Julia K Cole

ABC News --  An 8-year-old's "heart of gold" has touched people all over the world with a campaign he recently launched to help pay for lunches of students from low-income families. Donations have increased tenfold since Cayden Taipalus –- a third-grader at Challenger Elementary School -- launched a campaign two weeks ago called "Pay It Forward: No Kid Goes Hungry." His mom, Amber Peters, said nearly $7,000 worth of donations have purchased hot lunches for more than 300 students with plans to reach another 5,000 this week. "I am so very proud of my son," Peters told ABC News today. "He is only 8 years old and to grasp the concept around this is just amazing in my eyes. He has a heart of gold." Cayden started the campaign after seeing another student at his elementary school in Howell, Mich., struggle to pay for their lunch. "Cayden was in school buying his lunch and the little boy in front of him had to put down his hot lunch due ...

My daughter attends High School here in Jefferson County, Kentucky. She was placed in ISAP (Detention) for the full day due to a “dress code” violation.   She wasn’t wearing a belt. While I appreciate the importance of rules and the need to enforce them, I am appalled by the extreme disciplinary tactics in dealing with dress code infractions.   Denying a child access to her/his classes and then placing them in the same room with children with distinct and continuous  behavioral problems?  All due to not having a belt to wear? Is it me or does anyone else find this extreme?    And not only is it extreme -- but is cheating a child out of their class time and their education.  This, in my opinion, is not only a form of neglect, but an abuse of power by the faculty and staff. And I assure you, I am not alone in my opinion in this regard. My child (and a few other children as well)  missed out on her classes, deni...