file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #egcac-;h4htm or #egcac-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu b_/#egcac_/pg#egcac-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#eg cac_/egcac-;h4zip7 ,images of the original pages are available through ,internet ,archive4 ,see https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/feedingo fschoolc#jj;bulkuoft ,transcriber's note3 ,text in italics is enclosed by underscores 7italics74 ,,the ,,feeding ,,of ,,school ,,children ,the ,ratan ,tata ,foundation 7,university ,of ,london7 ,,the ,,feeding ,,of ,,school ,,children by ,,mildred ,,emily ,,bulkley ,with ,an ,introductory ,note ,by ,r4 ,h4 ,tawney ,director of the ,ratan ,tata ,foundation ,london ,g4 ,bell ,and ,sons1 ,ltd4 #aiad ,the ,ratan ,tata ,foundation ,honorary ,director3 ,,professor ,l4 ,t4 ,hobhouse1 ,m4,a41 ,d4,,lit4 ,honorary ,secretary3 ,,professor ,e4 ,j4 ,urwick1 ,m4,a4 ,director3 ,,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,tawney1 ,b4,a4 ,secretary3 ,,miss ,m4 ,e4 ,bulkley1 ,b4,,sc4 ,the ,ratan ,tata ,foundation has been instituted in order to promote the study and further the knowledge of methods of preventing and relieving poverty and destitution4 ,for the furtherance of this purpose the ,foundation conducts inquiries into wages and the cost of living1 methods of preventing and diminishing unemployment1 measures affecting the health and well-being of workers1 public and private agencies for the relief of destitution1 and kindred matters4 ,the results of its principal researches will be published in pamphlet or book form2 it will also issue occasional notes on questions of the day under the heading of ,memoranda on ,problems of ,poverty4 ,in addition to these methods of publishing information1 the ,officers of the ,foundation will1 as far as is in their power1 send replies to individual inquiries relating to questions of poverty and destitution1 their causes1 prevention and relief1 whether at home or abroad4 ,such inquiries should be addressed to the ,secretary of the ,ratan ,tata ,foundation1 ,school of ,economics1 ,clare ,market1 ,kingsway1 ,w4,c4 ,the ,officers are also prepared to supervise the work of students wishing to engage in research in connection with problems of poverty4 ,courses of ,lectures will also be given from time to time1 which will be open to the ,public4 ,already ,published4 ,some ,notes on the ,incidence of ,taxation on the ,working-class ,family4 ,,by ,f4 ,w4 ,kolthammer1 ,m4,a4 #f;d4 ,the ,health and ,physique of ,school ,children4 ,,by ,arthur ,greenwood1 ,b4,sc4 #as4 ,poverty as an ,industrial ,problem3 an ,inaugural ,lecture4 ,,by ,r4 ,h4 ,tawney1 ,b4,a4 #f;d4 ,studies in the ,minimum ,wage4 ,no4 #a4 ,the ,establishment of ,minimum ,rates in the ,chain-making ,industry under the ,trade ,boards ,act of #aiji4 ,,by ,r4 ,h4 ,tawney1 ,b4,a4 #as4 #f;d4 net4 ,the ,feeding of ,school ,children4 ,,by ,,miss ,m4 ,e4 ,bulkley1 ,b4,a41 ,b4,sc4 #cs4 #f;d4 net4 ,to ,appear ,shortly ,studies in the ,minimum ,wage4 ,no4 #b4 ,the ,establishment of ,minimum ,rates in the ,tailoring ,trade4 ,,by ,r4 ,h4 ,,tawney1 ,b4,a4 ,,preface ,in the collection of the material on which the following pages are based ,i have received assistance from so many persons that it is impossible to thank them all individually4 ,i gratefully acknowledge the unfailing courtesy of officials of ,local ,education ,authorities1 ,school ,medical ,officers1 secretaries of ,care ,committees and many others1 who have always been most ready to supply me with information as to the working of the ,provision of ,meals ,act1 and to show me the ,feeding ,centres4 ,my thanks are due especially to the students of the ,social ,science ,department of the ,school of ,economics1 who have assisted in collecting and arranging the material1 especially to ,miss ,ruth ,giles1 ,miss ,a4 ,l4 ,hargrove1 and ,miss ,p4 ,m4 ,bisgood1 the first chapter being very largely the work of ,miss ,giles2 ,mrs4 ,leslie ,mackenzie1 ,mr4 ,i4 ,h4 ,cunningham1 ,miss ,cecil ,young and ,mrs4 ,f4 ,h4 ,spencer have also kindly collected local information4 ,i am greatly indebted to ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,tawney for much valuable advice and co-operation1 and to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,sidney ,webb and ,dr4 ,kerr for reading through the proofs4 ,i should add that the enquiry was made during the course of the year #aiac and the account of the provision made refers to that date4 ,m4 ,e4 ,bulkley4 ,,contents ,preface vii ,introduction ,,by ,r4 ,h4 ,,tawney xi ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,history of the ,movement for the ,provision of ,school ,meals #a ,provision by ,voluntary ,agencies--,the ,organisation of the ,voluntary ,agencies--,the demand for ,state provision--,provision by the ,guardians--,the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,administration of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act #ej ,the adoption of the ,act--,canteen ,committees1 their constitution and functions--,the selection of the children--,the preparation and service of the meals--,the provision of meals during the holidays--,the provision for paying children and recovery of the cost--,overlapping between the ,poor ,law and the ,education ,authorities--,the provision of meals at ,day ,industrial ,schools and at ,special ,schools--,the underfed child in rural schools--,conclusions4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,provision of ,meals in ,london #aca ,the organisation of ,voluntary ,agencies--,the assumption of responsibility by the ,county ,council--,the extent of the provision--,the ,care ,committee--,the provision for paying children--,the service of the meals--,overlapping with the ,poor ,law ,authority--,appendix 7,examples of feeding centres74 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,extent and ,causes of ,malnutrition #agj ,chapter ,v4 ,the ,effect of ,school ,meals on the ,children #ahd ,chapter ,,vi4 ,the ,effect on the ,parents #bjb ,chapter ,,vii4 ,conclusions #bai ,appendix ,i4--,examples of ,menus #bca ,appendix ,,ii4--,the ,provision of ,meals in ,scotland #bcg ,appendix ,,iii4--,the ,provision of ,meals ,abroad #bdi ,introduction ,the ,provision of ,meals for ,school ,children1 which is the subject of the following pages1 is still undergoing that process of tentative transformation from a private charity to a public service by which we are accustomed to disguise the assumption of new responsibilities by the ,state4 ,begun in the 'sixties of the nineteenth century as a form of philanthropic effort1 and denounced from time to time as socialistic and subversive of family life1 it first attracted serious public attention when the ,south ,african war made the physical defects caused by starvation1 which had been regarded with tolerance in citizens1 appear intolerable in soldiers1 and was canvassed at some length in the well-known reports of the ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training in ,scotland and of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration4 ,the first disposition of the authorities was1 as usual1 to recur to that maid-of-all-work1 the ,poor ,law1 and in ,april1 #aije1 the ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order empowered the ,guardians to grant relief to the child of an able-bodied man without requiring him to enter the workhouse or to perform the outdoor labour test1 provided that they took steps to recover the cost4 ,the ,guardians1 however1 perhaps happily1 had little sympathy for this deviation from the principle of deterrence1 with the result that the new ,order was in most places either not applied or applied with insignificant results4 ,the consequence was that the attempt to make the provision of meals for school children part of the ,poor ,law was abandoned4 ,in #aijf the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act was passed empowering ,local ,education ,authorities to provide food1 either in co-operation with voluntary agencies or out of public funds1 up to the limit of a half-penny rate4 ,in the year #aiaa-ab1 out of #cbb authorities1 #aca were returned as making some provision for the feeding of school children4 ,the object of ,miss ,bulkley's monograph is to describe what that provision is1 how adequate or inadequate1 how systematic or haphazard1 and to examine its effect on the welfare both of the children concerned1 and of the general community4 ,the present work is1 therefore1 complementary to ,mr4 ,greenwood's ,health and ,physique of ,school ,children1 which was recently published by the ,ratan ,tata ,foundation1 and which gave an exhaustive description of the conditions of school children in respect of health as revealed by the reports of ,school ,medical ,officers4 ,that the subject with which ,miss ,bulkley deals is one of the first importance1 few1 whatever views may be held as to the ,act of #aijf1 will be found to deny4 ,almost all the medical authorities who have made a study of the health and physique of school children are unanimous that a capital cause of ill-health among them is lack of the right kind of food4 ,defective nutrition1 states ,sir ,george ,newman1 stands in the forefront as the most important of all physical defects from which school children suffer4444 ,from a purely scientific point of view1 if there was one thing he was allowed to do for the six million children if he wanted to rear an imperial race1 it would be to feed them4444 ,the great1 urgent1 pressing need was nutrition4 ,with that they could get better brains and a better race4 ,apart from infectious diseases1 said ,dr4 ,collie before the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration1 malnutrition is accountable for nine-tenths of child sickness4 ,food1 ,dr4 ,eichholz told the same body1 is at the base of all the evils of child degeneracy4 ,the sufficient feeding of children1 declared ,dr4 ,niven1 the ,medical ,officer of ,health for ,manchester1 is by far the most important thing to attend to4 ,to educate underfed children1 said ,dr4 ,leslie ,mackenzie1 is to promote deterioration of physique by exhausting the nervous system4 ,education of the underfed is a positive evil4 ,what doctors understand by malnutrition is what the plain man calls starvation2 and while it is1 of course1 due to other causes besides actual inability to procure sufficient food1 the experience of those authorities which have undertaken the provision of meals in a thorough and systematic manner suggests that these statements as to the prevalence of malnutrition