Maybe we're asking the wrong question. This photo was taken inside a school cafeteria. The food you see was already prepared. Already paid for. Already available. Yet while some students were reportedly asking for extra food because they didn't know what they would eat when they got home, this food was headed for the trash. Now let's talk about education. How do we expect children to focus on algebra when they're thinking about dinner? How do we expect them to comprehend a textbook when they're hungry? How do we expect them to perform on state tests, manage their emotions, stay engaged in class, avoid behavioral problems, and compete academically when basic needs are not being met? Every year we publish reading scores. We publish graduation rates. We publish attendance numbers. We publish discipline reports. But how often do we ask how many students are trying to learn while dealing with food insecurity? Research has consistently shown that hunger affects concentration, memory, behavior, attendance, and academic performance. So before we blame the child, before we blame the teacher, before we blame the parent, maybe we should ask a harder question: Why does a system exist where food can be thrown away, but a hungry student cannot receive it? If Columbus City Schools wants better academic outcomes, shouldn't we first make sure children have enough to eat? Because the real crisis may not be what happens in the classroom. The real crisis may be what happens after the bell rings. And until we address that reality, we may continue measuring failure without addressing one of its causes. Should schools be allowed to send unused food home with students who need it?