Different snack for poor or rich children? In Pomezia there is controversy, given that the mayor, Fabio Fucci, has proposed to insert two different menus in the school canteens. Criticisms immediately arose, especially from politicians from other parties, who pointed to the decision as discrimination.
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A few days before the European elections, the controversy broke out over the case of school canteens di Pomezia. Different snacks for poor or rich children? Since last December the City Council has decided to introduce in schools two menus at different pricesthe. Snacks are excluded from the lower priced menu.
The alternative is aimed at low-income families, who will provide one for the children snack to take from home. The price difference between the two menus is 40 cents: 4,40 for the menu that includes a snack and 4 euros for the menu without a snack. Both menus are prepared exclusively with organic ingredients and the courses of the lunch are identical.
The children of the “poorer” families, to whom the cheaper menu is destined, will not, however, be able to take advantage of the snack offered by the school canteen. It is a case of discrimination? The proposal of Fabio Fucci, mayor of Pomezia and exponent of Movement 5 Stars, aroused strong disagreement, sparked controversy and inflamed the electoral campaign.
Walter Bianco, of Left Ecology and Freedom, said:
"Unfortunately it is not the first time that this administration stands out for its insensitivity to the economic difficulties faced by families who have children of school age, however we would never have imagined that we could even hypothesize such a hateful differentiation of treatment, before which it collapses any justification, even that of having previously discussed it with some parents, as reported by the deputy mayor ".
The governor of Lazio, Nicola Zingaretti, Is theso intervened:
“I appeal against that disgraceful choice of the Municipality of Pomezia which denies the poorest children sweets. It is a shame: the child with the dad who can afford a certain amount of straight will have the full meal with the dessert, the other will have the tray without the dessert. But I ask myself: where are we going to end up…? ”.
The vice president of the Senate Valeria Fedeli and the senator of the Democratic Party Raffaele Ranucci in a joint note they stated:
“A discriminatory culture that carried on by the 5-star Movement which, hiding behind the so-called 'participatory government', reaches the point of making children in the most delicate age undergo the most terrible experience of social inequality. An incredible decision for a party that in these days is a candidate to represent citizens in Europe and which reveals its true nature, that of a movement that wants to undermine the foundations of the country's civil and democratic coexistence ”.
The Minister of Education Stefania giannini ha resized what happened: "I don't know the case well, but I'm for school autonomy and it doesn't seem like a situation of discrimination."
Il mayor of Pomezia he defended himself so:
“A deliberate decision by the City Council at the end of December that Pd and Sel have denounced, in case it were needed, only now to scrape together a few votes. It is sad that the little ones are exploited in this way ".
He then continued: “The dessert provided by one of the two menus should be served at snack time: in practice, some children would have snacks and fruit juices provided by the school, while the others will be able to take them from home and still have a snack all together. Children have far fewer prejudices and far fewer superstructures than adults ”.
The request came from the parents' representatives, as Fucci underlined: "
Last summer, some parents' representatives asked us for a more full-bodied menu and a lighter one, they wanted to spend less. It seemed to me a great discrimination: we want everyone to have the same dishes ”.
E he further added"
We have written an innovative and sustainable tender with lower prices on both menus, with the obligation to use only organic products, with biodegradable cutlery and water in jugs rather than bottled. It annoys me that only to attack the 5 Star Movement in view of the Europeans is to underline a misrepresentation, only one aspect of the question ".
Without wishing to enter into the merits of the political question and appreciating the efforts made for raise the level of school meals with organic menus, we think that perhaps it would have been better to decide to completely eliminate the snack from the menu or to offer it the same for everyone, healthier and cheaper (a fruit instead of a packaged snack would probably have been able to compensate for the 40 cents difference). Or keep the same menu at different prices based on family income as in any state where the principles of welfare prevail. Of course, explaining the matter to a child without making him feel “different” in the current situation could prove difficult for parents and teachers.
What do you think?
Marta Albè
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