So, are the administrators and teachers not, by extension, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES?
Second - why are governments involved in schools...AT ALL???
How does that saying go: "That to secure PUBLIC SCHOOLS (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript), Governments are instituted among Men..."? And, before anyone says "public" schools are an "investment" in our future: "That to secure INVESTMENTS (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript), Governments are instituted among Men..."? Need we discuss all the OTHER failed "investments" with which governments have been involved? (Think "public / private partnerships" otherwise known as “crony capitalism”.) Do YOU give your money to the government because you believe in their ability to "invest" it? And, if it is an “investment”, where is my ROI (Return On Investment) on the $13,000 per student? How many of those students truly received an education worth $13,000? Why do they keep begging for more without providing results?
If your kid asked for you for $10 for school supplies, you would likely give it to them because it sounds “reasonable”. When your kid returns the next week and asks for more money for school supplies, what would be your very first question to them… “What happened to the money I already gave you for that?” In government, we call that an AUDIT. Why do we not get a complete audit of the “Public Instruction” system before giving them one more dime of our money?
Can you name one other industry (isn’t that what this truly is anymore) that could continue to suck more and more money from its “investors”, by force, nonetheless, while continuing to produce diminishing returns? Need we discuss the Four Ways to Spend Money (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RDMdc5r5z8) by Milton Friedman?
Government's job is to SECURE OUR RIGHTS (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript), not influence the formation of our children's brains and bodies. Think of all the problems, and tax money, we would save by not having government schools at all. How long did children flourish before we abdicated our parental responsibilities to the government? Are our children better or worse since we did?
Is it any wonder why government schools do not teach the students that they, and their parents, have control over...wait for it...the GOVERNMENT?
Third - Notice Mr. Miller did not say that a “Real Leader” needed to “engage” non-parental taxpayers?
Why do you suppose he said that a “true leader” should engage with everyone RECEIVING & REDISTRIBUING the “free” money, but did not say they should engage everyone PROVIDING it. He mentioned “other essential services”. What, exactly are they, how are they funded, and what legal & moral authority do they have to take money, by force, from non-parental taxpayers to give to other people the government deems “worthy” (charity)? Why does he believe it is the government’s job to “tak[e] care of kids”, in the first place?
Fourth - Regarding federal tax money being used for “free” lunches:
Finally, Tying It All Back The Beginning - Let us not ever forget: "Not Yours to Give" (https://patriotpost.us/documents/69) by former US Representative from Tennessee & TN Militia Colonel David "Davy" Crockett.
"If you [constituent farmer speaking to Crockett] had the right to give to one, you have the right to give to all and as the Constitution neither defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give to any and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe, is a charity, and to any amount you may think proper. You will very easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and corruption and favoritism on the one hand, and for robbing the people on the other. No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity."
In Conclusion - While I may not agree with HOW he did this, I do agree with Sup Walter’s underlying premise that we give the government schools WAY too much money and get way too little in return.
Thank you.
P.S. I recommend that, instead of calling them the “Main Stream Media”, “Legacy Media”, or even “Fake News”, we call them the: “N.O.T. Media” (Narrative Over Truth Media). ;)
Wise words! Government schools consume half of our state's budget with a horrible return on investment. How much more could parents do on their own or within parent controlled co-ops with $13,000 per student each year? Parents are in a battle for school choice when they should never have been forced into funding public education. So appreciate you reminding all of us about the arm twisting during the Biden administration to accept unacceptable ideology or lose funding in our schools. It's OUR money! Essentially, the federal govt said "Let us harm your children or get out, but we're keeping your money". And we should NEVER EVER EVER forget what they did to children during Covid while they raked in more of our money, lied, hired more administrators and played medical law enforcement. They were wrong about everything but have never admitted to even the smallest of missteps. Historically speaking, govt is incapable of fixing its own mistakes. In Oklahoma, we have current examples of this in schools, child welfare, health and mental health departments.... So appreciate your sage thoughts and thanks for reading and sharing the content.
