Kids’ welfare can’t be an afterthought

My congratulations — and a bit of envy — to Julie Muhlstein on her skillful, heartfelt presentation of the bottom line regarding the lunch scandal in the Edmonds School District. (Sept. 14 column, “School lunch issue reveals a sorrier problem.”)

Clearly, the school district needs to find a way to tactfully separate parents who are abusing the system from those who are genuinely in need. There are more in the latter category than many people would think, and I wonder how other school districts tackle this issue.

In the meantime, any school district employee who feels that anything less than a full lunch is appropriate should be fired, and an official who shares that opinion should be run out of town on a rail.

A cheese sandwich for lunch? A public disgrace, compounded by another unforgivable, shameful act — embarrassing a child. Regardless of parents’ conduct or financial status, kids need to be fed.

Muhlstein’s column underscores one glaring difference between the U.S. and many other “developed” nations: All too often in this country, a child’s education, protection, health care and nutrition are an afterthought.

Steve Stav

Arlington