Teacher Says They’re ‘Not Allowed’ To Feed Hungry 5-Year-Old Student Who Doesn’t Have Lunch

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With the school year in full swing everywhere, teachers are seeing familiar issues arising with their students. One consistent issue across the country is kids getting to eat breakfast and lunch. Food insecurity affects millions of families around the country, and as a result, many kids rely on free or reduced-cost meals at school.

Teachers are often the ones who have to the bear the weight of responsibility or guilt if they know that students aren’t receiving adequate nutrition during school hours. That’s why one teacher on Reddit is expressing her frustration that she cannot help a hungry student.

This has been a consistent issue.

Posting in Reddit’s r/Teachers community, a user shared that a student has consistently been sent to school without food by her parents.

“We have a 5 year old who, last year, would come to school often with no food or a single granola bar to last her the day. The same thing is happening this year too. She got dropped off very late and didn’t even have her backpack. Parents wouldn’t pick up the phone,” she explained.

The school's principal doesn't want to take any responsibility for the child.

“We’ve asked the principal if we can get food for her, but for whatever reason, she told us we can’t. She has no diet restrictions. Principal also won’t call the parents since she ‘doesn’t want to be the first point of contact.’ But, again, the parents don’t pick up and their voicemail is not reachable,” the teacher explained.

“I just am at a loss as to why she forbids us from giving her food. She’s the one that says kids can’t learn if they’re hungry! We do anyway, of course! This kid is such a sweetheart and never asks for food, but she’ll hoover anything you put in front of her. I’m likely calling CPS very soon, because this is ridiculous. I got in a lot of trouble last year because I went out of my way to find food for multiple hungry kids.”

People reminded the teacher that she has a responsibility to help the student.

While the teacher didn’t say where she lived, many assumed it was in the United States, and reminded the teacher, who made it clear she would deal with any consequences for helping the child, that if she’s in the US, she has a duty to help.

“Call CPS.” one person wrote. “If you’re in the US you’re a mandated reporter and this should have happened last year!!”

“F— that,” another person wrote. “Give the child food. If admin had an issue, bring up that they refused to take action and contact everyone. Media, DHS, everyone. Consider it a part of being a mandatory reporter reporting neglect.”

Someone else commented: “I’d call a complaint on the principal, too. They knew of this, didn’t report it, and didn’t give the child food. Admin are mandated reporters, too.”

“You’re a mandated reporter,” another comment reads. “It’s time for you to do that thing.”

Many people shared similar stories.

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“Calling the parents about food is very much the principals job,” one person advised. “When I was a lunchroom monitor, I passed on my concerns about inadequate lunches, and admin took care of it. At least one case was a parent whose child had been refusing food at school, and was tired of sending food that wouldn’t be eaten. Mom was persuaded to send a bigger assortment of small items and allow her kid through the free lunch line if they wanted what was being served. Kids eating habits gradually became more normal and CPS wasn’t needed. TLDR: sometimes a push from the principal is enough to resolve the problem. And it IS their job.”

“I keep PopTarts and bottled water in my class for students,” another wrote. “No questions asked. Hungry? Thirsty? Ok, let’s fix it and get to work. I have made lunch for at least one other student each year I have taught (this year included). I have never asked admin for permission. I guess it really is easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. I am not special. Teachers all over do this everyday, but we shouldn’t have to, and we shouldn’t be expected to. I do it because I was the kid without food and hygiene products. I never want a kid to feel like I did.”

Another person wrote: “I had to buy about four *hot buttered hero rolls a day to feed my multiple very late kindergartners every day. The breakfast would close after a certain time and the bag breakfast would go quickly. I never once asked my idiot principal for permission to be a human being. I just did what I needed to do.”