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73
The figures show that whilst only 287 children in all the schools were
found to be sub-normal, slightly or definitely, as many as 1,377 children were
in receipt of milk at the end of the year at the cost of the Committee. Financial
necessity of the parents determined the receipt of milk by the children
not classified of sub-normal nutrition.
The supply of milk in this way goes a long way towards meeting any
deficiency in the diet provided at home. The question, however, arises,
is the provision of milk sufficient for these children? In my opinion where
the financial circumstances are as poor as in the majority of these cases the
supply of milk alone is not sufficient and it is necessary to consider whether
a scheme for the supply of meals in school is practicable. In the consideration
of such a scheme there are certain points that have to be discussed. The
first is whether a sufficient number of parents would permit their children
to stay in school for their mid-day meal. It is difficult to answer but I am
inclined to think that unless there is a large number of children in any school
having similar meals at a time the number of parents allowing their children
to have meals in school would be small. The second is, if a mid-day meal
is provided whether it should be a hot or a cold meal. My own opinion is
that if a meal is provided it should be a freshly cooked hot meal. The third
point is whether dinners should be provided only for sub-normal children
or whether it should be made possible for other children to obtain meals on
payment of cost price. Here again it is difficult to forecast what would be
the response of the parents to such a proposal. A fourth and last point to
call for careful consideration is whether the meals, if provided, should all
be prepared in one central kitchen and then distributed to the schools or to a
number of feeding centres or whether some arrangement should be made
separately in each school. The method of cooking in a central kitchen and
of distributing the meals to the various schools or feeding centres is one
which is growing in popularity. It is found to be much more economical
and, with the development of modern food conveyors, to be practicable in
management. If meals have to be supplied to a reasonable number of
children in several schools this is the method that seems advisable.
Unfortunately, except in the Cuckoo School, the number of children
to be dealt with in the schools is relatively small, and in considering the
question of providing meals it is necessary to have in mind the number of
sub-normal children in each of them.