There is no institution more sensitive to general social conditions than the public schools, which have outposts in every neighborhood and serve every family across economic, ethnic and cultural lines. Whatever is happening in society, schools find out about it fast.

With that in mind, consider some of these very sobering statistics that Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell reported in his annual State of Education address this week:

-- The number of homeless students in California schools increased by 19 percent in the 2006-07 school year, and the precentage continues to grow rapidly.

-- California schools served 28 million more free lunches in 2007-08 than the year before. Historically, the number of subsidized school lunches increased by about 1 percent per year over the previous decade; last year, it shot up by 12 percent.

If there are those who believe that somehow a repeat of Depression-era soup kitchens can be avoided without prompt, aggressive government action to stimulate the economy, the should reflect upon these numbers.

Homelessness and hunger are on the rise. The schools are in a position to notice it first. It may not take long for it to become obvious to everyone.