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101
PROVISION OF MEALS.
Under the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1914, the
Education Authority may now extend the feeding of necessitous
school children.
The effect of this Act is as follows :—
(1) To equalise the feeding of school children during school
holidays.
(2) To abolish the ½d. rate limit.
(3) To make the Act non-adoptive.
The Board of Education will take into consideration the
following points in making their grants:—
(a) The extent to which the work is co-ordinated with that of
the School Medical Service.
(b) The care exercised in selection of the children for admission
to the meals.
(c) The sufficiency and suitability of the dietary.
(d) The extent to which attention is given to the educational
aspect of the work.
(e) The suitability of the accommodation and equipment and
the efficiency of the service and the supervision of the meals.
(f) The completement of the arrangements made for ascertaining
and recording the effect of the meals on the physical and
mental condition of the children.
(g) The economical administration of the work.
Up to the present time there has been co-ordination of the
feeding of children with the School Medical Service.
There is no doubt that a large number of children are fed
whose circumstances and physical condition do not warrant such,
but on the other hand cases frequently come under the notice of
the School Medical Officer where the parents either from carelessness,
indifference or laziness will not apply for their children
to be fed ; the physical condition on account of ill-health or poverty
demanding such feeding.
The Board suggest that two courses should be provided,
instead of the one usually given.