Italy’s Supreme Court has declared that the parents do not reserve the right to provide meals for their children in Italian schools. The right to eat packed lunch from home will now be subject to approval from the school authorities.
The highest court of appeal has ruled against those parents who tend to stow packed lunch boxes into their kids’ backpacks every morning. On Tuesday, the court announced that the school administration should retain the power to proscribe the children from eating home-cooked meals on school grounds.
The motive behind the decision
While it may seem like a bullish decision to deny the young children access to homemade meals, the court ruling states that bringing food from home acts against the fundamentals of equality and breeds specific discriminatory actions on school premises.
The court emphasized that a school is an institution where parents must work alongside the school authorities to respect individual differences.
The decision sparks a storm of protests
The possibly unfair ruling has triggered rage among several parents and infuriated them to the extent of calling this as an “act of violence.” ‘
According to the parents, school meals are unaffordable to many. Besides putting a big dent in the pockets, parents claim that the canteen meals tend to be unhealthy and compromise of hygiene and quality.
A mother of two from Turin protests that she has spent over two thousand euros (€2000) on school lunches, which is way more than her monthly income. Not only that, her children prefer to skip lunch, at times, in the wake of substandard quality and hygiene standards, she says.
Another parent claims that the schools have received negative feedback over unclean cutlery and hairs found in meals.
Few also raised concerns regarding schools being unable to meet specific dietary or allergen requirements of some children.
While the school authorities have expressed their willingness to conform to the highest standards of safety and quality, it does not address the additional monetary burden imposed on parents.
Should Italy walk the path paved by other European countries like Finland, France, and England, who have made school meals affordable and full-flavored? Write your comments below.
