I appreciated the editorial supporting the Breakfast After the Bell bill sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver (In Our View — “Feeding Kids Sound Policy,” The Columbian, April 23). As Gov. Jay Inslee so eloquently said, ” if you’re going to fill a child’s head, first thing, you can’t have an empty tummy.”
No doubt our state’s news media will do follow-ups extolling the gains in test scores that result from the passage of the bill. The Columbian’s editorial ends with the statement that it is perfectly reasonable that we expect schools to ensure that all of students’ needs are met during that (school) time.
That raises the concern: will children be able to learn if they did not get enough sleep the night before? I think not! I look forward to a law being passed asking students if they got enough sleep, along with the hunger question. Establishing sleeping areas for deprived students should be a priority.
It fits in well with our state Supreme Court’s belief that you can never give enough money to the Washington Education Association. Imagine how test scores will skyrocket when the bill passes!