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The majority of children requiring to he fed in order that they may be able to take full advantage
of the education provided, will obviously be included by selection on the basis of the necessitous
income line shewn above. In addition there will be a small minority of children suffering from malnutrition,
the causes of which require investigation.
We are therefore of opinion that before a child in whose case the economic circumstances are
above the scale is removed from the feeding list, the child should be submitted to a medical examination.
Since April, 1915, the date on which school feeding was taken over by the Medical Officer
up to the present time, it has not been possible to put this into operation on account of the disorganisation
of the work of the school medical service occasioned by the war, but such an arrangement
can be brought into force when medical inspection is re-begun and we have instructed the Medical
Officer accordingly.
Similarly we have instructed the Medical Officer to investigate particularly the cases of children
noted in the course of medical inspection, when it is taken up again, as suffering from malnutrition
and to refer such children for school meals or, other appropriate action as may be necessary.
Routine Medical Inspection as at present prescribed occurs three times in school life. It
will therefore be obvious that a minority of children above the necessitous income line and suffering
from malnutrition from want of proper feeding and other causes, will not come under observation.
Some of these cases may be referred by head teachers, but the complete detection of such children
would involve the frequent routine medical inspection of all scholars, and we are unable to make
any recommendation thereon.
(c) The sufficiency and suitability of the dietary.
The foregoing paragraph shows that the school dinner provides approximately 2/5 of the daily
requirements of a child of ten years.
The dinners are suitable and well balanced, the protein, fat, and carbo-hydrate being approximately
in the proportions required for a good physiological meal. The amount of fat was diminished
during the war on account of scarcity, but as supplies become more plentiful the normal ratio of
protein, fat and carbo-hydrate will again be introduced in the school meals.
(d) The extent to which attention is given to the educational aspect of the work.
The teachers were asked on 25th June, 1915, by circular letter, to see that the children who
receive school meals leave school at mid-day to go to the centres clean and tidy. At the centre the
food is apportioned by the superintendent or an assistant, who are paid workers, and served by
monitors. The monitors are selected from the elder boys and girls attending the centre on the basis
of one to every 20 children. The tables are ready when the children arrive. The monitors wait
on the children at their allotted tables, and after the dinners are over, collect the plates and tidy up.
The monitors have their dinners after the other children have finished.
The educational aspect of the school meal is not forgotten, and, as far as the personnel of the
feeding staff at the present time will allow, cleanly habits, good manners, and table discipline are
inculcated among the scholars attending. In the areas of some education authorities teachers attend
the centres and supervise the children during the meal hour.
(e) The suitability of the accommodation and equipment and the efficiency of the service and supervision
of the meals.
In one instance a feeding centre has been specially equipped. In two instances the laundry
and cookery centres of the schools are used. In the case of the South Kilburn area the dinners are
provided by a voluntary centre where the arrangements are not satisfactory.
(f) The completeness of the arrangements made for ascertaining and recording the effect of the meals on
the physical and menial condition of the children.
Owing to the war it has not been possible to make any arrangements for recording the effect
of the meals on the physical condition of the child, nor do the Committee think this practicable or
profitable except under the strict conditions necessary for scientific investigations. The Medical
Inspector of a school should make a point of specially examining the children receiving school meals
to note any gross improvements in the physical condition, and the teacher at the same time would
be able to give information on the increased mental alertness of the children fed. In this way knowledge
would be acquired as to the effect of the meals, and should be embodied in the report of the
School Medical Officer. This, however, cannot be done until medical inspection is in operation again.
(g) The economical administration of the work.
The work is administered by a Supervisor of School Meals under the general direction of the
School Medical Officer. The Supervisor is assisted by a visitor who helps in the enquiries and with
the clerical work.
At each centre the staff is only sufficient to meet the needs of the Centre, and is reduced or
added to from time to time according to the numbers fed.