Last question first: Absolutely I do see middle ground. This has nothing to do with being poor (well, for now it sort of does. In a way. I fed my kid and probably would have qualified for free lunches instead, had I sent him to school. Funny that, I still fed him and he's grown and healthy.) In the end, it has everything to do with something that both prisons and schools really have in common: control over the individual. Some schools desire so much control that bag lunches are banned because the nutritional value is deemed poor. (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/11/965945/-Brown-bag-school-lunches-banned-in-Chicago-w-poll) Oy.

Progressives advocate removing kids from their parents if the parents don't take care of them. Feeding their kids is part of taking care of them. Logic follows. (Heck, CFS is known for removing kids who are too fat.) Perhaps I'm not in the know, but those who are poor are eligible for EBT, which purchases food which feeds kids. Ergo, use the EBT to buy lunches for kids, sent from home or from the school. Win-win. There are always exceptions to any rule, so taking things on a case by case basis would probably be a good idea so no one slips through the cracks easily.

First question: I don't think poor kids should be the ones to clean up. I think everyone should have to do it.

BTW, don't get me started on CFS marching in and breaking up families. I'm not advocating for it. XD