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The question of meals at Schools hardly arises, as with few
exceptions most children live near the Schools, and go home midday.
In the two Special Schools, however, and in the Day OpenAir
School at Crosby Road, the provision of a hot meal at a very
low cost is arranged for, but many cases are on the free meal
list.
There are ten School Dining Centres distributed in various
parts of the Borough, in charge of a Lady Superintendent, which
are visited periodically by the School Medical Officer.
The experiment of supplying Horlick's Malted Milk to Infant
children attending two Schools has been continued. The Committee
have also sanctioned the extension of this Scheme to three
other Infants' Departments.
Head Teachers have been informed generally that no objection
will be raised to voluntary arrangements being made for the
supply of ordinary milk to school children, provided that the proposed
arrangements are submitted for approval, that no expense
is incurred to the Education Committee, and that any such arrangements
would be subject to termination, or such alterations,
as the Committee deem necessary in the event of an Official
Scheme being adopted. Many Head Teachers have availed
themselves of the opportunity of supplying ordinary milk to school
children, and the Committee are considering reports on the result
of these experiments. The milk is generally supplied in sealed
bottles containing about one-third of a pint, at a cost to parents
of a penny per bottle, and only retailers whose premises are satisfactory
to the Medical Officer of Health are allowed to supply
milk.
The following Memorandum has been sent to Head Teachers:
"It is now an established fact that a little milk (about
one-third of a pint) consumed by children during the morning
session is in every way advantageous to their general
health, and that their capacity for resisting disease is enhanced
thereby.
"The source of supply, as well as the quality of the milk
delivered to the Schools is supervised by the Medical Officer of
Health.
"The milk is best contained in bottles, with straws for
drinking, or in sealed containers.
"It must be remembered that on no account should the
milk be warmed in any way, as this not only detracts from
its value, but is apt to render it anything but innocuous in
regard to the germ content.
F. GARLAND COLLINS,
Chief School Medical Officer.
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