I’m concerned that current cafeteria options like green hot dogs, soy burgers, and cracker pizza lack the nutrition kids need for learning and growth. Research shows that diets high in processed foods can lead to poor focus and health outcomes. I propose reinstating the ‘You Are What You Eat’ poster to raise awareness and updating the menu with nutrient-rich options like whole-grain wraps, fresh fruits, and lean proteins, in line with physician recommendations. We should collaborate with the school to explore cost-effective ways to improve meals, such as partnering with local farms or hosting student taste tests. Can we discuss steps to prioritize healthier options for our kids? They can also learn to understand the economy of their choices.
Such productive and sensible suggestions. I remember reading a study that showed the removal of sugar, processed foods and bad carbs from youth facility diets was more impactful than psychotropic pharmaceuticals in improving behavioral health in kids.
Indoctrinates our children to depend on government handouts and creates lazy parents. Good grief pack a lunch
Sincerely appreciate the perspective. My inner libertarian wishes government run schools didn't exist, but they do. Keeping an eye on how they're prioritizing the spending of taxpayer funds is a critical part of containing the mushrooming bureaucracy. For many districts, it's quite possible that feeding all kids with the money citizens already provide through taxes could be cheaper than charging some parents. An astonishing indictment about government's habit of adding administrative positions to every function. Thanks for reading.
I agree with both of you. As a boy the schools I attended didn't have prepared meals, so I carried my lunches to school or went home to eat. Lunch wasn't much, usually a sandwich and an apple, maybe a cookie or some chips. Most probably the lunches offered by the public schools are more nutritious, but my kids complained about the mystery meat and too-much-tomato-sauce pan pizza and likely dumped food in the trash cans. However, they never accepted my suggestion they pack their lunches. Anyway, the feeding facilities are in place and are not going away, so they should be put to the best possible use. I remember the hassle of keeping up with the food bills, and at least one occasion when my kid was not allowed to eat because we'd neglected to pay, so yeah, make it all free and pay for it by not replacing the next bureaucrat who retires.
And now I have to revise my opinion of Mr. Walters, which was about as low as it could get during the Bible fiasco. He's doing some good work, and he's not afraid to wade into the deep swamp of public education to institute some much needed reform. Next up, maybe, how can the Norman school superintendent job possibly be worth more than the U.S. presidency? One of the presidents was heard to ask "Is our children learning?" Walters could ask our Norman guy that question.
And thank you V1SUT, for another excellent article.
Thanks for the kind words and for reading. School lunches have certainly had their ups and downs in quality, nutrition and palatability over the years. Glad to see OK questioning food additives and toxins within this mandate.
Removing the legacy media lens and allowing this elected official to fully answer about his policies was indeed enlightening. The data about spending increases and administrative bloat in OK public ed certainly backed up Supt Walters' assertions. As for Norman PS's highly paid head... the local school board declined to discuss their decision-making process with V1SUT.
Here is an OUTSTANDING video interview with V1SUT on the ROPE Report about this article.
https://rumble.com/v6wjjhe-v1sut-questions-where-is-lincoln-and-whats-a-free-lunch.html
(1:22:40 - 2:01:15)
Let’s start at the beginning.
The only reason we are having this, and so many other problems with "public" schools is because...wait for it...we even HAVE "public" schools, in the first place.
First - they are NOT "public" schools.
“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.” ― Confucius (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/106313-the-beginning-of-wisdom-is-to-call-things-by-their) . Can the "public" attend these schools? Can you? Aren't you a part of the "public"? Can a child that does not comply with their requirements (vaccines, etc.) attend them? Aren't they part of the "public"?
WORDS MATTER!!!
They are, in fact, GOVERNMENT schools. They are run by...the government. They are funded by taxpayer money taken, by force, by...the government. So, are the administrators and teachers not, by extension, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES?
Second - why are governments involved in schools...AT ALL???
How does that saying go: "That to secure PUBLIC SCHOOLS (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript), Governments are instituted among Men..."? And, before anyone says "public" schools are an "investment" in our future: "That to secure INVESTMENTS (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript), Governments are instituted among Men..."? Need we discuss all the OTHER failed "investments" with which governments have been involved? (Think "public / private partnerships" otherwise known as “crony capitalism”.) Do YOU give your money to the government because you believe in their ability to "invest" it? And, if it is an “investment”, where is my ROI (Return On Investment) on the $13,000 per student? How many of those students truly received an education worth $13,000? Why do they keep begging for more without providing results?
