Teachers Report on Hunger
Posted by Billy Shore on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
America’s teachers are in agreement: being well fed is critical to academic achievement.
Today, Share Our Strength is releasing the results of a survey of America’s teachers. Because they’re on the frontlines of this battle, we wanted to hear directly from them about the hunger they witness in the classroom. One thing rings loud and clear: childhood hunger is having an impact on students’ ability to learn.
You can find much more information in our new report, “Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strength’s Teachers Report.”
Read the report. I have no doubt the findings will compel you to take action in your community. You can start by telling your friends and family about the report:
The study finds that 98% of teachers believe there is a strong connection between eating a healthy breakfast and a student’s ability to concentrate, behave and perform academically.
That statistic may not surprise you but here are some that will: 65% of K-8 teachers see students coming to school hungry because they are not eating at home, and 61% of those teachers use their own money each month to buy food supplies for the hungry children in their class. Overall, six in ten teachers say hunger in the classroom increased last year. So how did we get to this distressing point? It’s not by design, but by neglect.
Across the country, many children who are eligible for free meals aren’t enrolled in the programs. That’s not just because children and families aren’t aware of the programs. It’s because school districts and communities have not set them up in ways that encourage kids’ participation.
Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign is going state by state to identify and eliminate barriers that keep kids from these programs.
The first step in making that mission a reality is by spreading awareness. Take the time to read our report and then make sure your friends and family know about it, too:
When America’s public school teachers come together with one voice, we should listen with special care. They see our children in all lights and all seasons: healthy and strong, but also vulnerable and voiceless. It’s our responsibility to send the next generation of children to school fed, fit and healthy in body and mind.
February 22, 2011 | 0 comment(s) | Tags: childhood hunger, classroom, No Kid Hungry, schools, statistics, teachers
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