It sounds nice, but the argument is disingenuous at best. Prisoners are in prison 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. At $40k that works out to $4.56 an hour. Students are in school for 8 hours a day 180 days a year which at $7000 works out to $4.86 an hour. They're already spending more on students than prisoners. Things like a roof over their head are things a prisoner requires because they never leave. Schools aren't putting a roof over anyone's head. Additionally, at least in theory, you're only at school long enough to need lunch (though many eat breakfast there as well). In prison a lunch-only approach is not an option. Bottom line, the prison has to do many things the school does not, and at least in Michigan it does so with less money.
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