9-year-old Martha Payne began taking pictures of the lunches being served to the students at her school in Lochgilphead, a coastal town some 130 miles west of Edinburgh. She took pictures of the daily fare for about 6 weeks, probably because she wanted to document the quality and thought no one would believe her without pictures.
One of her photos showed a meal consisting of two croquettes (I personally prefer coquettes and don't even know what croquettes are - unless they are those little squares of hard bread) a plain cheeseburger, two cucumber slices and a lollipop.
Well, it that's the worst example, then Scotland is beating American school lunches by far.
Anyway, her sentence was meted out today. Instead of starting an investigation improve the food of the little tykes, the Council took her camera. Or ordered her to stop using it. Something like that.
Typical of Scots justice in general.
It seems to be having a happy ending though. Read this.
They (the council) claimed her blog was giving the impression that only the food she featured was available in the school dining-hall and was not representative of the full range (including healthy options) on offer.
ReplyDeleteShe was, in fact, only reviewing the food she chose to eat that day.
The problem came when the newspapers and TV personalities "involved" themselves.
The newspapers called for the sacking of the dinner-ladies for providing a poor lunch service (which wasn't the case).
The dinner-ladies were most upset and feared for their jobs so, in a knee-jerk reaction,the council banned Martha from taking picture in the dining-hall.
I understand that the ban has now been lifted!
The more I read about this, the more I find the news media did not do a very good job of telling the whole story, as you say. (My dig at Scottish justice was intended for another of my readers, just to get his goat.)
DeleteAnyway, I also find I admire what the girl is doing, glad that she has since raised to much money for her cause (even though much was raised from incorrect negative publicity, probably.) I put her in my blog list so I can see how this turns out.
Every cloud has a silver lining. The whole incident and publicity has raised over £50,000 for the charity she supports - the target was £7,000. Maybe she read "How to make a killing" on Clarity.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the newspapers lied about how much she raised. "Slanted crap" is the official Scots term for it.
DeleteI'm sure they will find a way to tax the tyke. And put her in prison when she doesn't give them most of the donated money, since she's not an official charity. It's the Scots way. Justice tempered with compassion.
DeleteThat means, unfortunately, that you haven't read the girl's blog or gone to original sources, just relied on newspaper reports. Ah well.
DeleteMy goat and I are not surprised to hear of a 'newspaper' misinterpreting a story. Lies and slanted crap are their daily fare. The cooncil have indeed allowed her to continue here snapping but to be honest I really could not care enough to read the story. The few school meals I took were good enough in those days of poverty. The butter beans did stick in my throat however, some still do! We were fed decent enough meals, always followed by custard and something to 'fill us up' as the old war saying had it. Scots justice, which allows for compassion unlike the vengeance offered elsewhere (Goat's milk anyone?) is once again seen to be correct.
ReplyDeleteIf you say so.
DeletePlease, God, let him tell one more story about his impoverished youth, how he had nothing to eat but uncooked butterbeans and moldy haggis; how he watched as his uncle ate fresh hot fish and chips in front of him and how little 'dullamite then licked the grease off the newspaper afterwards, and was glad to get it; how he walked to school in the winter with no shoes, in the wind and snow, 8 miles each way, uphill. Both ways. Selling newspapers as he went...
Delete'Mouldy' not 'moldy.' Get a dictionary!
ReplyDeleteI have a dictionery.
Deletemmm croquettes. They are very populair in Holland. Rumor has it they consist of butcher waste, or even dead cats and dogs, but that doesn't ruin my apetite.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amersfoort Rob. Now I know what croquettes are (like haggis only tasty) and will never again confuse them with croutons. :) Cats (often dead, as you say) are used here by Chinese Restaurants in the buffet. They hunt them at night. Dog is good eating. You've had dog?
DeleteNo, not yet. Still searching for a tasty one.
DeleteApparently I am late to this party. However I cannot resist the temptation to second Max on his favoring of coquettes. A delicious coquette does it for me every time!
ReplyDeletexxx
TMI for me.
DeleteGet over yourself. You'll survive.
Deletexxx
I am tripping over myself.
DeleteIndeed.
Delete