or starvation are by no means exaggerations4 ,to say1 as has recently been said by a writer of repute in the ,economic ,journal1 already #dj1jjj children are fed weekly at the schools without appreciably improving the situation1 is a ridiculous misstatement of the facts4 ,on the contrary1 there is every reason to believe that in those areas where suitable and sufficient meals have been provided1 there has been a marked improvement in the health of the children receiving them4 ,the tentative conclusions on this point given for a single city by ,mr4 ,greenwood 7,health and ,physique of ,school ,children1 pp4 #fb-fg71 are substantiated by the fuller evidence which ,miss ,bulkley sets out in ,chapter ,v4 of the present work4 ,as far as the children are concerned1 indeed1 whether we consider the improvement in physique1 mental capacity or manners1 there is no doubt that the provision of school meals has proved of the greatest benefit4 ,but while there is little doubt that the authorities which have made determined attempts to use to the full their powers under the ,act of #aijf have been rewarded by an improvement in the health of the children attending school1 ,miss ,bulkley's enquiries show that the ,act itself is open to criticism1 that many local authorities who ought to have welcomed the new powers conferred by the ,act have been deterred by a mean and short-sighted parsimony from adopting it1 and that in many areas where it has been adopted its administration leaves much to be desired4 ,the limitation to a halfpenny rate of the amount which a local authority may spend1 has resulted in more than one authority stopping meals in spite of the existence of urgent need for them4 ,by deciding--contrary1 it would appear1 to the intention of ,parliament--that local authorities cannot legally spend money on providing meals except when the children are actually in school1 the ,local ,government ,board has made impossible1 except at the risk of a surcharge or at the cost of private charity1 the provision of meals during holidays4 ,to those who regard the whole policy of the ,act of #aijf as a mistake1 these limitations upon it will appear1 of course1 to be an advantage4 ,but the assumption on which the ,act is based is that it is in the public interest that provision should be made for children who would otherwise be underfed1 and1 granted this premise1 the wisdom of intervening to protect ratepayers against their own too logical deductions from it would appear to be as questionable as it is unnecessary4 ,the bad precedent of authorities such as ,leicester1 which has refused to adopt the ,act1 and which leaves the feeding of school children to be carried out by a voluntary organisation under whose management the application for meals is in effect discouraged1 does not1 unfortunately1 stand alone4 ,of more than #bjj authorities who have made no use of their statutory powers1 how many are justified in their inaction by the absence of distress among the school children in their area8 ,how many have even taken steps to ascertain whether such distress exists or not8 ,if it is the case1 as is stated by high medical authorities1 that the education of the underfed is a positive evil1 would not the natural corollary appear to be that1 now that the experimental stage has been passed1 the ,act should be made obligatory and the provision of meals should become a normal part of the school curriculum8 ,apart from these larger questions of policy1 it will be agreed that1 if local authorities are to feed children at all1 it is desirable that they should do so in the way calculated to produce the beneficial results upon the health of school children which it is the object of the ,act to secure4 ,that certain authorities have been strikingly successful in providing good food under humanising conditions appears from the account of the effects of school meals given by ,miss ,bulkley4 ,but the methods pursued in the selection of the children and in the arrangements made for feeding them vary infinitely from place to place1 and the standards of efficiency with which many authorities are content appear to be lamentably low4 ,it is evident that in many places a large number of children who need food are overlooked1 either because the conditions are such as to deter parents from applying for meals1 or because no attempt is made to use the medical service to discover the needs of children whose parents have not applied1 or for both reasons 7pp4 #ei-ge74 ,it is evident also that many authorities do not give sufficient attention to the character of the meals provided 7pp4 #gi-hc71 or to the conditions under which they are served 7pp4 #hc-aja71 with the result that most diets 444 are probably wanting in value for the children1 and that little attempt is made to secure the directly educational effect 444 in respect of manners and conduct1 which was emphasised as a desideratum by the ,board of ,education4 ,london1 in particular1 where the necessity for the provision of meals is conspicuous1 has won a bad pre-eminence by sinning against light4 ,reluctant1 in the first place1 to use its powers at all--the whole question1 said the chairman of the ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children in #aijh1 of deciding which children are underfed1 and of