SCHOOL BREAKFAST WORTH TRIAL RUN IN CAPE DISTRICT

As of April 1, Cape Girardeau public schools will be dishing out more than reading, writing and arithmetic. Workers at May Greene will be serving breakfast as part of a pilot program approved last week by the Board of Education.

Most of the program funds will come from the federal government. While the sorry state of the federal budget discourages increased dependence on federal aid, it's hard to scold the district for trying to help our youngsters become more attentive in class. If a transgression is made, it's probably best to err on the side of our youngsters.

The fact is school breakfasts can benefit youngsters on several levels. Research has long held that when a child's nutritional needs are met, he or she tends to do better in school.

The program may also help to boost school attendance and deter tardiness. It's just an added incentive for kids to attend classes on time.

At this point, the district can't pinpoint how many breakfasts will be served each day. School officials recently mailed a questionnaire to parents about participation; replies are still being received.

But there's a good chance a high number of students could participate in the morning meal program. That's because more than 90 percent of May Greene's 220 students qualify for free lunches. Those youngsters would also qualify for a free breakfast. The cost to other students would be 75 cents, which is still a good deal for a morning meal.

The Cape Girardeau School District is not alone in its decision to offer school breakfasts. Many of the smaller Southeast Missouri districts with a high rate of free lunches successfully offer the breakfast program as well. The closest programs to Cape Girardeau are Chaffee and Scott County Central at Morley.

The majority of May Greene students also walk to school. That means the program's success will not depend on early bus runs. Serving will begin at 7:45 a.m., and end promptly at 8 a.m. as not to disrupt instructional time.

While there are many advantages, there are also some reservations. With the breakfast program, schools will take on one more responsibility that is normally considered a duty of the home. Schools no longer just teach our children the ABCs; they are involved in early education, good nutrition, discipline, and much more. Schools have become a home away from home.

But this trend can be blamed more on the deteriorating family unit and a changing society not on the children themselves. The fact is a nutritional breakfast may give many of these kids just the boost they need to do better in school.