James Greene, Acting Director, Boston's Emergency Shelter Commission
What are the effects when ‘the hunger for knowledge’ is dulled by actual, physical hunger?
What are the effects when ‘the hunger for knowledge’ is dulled by actual, physical hunger? If Johnny or Janey, Juanita or Cairo don’t eat, how does this effect their ability to read and learn, play and grow?
The link between nutrition and learning is telling. In collaboration with Project Bread, researchers at the University of Massachusetts-Boston recently found a correlation between the availability of universal school breakfast and MCAS achievement in school districts (like Boston) where more than 60% of the students are eligible for free and reduced cost meals. Simply put, food helps fuel learning.
Yet hunger effects more than test scores. It impacts the ability of youngsters and adolescents to learn and play. For too many children the only guarantee of a balanced and nutritious meal is the one they get in school. Or after school. For too many children, it is also the most reliable meal in their day.
Among Boston’s school-aged children, fully 77% meet federal eligibility guidelines for free or reduced-cost school lunches and breakfasts. While both Boston and Brookline spend roughly the same amount of money per student per year, in Brookline the percentage of eligible students is approximately 15%. The difference in the hunger needs of these two municipalities is huge.
More than 1500 homeless children are served each school year by the Boston Public Schools Homeless Student Initiative. The school setting is a critical place to target a myriad of resources to kids—and their parents. It goes without saying that the availability of fresh and nutritious food is a lifeline for them.
Yet being hungry doesn’t cease when the school day ends. After-school snack and meal programs at schools and community centers are critical to dealing with the hunger needs of Boston’s children and youth. Providing nutritious meals and snacks in after-school programs gives students real sustenance needed to help them concentrate on learning, and critical to their enjoying, staying and succeeding in school and in life.
And being hungry doesn’t go away when the school year ends. During the summer months, while school is out of session, the School Department and our Community Centers operate over 120 open feeding sites throughout Boston so our children can get breakfast, lunch, or a snack when they need it.
Since 1630, public education has been a springboard to a better life -- for rich and poor, for long time residents and recent immigrants. Today, escalating winter heating costs add to the challenges Boston’s low-income families and their children in the Boston Public Schools face. As the cost of living through a winter rises for families in Boston, the availability of universal breakfast and lunch in Boston Public Schools, as well as meals and snacks at after-school programs throughout Boston has never mattered more.
Federal and State cuts threaten important efforts such as summer meals programs and the meals offered at after-school programs. Being serious about ending hunger and creating educational achievement in our city is a year round challenge, not one that ends when school is out.