Students Experience Feast, Famine [distribution of wealth lesson]

Stonington — Eight students sat around a dinner table decorated with flowers and lit candles Tuesday afternoon in the Pine Point School gym. Waiters served them heaping portions of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes dripping with gravy. Others scooped green beans, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes onto their plates and filled their crystal glasses with sparkling cider.

As they feasted, about 60 of their fellow students huddled together on the floor just a few feet away. Most had quickly eaten their small cup of rice and were looking up at their friends eating turkey. On the other side of the banquet table, about 40 students sat at wooden tables eating the same cup of rice plus one of beans.

“It was really awkward. Everyone was staring at you,” said eighth-grader Erin Larson, who was one of those eating at the turkey table. “It makes you think how many people around the world are hungry. It's what people go through every day. We just don't realize it.”

That was the message that Pine Point English teacher Hamilton Salsich hoped students would get from the school's annual Hunger Banquet, which is designed to illustrate the unequal distribution of resources and wealth around the world.

Students in fourth through ninth grades chose a colored piece of paper out of a box that determined where they would eat.

“By drawing lots, it shows them that it's all by luck. We were lucky to be born in a place where our parents have some money. Other people are not that lucky,” Salsich said.

Salsich began the Oxfam America program, which is held in schools across the country during the holidays, about 10 years ago.

“It symbolizes the way people eat around the world. Very few people have a nice meal. Most people have a simple meal,” he said. “The kids sitting on the floor think, ‘This is not fair. Just by chance I'm sitting on the floor and just by chance they're sitting at the table.' ”

Salsich said teachers can best teach by showing their students instead of lecturing.

“That's why this is a great educational tool,” he said. “It makes its point pretty clearly.”

As eight students sat down at the table to dine on turkey, their classmates stood in a long line to get the cup of rice and if they were lucky, one of beans. Those with just rice had to sit in a roped-off area that forced them to sit shoulder to shoulder with those enjoying the turkey.

“This is a good way to learn about the world and how little people have,” said seventh-grader Christopher Wiles after eating his rice and beans. “It makes us much more aware of our good fortune.”

Ninth-grader Samika Sikand said the banquet makes the students realize what other people's lives are like.

“It really opens your eyes to what people go through each day. We take what we have for granted but people in other countries don't have anything,” he said.

As the students ate, Salsich told them that 1.2 billion people live in poverty and 24,000 people a day die from hunger. He said that while many people think there is not enough food in the world to feed everyone, that is not the case. He said the planet produces enough food for everyone. Power, access, politics and other issues mean most of the food is consumed by a small percentage of the people.

As Salsich spoke, the students who had eaten rice and beans looked up at him and listened while those eating the turkey dinner concentrated on their food. Some who had eaten rice held their cups up to their mouths and tapped the bottom to get the last grains.

Salsich said those at the table represented 12 percent of the world's population. He said they earn $9,000 a year or more and are responsible for consuming 70 percent of the world's grain, much of which is used to feed livestock so they can eat meat. He said they face health problems because of the extra food they eat but that they don't have to worry because they have access to excellent medical care. He said they go to school, live in a comfortable home and own at least one car.

“It's a good life. You have access to everything you need and the security to enjoy it,” he said.

Salsich told the rice and beans group they represented 30 percent of the world's population and earn between $700 and $9,000 a year.

“You folks live on the edge. If you lose one harvest because of a drought or have a serious illness you're in poverty,” he said.

Turning to the rice group, he told the students they represent the majority of the world's population. He said they earn less than $2 per day, are frequently hungry, live in flimsy shelters or are homeless and have little hope of getting any education.

“Every day is a struggle to meet your basis needs,” he said. “You take the whole day trying to find food or water.”

j.wojtas@theday.com

“By drawing lots, it shows them that it's all by luck.

What a horrible message this is! Success in life is not "luck", unless you subscribe to the theory that "luck" is 90% perspiration.

We can be earners or beggars. The choice is not luck, it's desire.

Have a few of the kids try to give the rice crowd some of the feast, but make one of the peon crowd stop them, shout "Infidel bastards" and attack the turkey kids, then beat the intended aid recipeints mercilessly?

ROTFLMAO!!

But this doesn't help disuade the evil fact that 70% of the grain is fed to provide meat to the feast kids.

The real tragedy is that the United States can afford to send that 70% of their crops to the cattle. The rest of the world has the 70% of their crop sold or hoarded by the thugs in charge.

Perhaps it would be even MORE REAL if they gave the rice kids the choice of revolution or cannibalism?

Pookie & ME

As the students ate, Salsich told them that 1.2 billion people live in poverty and 24,000 people a day die from hunger. He said that while many people think there is not enough food in the world to feed everyone, that is not the case. He said the planet produces enough food for everyone. Power, access, politics and other issues mean most of the food is consumed by a small percentage of the people.

Ugh! I need a good Spectre sanity comment ping.

“By drawing lots, it shows them that it's all by luck. We were lucky to be born in a place where our parents have some money. Other people are not that lucky,” Salsich said

Yet another example of a Marxist dimwit spewing his drivel into young minds.

I think it's a safe bet that Hamilton got his (ahem) teaching job by drawing lots...

...smack... chomp...

What? Couldn't hear you, I'm too busy finishing up my "extreme" cheese quesadilla. It's "extreme"!...ly good!

Wonder if this guy would condemn Most Equal of All Comrades "The Cook With All The Firewood" Robert Mugabe for using starvation as a political weapon. Somehow I imagine not... And I'd just like to say:

“By drawing lots, it shows them that it's all by luck. We were lucky to be born in a place where our parents have some money. Other people are not that lucky,” Salsich said.

THIS is one of the most insane things I've ever seen or heard before on this board. Nice going, "teacher". Yeah, it's all "luck". Has nothing to do with freedom, the guarantee of private property, etc. Just luck.

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