March 3, 2011Dear Sir,There is a TV advertisement, being shown on a local station, in which Sheelagh Cooper solicits funding for the Coalition for the Protection of Children’s free breakfast programme for certain public schools.In the advertisement, Mrs Cooper claims that, as a result of the programme, there has been a 30 percent improvement in exam results at the participating schools.I find it hard to believe that there is any legitimate basis for such a claim. Maybe she would like to share the research and evidence that supports this claim with the public and the Ministry of Education.It would seem to me that, if Mrs Cooper’s claims cannot be verified, she should be prohibited from making such claims in her solicitation ads and the Charities Commissioners should take whatever action is deemed appropriate.On the other hand, if her claims are true, maybe the programme should be expanded to include free lunches (for an additional 30 percent improvement in test results!) and also free dinners (for a further 30 percent increase in test results!) – let’s not waste money on Educational Reform because free meals are the answer!I also note that the advertisement only shows black children. This conveys a false impression that only black kids go to school without breakfast. I will assume that this was not the intent of the Coalition and therefore call on them to ensure that, in the future, any such images are more representative of the ethnic mix and realities of the Bermuda community.AN AVERAGE JOESmith’s