The lunch money thief

[spyrosmom]

DS is in 3rd grade, and there has been a couple incidents this school year where we get a note from the school stating we owe an extra $1 because he didn't have his lunch money the day before, but they gave him a hot lunch anyway. Some days he takes his lunch, some days he buys. We haven't forgotten to give him lunch money, and he always swears he turns it in. Monday he came home and said he had to eat Rice Krispies for lunch bc the school said he didn't turn in his lunch money, and he swears up and down that he did.

He says every morning, if they are eating a hot lunch, they put their money in an envelope with their name on it, and all the envelopes are clipped together and some kid from the class takes them all down to the office. Seems it is a different kid each day. So, somewhere btwn class and office the money is going missing. Yes, it is only a dollar, but that is not the point. My kid is essentially being punished (having to eat cold cereal for lunch) for something he didn't do.

So Tues morn, DH sent a note to the teacher. What's up with the missing lunch money? She sends back that this has been happening to several of the kids. She took them all one by one in the hall and asked who has had missing money and when, and if they knew what was happening with it. Far as I know, no real resolution at this point.

My questions -
Is it always the same kids who are having missing money? Is it happening when the same kid takes the money to the office? Is it to be mean to a particular group of kids? Is it random? Is the kid(s) who is doing it doing it to be mean or b/c s/he doesn't have money and wants to eat? Did s/he forget lunch money and is "borrowing" or can the parents not afford the lunch? Do this kids parents know s/he is stealing? Is it one kid or or several who are taking the money? If it is more than one, are they doing it to be cool or belong to a group? Who told them it was ok to steal? Is this the same kid who took DS's Nintendo when he brought it to school?
My biggest question - if the teacher was aware of several cases of missing lunch money, why are the students still taking the money to the office? Why not an adult? Did she think they were lying about putting money in the envelope?

I hope they can figure out who was doing it, and I hope the kid is punished for it. What prompts a 3rd grader to steal someone else's lunch money? I almost hope it is from a need to have lunch money and be able to eat (although it does really suck if the parents can't afford the $1, or didn't apply for help with the school) rather than just a desire to mean to the other kids.

I just don't understand??????

Nan

 

[Jane A]

Sometimes kids (and adults) get in trouble because they are not challenged enough and get bored. They just want the thrill of getting away with something. Believe it or not, I see this sort of mischief happen among my adult employees. With particularly talented people, if they don't have enough to do, they "create" something to do.

Of course, you could be right about the kid actually not having enough money for food, but it still doesn't entitle them to steal from others.

I can really understand your frustration with the teacher. They should be more pro-active.

 

[cindi1]

Maybe the adult who counts and tracks lunch money is inept.

 

[JoanC]

I would send a check instead of cash.

 

[jewels5]

I would insist that an adult handles the money for all the students. That way all the kids are protected. Does your school have the option of setting up a lunch account? We pay online, that way we know how much our kids are spending and we can track what they eat, too. Good Luck.

Julie

 

[jonahnah]

Usually classroom jobs like this are assigned to students, but the teacher should be keeping track of who does it on what days. She can also tally herself who sent in money before she gives it to the student to take to the school office. Any discrepancy and you can see it was theft.

It's pretty easy to tell whose money was taken as those are likely the kids that got notified they didn't pay that day. The school office would have that info. since they're the ones notifying the parents.

Another obvious answer, put all the money into a large sealed envelope so it would be apparent if the delivery student broke the seal.

Good luck!

 

[TeTe]

I think I'd start packing my kid's lunch.

 

[spyrosmom]

Will probably grow up to be the person who snarks other people's lunches from the fridge at work

 

[carres1973]

I would send a check instead of cash.

This is what I do. If for some very strange reason, I have to send in cash (I can't think of one at the moment, I put the amount, my child's name, and teacher's name on the front of the envelope and seal that puppy up GOOD AND TIGHT!! I actually bought envelopes from a school fundraiser this year that have lines for all that info.

Carrie

 

[Pearlstrand]

This is why I'm glad my DD's school has a lunch money account system... we put money in the account, and they deduct it from her account when she gets lunch. That way you don't have to deal with cash (loss or extortion) and I know that she'll get her lunch every day.

Nan, sorry about what's going on... maybe you can convince your school system to adopt something similar to what we use. That would make everybody's life a lot easier (except for the bullies, and too bad for them! )