making special provision for such children1 should really be one for the ,poor ,law ,authority--the ,education ,committee of the ,london ,county ,council has taken little pains to ensure that the food provided should always be suitable1 or that the meals should be served under civilising conditions4 ,that these defects can be removed by care and forethought is shown by the example set by such towns as ,bradford1 and now that eight years have elapsed since the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act was passed1 they should cease to receive the toleration which may reasonably be extended to new experiments4 ,miss ,bulkley's monograph will have served its purpose if it makes it somewhat easier for the administrator1 whether on ,education ,authorities or ,care ,committees1 in ,public ,offices or in ,parliament itself1 to apply the varied experience of the last eight years to a problem whose solution is an indispensable condition of the progress of elementary education4 ,r4 ,h4 ,tawney4 ,heights and ,weights of #cff ,children from ,secondary ,schools and #b1aaa from ,elementary ,schools in ,liverpool4 ,boys ,age ,secondary ,council ,a ,council ,b ,council ,c ,schools ft4 in4 ft4 in4 ft4 in4 ft4 in4 #g #c #aad #c #icc #c #hh #c #h #g-a_/b #d #ahc #c #ajg #c #hag #c #aj #h #d #bfa #c #aafg #c #aj #c #hcg #h-a_/b #d #be #c #aafb #c #aacc #c #ib #i #d #djc #d #agf #d #jh #c #aa #i-a_/b #d #dcg #d #age #d #afa #d #j #aj #d #fda #d #cc #d #ag #d #je #aj-a_/b #d #fhc #d #cg #d #cjd #d #jge #aa #d #ge #d #eaa #d #ch #d #age #aa-a_/b #d #hhg #d #fbe #d #deg #d #bc #ab #d #aj #d #fi #d #ef #d #cf #ab-a_/b #d #id #d #ge #d #fcd #d #daf #ac #e #jee #d #ije #d #ei #d #efa #ac-a_/b #d #aagg #d #hfb #d #gbc #d #fe #ad #e #age #d #ajb #d #hbe #d #gbe ,girls ,age ,council ,a ,council ,b ,council ,c ft4 in4 ft4 in4 ft4 in4 #g #c #ajge #c #hbe #c #iab #g-a_/b #c #ajac #c #igg #c #hge #h #c #aae #c #ajgc #c #hhg #h-a_/b #d #jbe #c #ajeg #c #ie #i #d #bfb #d #jbe #c #aaaf #i-a_/b #d #bbe #d #ab #d #j #aj #d #cbe #d #agf #d #jag #aj-a_/b #d #bge #d #cce #d #jc #aa #d #e #d #dab #d #ajf #aa-a_/b #d #dge #d #dbe #d #bg #ab #d #gbe #d #eg #d #daf #ab-a_/b #d #i #d #fad #d #eaf #ac #d #hc #d #gc #d #ge #ac-a_/b #d #ajge #d #hhg #d #g #ad #e #je #d #eg #d #he ,boys ,age ,secondary ,council ,a ,council ,b ,council ,c ,schools st4 lb4 st4 lb4 st4 lb4 st4 lb4 #g #c #gc #c #ba #c #a #c #a #g-a_/b #d #jg #c #fgg #c #jaa #c #d #d #jg #c #ddd #c #cfd #c #ahg #h-a_/b #c #aje #c #e #c #eb #c #cc #d #ce #c #aacc #c #hhe #c #fch #i-a_/b #d #ed #c #ice #c #aaaf #c #ie #d #ajjc #c #aca #c #aa -- #aj-a_/b #d #abgf #d #jdc #d #jf #c #abcg #aa #e #jbg #d #ede #d #cje #c #ace #aa-a_/b #e #dge #d #fh #d #dgi #d #bc #ab #e #gje #d #ajf #d #gib #d #fje #ab-a_/b #e #d #d #ac #d #aae #d #ggc #ac #f #dbe #e #cdb #d #abge #d #accc #ac-a_/b #f #agb #e #dbf #d #abe #e #jfc #ad #f #aje #e #ehb #e #ehg #e #aad ,girls ,age ,council ,a ,council ,b ,council ,c st4 lb4 st4 lb4 st4 lb4 #g #c #a #b #aca #c #e #g-a_/b #c #bf #c #c #c #h #c #fhe #c #ci #c #baf #h-a_/b #c #h #c #ee #c #dg #c #aj #c #gi #c #fe #i-a_/b #c #ajhe #c #aje #c #hje #d #ae #c #abc #c #ajge #aj-a_/b #c #acdf #d #ceg #c #aab #aa #d #ebh #d #fe #d #jbe #aa-a_/b #d #dg #d #eb #d #deg #ab #e #aca #d #aajg #d #aag #ab-a_/b #e #gc #d #aag #d #acab #ac #e #jc #e #caf #e #cc #ac-a_/b #e #aje #e #eh #e #d #ad #f #ic #e #deg #e #ab ,a is a school where the parents were comparatively well-to-do and the children mostly had comfortable homes4 ,b is a school where the parents were mostly small shopkeepers or labourers in constant employment4 ,c is a school where the parents were mostly unemployed or casually employed4 ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,movement ,,for ,,the ,,provision ,,of ,,school ,,meals ,the latter half of the nineteenth century was remarkable for the birth of a new social conscience manifesting itself in every kind of social movement4 ,some were mere outbursts of sentimentality1 pauperising and patronising1 others indicated real care and sympathy for the weaker members of society1 others again a love of scientific method and order4 ,thus in the early 'sixties there was an enormous growth in the amount spent in charity1 leading to hopeless confusion4 ,an attempt to introduce some order into this chaos and to stem the tide of indiscriminate almsgiving was made in #ahfh by the formation of the ,society for the ,prevention of ,pauperism and ,crime1 which split the following year into the ,industrial ,employment ,association and the better known ,charity ,organisation ,society4 ,in the 'eighties slumming became a fashionable occupation1 while #ahhd saw the beginning of the ,settlement movement in the foundation of ,toynbee ,hall4 ,meanwhile the working classes were becoming articulate1 learning more self-reliance and mutual dependence4 ,the growth of ,trade ,unions1 of ,co-operative and ,friendly societies1 showed how the working people were beginning to work out their own salvation4 ,towards the close of the century methods of improvement were nearly all on collectivist lines--in sanitary reform1 in free education1 in the agitation for a legal limitation of labour to eight hours a day1 for a minimum wage and for ,old ,age ,pensions4 ,amongst the most characteristic of these activities