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Reference to Table No. II (b) on page 69 will, I think,
confirm that there is no evidence of adverse nutritional
standards among the school children of the Borough. This
may be attributed to a number of factors, not the least important
of which, may be relatively full employment of the
population, the equitable food distribution resulting from
rationing, the issue of free milk in schools, the provision of
school meals and the improved knowledge of cookery which
has taken place in recent years as a result of the emphasis
which this subject has received during the war time years. It
may be, also, that the relief from the strain of the war time
years has led, on the whole, to better sleep and rest, a more
ordered way of life and better opportunities for recreation
and holidays.
The present day lack of fats and proteins is, however,
probably responsible for the relatively few children found to
be in the highest grade of nutrition. In an investigation carried
out in the latter part of the year it was found that the relatively
low nutritional state of some children could be directly attributed
to lack of rest and sleep. Late hours appear to be
generally the rule especially among older children and street
play is, also, an important factor. To some extent this may
be the result of adverse housing conditions which leave the
children little room for recreational facilities within the home.
School Meals.
Dr. Dalzell-Ward reports as follows:—"The meals served
at schools have been found to be excellent from a dietetic,
culinary and aesthetic point of view and it is pleasing to see
children eating a full sized portion and then passing their
plates for a second helping. Victorian ideas that children's
food must be pale and plain and devoid of all interest are on
the wane. British children prefer strong flavoured traditional
food with a certain amount of bulk and after a large dinner in
the school dining room the method of digesting it appears to
be assisted by the practice of "hand stands" against a wall.
This phenomenon has been observed over a period of time and
no ill effects have been seen.
The majority of mothers of children up to the age of 11
give their children some vitamin supplements, at least during
the winter months."
I am indebted to the Borough Education Officer for the
following information relating to the provision of school
meals.
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