If your kid asked for you for $10 for school supplies, you would likely give it to them because it sounds “reasonable”. When your kid returns the next week and asks for more money for school supplies, what would be your very first question to them… “What happened to the money I already gave you for that?” In government, we call that an AUDIT. Why do we not get a complete audit of the “Public Instruction” system before giving them one more dime of our money?
Can you name one other industry (isn’t that what this truly is anymore) that could continue to suck more and more money from its “investors”, by force, nonetheless, while continuing to produce diminishing returns? Need we discuss the Four Ways to Spend Money (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RDMdc5r5z8) by Milton Friedman?
Government's job is to SECURE OUR RIGHTS (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript), not influence the formation of our children's brains and bodies. Think of all the problems, and tax money, we would save by not having government schools at all. How long did children flourish before we abdicated our parental responsibilities to the government? Are our children better or worse since we did?
Is it any wonder why government schools do not teach the students that they, and their parents, have control over...wait for it...the GOVERNMENT?
Third - Notice Mr. Miller did not say that a “Real Leader” needed to “engage” non-parental taxpayers?
Why do you suppose he said that a “true leader” should engage with everyone RECEIVING & REDISTRIBUING the “free” money, but did not say they should engage everyone PROVIDING it. He mentioned “other essential services”. What, exactly are they, how are they funded, and what legal & moral authority do they have to take money, by force, from non-parental taxpayers to give to other people the government deems “worthy” (charity)? Why does he believe it is the government’s job to “tak[e] care of kids”, in the first place?
Fourth - Regarding federal tax money being used for “free” lunches:
Who remembers when the federal government, who takes Oklahoma citizens' money directly and by force, via our 16th Amendment (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27), tried to hold federal lunch money (which is OUR own taxpayers' money) hostage (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-holding-school-lunch-money-hostage-force-transgender-policies) if we didn't comply with their trans-gender training for our children? The Biden / Harris Administration attempted to do that very thing in order to force government schools to teach "pride". I labeled the attempt as "Say 'Gay' or Starve!" because of their false claims about Florida's bill (FL HB 1557 / https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF) to ban sex training to K-3rd graders that they falsely labeled "Don't Say Gay" (https://www.foxnews.com/media/desantis-calls-out-media-mischaracterization-dont-say-gay-legislation-not-a-good-hill-to-die-on).
Finally, Tying It All Back The Beginning - Let us not ever forget: "Not Yours to Give" (https://patriotpost.us/documents/69) by former US Representative from Tennessee & TN Militia Colonel David "Davy" Crockett.
"If you [constituent farmer speaking to Crockett] had the right to give to one, you have the right to give to all and as the Constitution neither defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give to any and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe, is a charity, and to any amount you may think proper. You will very easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and corruption and favoritism on the one hand, and for robbing the people on the other. No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity."
In Conclusion - While I may not agree with HOW he did this, I do agree with Sup Walter’s underlying premise that we give the government schools WAY too much money and get way too little in return.
Thank you.
P.S. I recommend that, instead of calling them the “Main Stream Media”, “Legacy Media”, or even “Fake News”, we call them the: “N.O.T. Media” (Narrative Over Truth Media). ;)
Wise words! Government schools consume half of our state's budget with a horrible return on investment. How much more could parents do on their own or within parent controlled co-ops with $13,000 per student each year? Parents are in a battle for school choice when they should never have been forced into funding public education. So appreciate you reminding all of us about the arm twisting during the Biden administration to accept unacceptable ideology or lose funding in our schools. It's OUR money! Essentially, the federal govt said "Let us harm your children or get out, but we're keeping your money". And we should NEVER EVER EVER forget what they did to children during Covid while they raked in more of our money, lied, hired more administrators and played medical law enforcement. They were wrong about everything but have never admitted to even the smallest of missteps. Historically speaking, govt is incapable of fixing its own mistakes. In Oklahoma, we have current examples of this in schools, child welfare, health and mental health departments.... So appreciate your sage thoughts and thanks for reading and sharing the content.
N.O.T. Media (Narrative Over Truth Media)... let's make that a thing.
Keyboard Drop!
(If this were a podcast, I would say "Mic Drop", but it ain't, soooooo... :)
THANK YOU for all your work!!!