was the movement for the feeding of poor school children4 ,in the early years of the movement the motives were chiefly philanthropic4 ,the establishment of the ,ragged and other schools had brought under the notice of teachers and others large numbers of children1 underfed and ill-clothed4 ,still more was this the case when education was made compulsory under the ,education ,act of #ahgj4 ,it was impossible for humanitarians to attempt to educate these children without at the same time trying to alleviate their distress4 ,education1 in fact1 proved useless if the child was starving2 more1 it might be positively detrimental1 since the effort to learn placed on the child's brain a task greater than it could bear4 ,all these early endeavours to provide meals were undertaken by voluntary agencies4 ,their operations were spasmodic and proved totally inadequate to cope with the evil4 ,towards the end of the century we find a growing insistence on the doctrine that it was the duty of the ,state to ensure that the children for whom it provided education should not be incapable1 through lack of food1 of profiting by that education4 ,on the one hand some socialists demanded that the ,state ought itself to provide food for all its elementary school children4 ,another school of reformers urged that voluntary agencies might in many areas deal with the question1 but that where their resources proved inadequate the ,state must step in and supplement them4 ,others again objected to any public provision of meals on the ground that it would undermine parental responsibility4 ,the demand that the ,state must take some action was strengthened by the alarm excited during the ,south ,african war by the difficulty experienced in securing recruits of the requisite physique4 ,the importance of the physical condition of the masses of the population was thus forced upon public attention4 ,it was urged that the child was the material for the future generation1 and that a healthy race could not be reared if the children were chronically underfed4 ,in the result ,parliament yielded to the popular demand1 and by the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act of #aijf gave power to the ,local ,education ,authorities to assist voluntary agencies in the work of providing meals1 and if necessary themselves to provide food out of the rates4 7a7--,provision by ,voluntary ,agencies4 ,the first experiments in the provision of free or cheap dinners for school children appear to date from the early 'sixties4#a ,one of the earliest and most important of the ,london societies was the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society1 founded in ,february1 #ahfd1 in connection with a ,ragged ,school in ,westminster4#b ,this ,society quickly grew and1 between ,october #ahfi and ,april #ahgj1 fifty-eight dining rooms were opened for longer or shorter periods4#c ,the motive1 though largely sentimental1 was from the first supported by educational considerations4 ,their almost constant destitution of food1 write the ,committee in their appeal for funds1 is not only laying the foundation of permanent disease in their debilitated constitutions1 but reduces them to so low a state that they have not vigour of body or energy of mind sufficient to derive any profit from the exertions of their teachers4#d ,the influence of the newly-formed ,charity ,organisation ,society is seen in the nervous anxiety of the promoters to avoid the charge of pauperising4 ,our object is not the indiscriminate relief of the multitude of poor children to be found in the lowest parts of the metropolis4 ,our efforts are limited to those in attendance at ragged or other schools so as to encourage and assist the moral and religious training thus afforded4#e ,the dinners were not self-supporting1#f but a great point was made of the fact that a penny was charged towards paying the cost4 ,nevertheless the promoters admitted that it has been found impossible in some localities to obtain any payment from the children4#g ,footnote #a3 ,many of our own ,roman ,catholic schools 444 fed the children even in the 'sixties4 7,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,evidence of ,monsignor ,brown1 ,q4 #ajch47 ,footnote #b3 ,it is interesting to note that the impulse for the formation of this society came indirectly from ,france4 ,in #ahdh a commission of medical and scientific men had been appointed by the ,french ,government to enquire into the causes of diseases1 such as scrofula1 rickets1 and impoverishment of blood1 to which children of the poor were exposed1 and which produced so much mortality4 ,the ,committee reported that in their opinion the diseases were caused by children not having animal food1 and might be checked by their having a meal of fresh meat once a month4 ,owing to political events no action was taken on this report1 but it made a great impression on ,victor ,hugo1 and some fourteen years later 7in #ahfb7 he started the experiment of giving dinners of fresh meat and a small glass of wine1 once a fortnight1 to forty of the most necessitous young children of ,guernsey4 ,this experiment was declared to be very successful4 ,many children suffering from the above diseases had been cured1 and the physical constitution of nearly the whole of them sensibly improved 