Children cannot learn on empty stomachs

Too often, studies on poverty and hunger are met with disbelief. After all, this is America, the land of plenty. If people are poor, the detractors say, it's because they're too lazy to take advantage of the countless opportunities at their disposal. If they're hungry, the detractors contend, it's because they are too picky about their dietary preferences.
While it is true that some Americans just don't want to work but expect a free lunch, it's just as true that there are legitimate reasons for poverty and hunger.
Thus we take studies, such as the one released last week pertaining to Ohio, to heart. It was released by the Children's Hunger Alliance and offers these startling findings: An estimated 129,000 children and 180,000 adult Ohioans go hungry, and an additional 480,000 adults and 366,000 children are at risk of going hungry.
"These families live on the verge of hunger and are often unsure how they will be able to afford their next meal," said William Dolan, the alliance's chief executive.
That statement may seem an exaggeration, but the state doesn't think so, as evidenced by the various initiatives it has launched to address this serious problem.
Suggested improvements
Indeed, the children's alliance credited Ohio for making suggested improvements that ease reporting requirements and increase participation in the food stamp program.
But Ohio does need to find a way to improve its 48th place ranking nationally in serving needy children school breakfasts.
The alliance offered several recommendations for the state's schools nutrition programs, including requiring schools to offer breakfast when 20 percent or more of pupils qualify for the free lunch programs. Also, requiring vending and other foods sold in schools to meet federal nutritional goals.
And, the alliance says, the state should include information on school breakfast programs in the Ohio Department of Education's School Performance Report Card.
We focus on children because it is well documented that pupils who go to school hungry have trouble learning.
To its credit, the state education department is focusing on increasing the number of breakfast programs in schools by offering grants and suggesting innovative ways to serve meals, according to Kelly Satola, the department's assistant director.
Innovations
There are innovations that are worth adopting, such as the "breakfast in the classroom" that is offered in the Maple Leaf Intermediate School in Garfield Heights, a Cleveland suburb.
"We had a tremendous amount of children in need, and with the current economy it is more evident that ever," said school principal Tom Matthews. "This way we know the kids are starting the day with brain food."
It is easy to be dismissive of people -- adults and children -- who are identified as being in the ranks of the hungry, but welfare-to-work has put a lot of pressure on families.
Getting a job does not necessarily mean having the money to meet the basic needs of the family. That is why safety nets are needed.
We hope the hunger study of Ohioans by the children's alliance increases the public's sensitivity to the realities of life of those less fortunate.