7,punch1 ,january #af1 #ahfd74 ,this description concluded with a suggestion that a similar scheme might be initiated in ,london4 ,the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society was the result4 7,charity ,organisation ,review1 ,january1 #ahhe1 p4 #bc47 ,footnote #c3 ,report on ,metropolitan ,soup ,kitchens and ,dinner ,tables1 by the ,society for ,organising ,charitable ,relief1 #ahga1 p4 #eg4 ,footnote #d3 ,the ,times1 ,december #e1 #ahfg4 ,footnote #e3 ,ibid41 ,november #a1 #ahgj4 ,the following year the ,charity ,organisation ,society reports approvingly that the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society cordially accepts and endeavours to act up to the principle that 'to relieve destitution belongs to the ,poor ,law1 while to prevent destitution is the peculiar function of charity4' 7,report on ,metropolitan ,soup ,kitchens and ,dinner ,tables1 #ahga1 p4 #eg47 ,footnote #f3 ,the cost of a meal was generally #d;d41 #e;d4 or #f;d4 ,footnote #g3 ,the ,times1 ,april #ae1 #ahfh4 ,the methods adopted by other societies were very similar4 ,a common feature of all was the infrequency of the meal4 ,as a rule a child would receive a dinner once a week1 at the most twice a week4#h ,it is true that the dinners1 unlike those supplied at the end of the century1 when the predominant feature was soup1 seem always to have been substantial and to have consisted of hot meat4#i ,but making all allowance for the nutritive value of the meal1 its infrequency prevents us from placing much confidence in the enthusiastic reports of the various societies as to the beneficial result upon the children4 ,experience has proved1 writes the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society in #ahfg1 that one substantial meat dinner per week has a marked effect on the health and powers of the children4#aj ,not only is there a marked improvement in their physical condition1 reports the same society two years later1 but their teachers affirm that they are now enabled to exert their mental powers in a degree which was formerly impossible4#aa ,the ,ragged ,school ,union in #ahgj reports to the same effect4 ,the physical benefit of these dinners to the children is great2 but it is not the body only that is benefited2 the teachers agree in their opinion that those who are thus fed become more docile and teachable4#ab ,footnote #h3 ,we have only found one case where the dinner was given as often as three times a week4 7,see letter from ,john ,palmer1 ,hon4 ,sec4 of the ,clare ,market ,ragged ,schools1 ibid41 ,october #af1 #ahga47 ,footnote #i3 ,thus a dinner given by the ,refuge for ,homeless and ,destitute ,children to pupils of ,st4 ,giles and ,st4 ,george1 ,bloomsbury1 consisted of boiled and roast beef1 plenty of potatoes1 and a thick slice of bread1 the portion given to each child being abundant4 7,ibid41 ,november #bg1 #ahfi47 ,footnote #aj3 ,ibid41 ,december #e1 #ahfg4 ,footnote #aa3 ,ibid41 ,march #bf1 #ahfi4 ,footnote #ab3 ,report of ,ragged ,school ,union for #ahgj1 quoted in ,report on ,metropolitan ,soup ,kitchens and ,dinner ,tables1 #ahga1 p4 #eh4 ,meals were given only during the winter1 though one society at any rate1 the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society1 realised the importance of continuing the work throughout the year--an importance even now not universally appreciated--their object being not to relieve temporary distress only1 but by an additional weekly meal of good quality and quantity1 to improve the general health and moral condition of the half starved and neglected children who swarm throughout the poor districts of ,london4#ac ,funds apparently did not permit of their achieving this object4#ad ,footnote #ac3 ,letter from the ,treasurer of the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society1 ,the ,times1 ,april #ae1 #ahfh4 ,footnote #ad3 ,in that year 7#ahfh7 dinners were given during nine months1 being discontinued only from ,july to ,september1 but in subsequent years they appear to have been provided during the winter months only4 ,after the passing of the ,education ,act of #ahgj1 educational considerations became the dominant motive for feeding4 ,teachers and school managers as well as philanthropists found themselves increasingly compelled to deal with the problem4 ,it was not only that compulsory education brought into notice hundreds of needy children who had before been hidden away in courts and back alleys1#ae but the effect of education on a starving child proved useless4 ,footnote #ae3 ,at the present season1 when the energy of the ,school ,board visitors is filling the schools with all the poorest of the poor street ,arabs1 the need of such a society as this is more than ever felt4 7,letter from the ,committee of the ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society1 ,the ,times1 ,december #ab1 #ahgb47 ,the ,referee ,fund1 started in #ahgd1 was the result of ,mrs4 ,burgwin's experience when head teacher of ,orange ,street ,school1 ,southwark4 ,she found the children in a deplorable condition and on appealing to a medical man for advice was told that they were simply starving4 ,with the help of her assistant teachers she provided tea1 coffee or warm milk for the most needy4 ,soon a small local organisation was started1 and a year or two after ,mr4 ,g4 ,r4 ,sims drew public attention to the question by his articles on ,how the ,poor ,live1 and appealed for funds through the ,referee4#af ,the operations of the fund thus established were at first confined to ,west ,southwark--in that area1 ,mrs4 ,burgwin triumphantly declared1 there was not a hungry school child#ag--;but were gradually extended to other districts4 ,as a result of the meals thus provided it was said that the children looked healthier and attended school better in the winter when they were being fed than they did in the summer4#ah ,footnote #af3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,special ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahie1 ,appendix #a1 p4 #e4 ,footnote #ag3 ,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,q4 #cjd4 ,footnote #ah3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,special ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahie1 ,appendix #a1 p4 #f4 ,the standard example1 however1 constantly quoted as evidence of the value of school meals1 was the experiment started by ,sir ,henry ,peek at ,rousdon in #ahgf4 ,the children in that district had to walk long distances to school1 bringing with them wretched morsels of food for dinner1 with1 naturally1 most unsatisfactory results4 ,sir ,henry ,peek provided one good meal a day for five days1 charging one penny a day4 ,the system was practically self-supporting4 ,the experiment was declared by the ,inspector to have turned out a very great success4 ,what strikes one at once on coming into the school is the healthy vigorous look of the children1 and that their vigour is not merely bodily1 but comes out in the course of examination4 ,there is a marked contrast between their appearance and their work on the day of inspection1 and those of the children in many of the neighbouring schools4 ,the midday meal is good and without stint4 ,it acts as an attraction1 and induces regularity of attendance4444 ,before the school was started the education of the children of the neighbourhood was as low as in any part of the district4#ai ,footnote #ai3 ,mr4 ,mundella in the ,house of ,commons1 ,hansard1 ,july #bf1 #ahhc1 #crd ,series1 ,vol4 #bhb1 pp4 #egg-i4 ,the effect on the health of the children1 writes the ,rector of ,rousdon in ,january1 #ahhe1 may be well exemplified by the most recent illustration--viz41 that in the third week of ,december1 though whooping-cough had been1 and still was1 prevalent among them1 and the weather was damp and raw1 the entry on the master's weekly report was1 absentees1 #j--that is1 every child on the register had appeared on the ,monday morning and paid for its week's dinners4 ,probably such a circumstance in a rural school district 7with radius of a mile and a half at least7 in the height of winter is unprecedented4 7,sanitary ,record1 ,january #ae1 #ahhe47 ,about #ahhj another motive for school meals emerges4 ,public opinion began to be aroused on the subject of over-pressure4 ,it was said that far too many subjects were taught and that the system of payment by results forced the teachers to overwork the children for the sake of the grant4 ,it was pointed out that not only was it useless to try to educate a starving child1 but the results might be positively harmful4 ,numerous letters from school managers1 doctors and others appeared in ,the ,times4 ,in dispensary practice1 writes ,dr4 ,sophia ,jex-,blake1 ,i have lately seen several cases of habitual headache and other cerebral affections among children of all ages attending our ,board ,schools1 and have traced their origin to overstrain caused by the ordinary school work1 which the ill-nourished physical frames are often quite unfit to bear4 ,i have spoken repeatedly on the subject to members of the ,school ,boards1 and also to teachers in the schools1 and have again and again been assured by them that they were quite alive to the danger1 and heartily wished that it was in their power to avert it1 but that the constantly advancing requirements of the ,education ,code left them no option in the matter4#bj ,footnote #bj3 ,the ,times1 ,april #ae1 #ahhj4 ,speaking of the children at ,london ,hospitals1 ,dr4 ,robert ,farquharson writes3 ,ill-fed and badly housed and clothed1 exposed to depressing sanitary and domestic conditions1 these poor creatures are frequently expected to do an amount of school work of which their badly-nourished brains are utterly incapable4 ,i have long been familiar with the pale1 dejected look1 the chronic headache1 the sleeplessness1 the loss of appetite1 the general want of tone1 caused undoubtedly by the undue exercise of nervous tissues unprovided with their proper allowance of healthy food4 ,such children are by no means inclined to shirk their lessons2 they are frequently much interested in them2 but1 feeling the responsibility of class and examinations keenly 444 they become sleepless and restless1 and rapidly lose flesh and strength4 7,ibid41 ,april #ai1 #ahhj47 ,the ,lancet spoke strongly on the subject#ba and in #ahhc it was hotly discussed in ,parliament4 ,mr4 ,mundella spoke in warm praise of ,sir ,henry ,peek's experiment1 while ,mr4 ,s4 ,smith1 the member for ,liverpool1 went so far as to say that if ,parliament compelled persons by force of law to send their children to school1 and the little ones were to be forced to undergo such a grinding system1 they ought not to injure them in so doing1 but should provide them1 in cases of proved necessity1 with sufficient nourishment to enable them to stand the pressure4#bb ,such a proposition sounds advanced for the year #ahhc1 but he added the still more modern suggestion--that not only should we have a medical inspection of schools1 but that the grants should be partly dependent upon the physical health of the children4444 ,we were applying sanitary science to our great towns1 and we should apply the same science also to the educational system of the country4#bc ,at last ,mr4 ,mundella instigated ,dr4 ,crichton ,browne to undertake a private enquiry into the subject4 ,the report was somewhat vague and rhetorical1 and ,dr4 ,browne's judgments were said to be based on insufficient data1 so that little fresh light was thrown on the question4 ,it is1 however1 noteworthy that he too recommended medical inspection and also that a record of the height1 weight and chest girth of the children should be kept4#bd ,footnote #ba3 ,that good feeding is necessary for brain nutrition does not need to be demonstrated or even argued at length 444 it must be evident that the position in which education places the brains of underfed children is that of a highly-exercised organ urgently requiring food1 and finding none or very little4 ,these children are growing1 and all or nearly all the food they can get is appropriated by the grosser and bulkier parts of the body to the starvation of the brain4444 ,it is cruel to educate a growing child unless you are also prepared to feed him4 7,leading ,article1 ,the ,lancet1 ,august #d1 #ahhc1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 pp4 #aia-b47 ,footnote #bb3 ,hansard1 ,july #bf1 #ahhc1 #crd ,series1 ,vol4 #bhb1 p4 #eig4 ,footnote #bc3 ,ibid41 p4 #eih4 ,footnote #bd3 ,the ,times1 ,september #af1 #ahhd4 ,in spite of conflicting opinions1 one point became increasingly clear4 ,whether the amount of mental strain necessitated by the ,educational ,code was exaggerated or not1 there was no doubt that good educational results were dependent upon health and could not be attained where the children were seriously underfed4 ,the situation was summed up by ,mr4 ,sydney ,buxton during a conference of ,managers and ,teachers of ,london ,board ,schools in #ahhd4 ,the ,school ,boards1 he said1 had by their compulsory powers been year by year tapping a lower stratum of society1 bringing to light the distress1 destitution and underfeeding which formerly had escaped their notice4 ,the cry of over-pressure had drawn public attention to the children attending elementary schools1 and he thought it was now becoming more and more recognised that 'over-pressure' in a very large number of cases was only another word for 'underfeeding4'#be ,footnote #be3 ,school ,board ,chronicle1 ,december #ac1 #ahhd1 pp4 #fbh-i4 ,the principle that compulsory education involved some provision of food being thus generally admitted1#bf the question remained how was this to be done8 ,should the meals be provided free or should they be self-supporting8 ,a keen controversy ensued as to the merits of penny dinners4 ,the ,times quoted with apparent astonishment and alarm the view of the ,minister of ,education that it would not be enough to provide meals for those who could pay for them1 and that whatever might be the vices of the parents the children ought not to suffer4#bg ,the ,charity ,organisation ,society held more than one conference on the subject and emphatically contended that the only means of avoiding pauperisation was to insist on payment for the meals4 ,indeed some members felt so strongly that penny dinners were bound to be converted into halfpenny or free dinners1 that they were reluctant to give the movement any support at all4#bh ,the attitude of the society was1 as ,the ,times said1 one of watchful criticism4#bi ,yet there were some1 at any rate1 who recognised that the obligation on the part of the parent to send his children to school involved a very real pecuniary sacrifice which might often more than counterbalance any advantage to be obtained from free meals4 ,we must not teach poor children or poor parents to lean upon charity1 says the ,school ,board ,chronicle in #ahhd4 ,but1 on the other hand1 it ought never to be forgotten that this new law of compulsory attendance at school1 in the making whereof the poorest classes of the people had no hand whatever1 exacts greater sacrifices from that class than from any other4 ,we hear a good deal sometimes 444 of the grumbling of the ratepayers 444 as to the burden of the school rate4444 ,but do these grumblers ever reflect that the very poor of whom we are speaking never asked to have education provided for their children1 never wanted it1 have practically nothing to gain by it and much to lose1 and that this law of compulsory education is forced on them1 not for their good or for their pleasure1 but for the safety and progress of society and for the sake of economy in the administration of the laws in the matter of poor relief and crime4#cj ,amidst all the discussion on the needs and morals of the poor from the standpoint of the superior person1 it is refreshing to find so honest and sympathetic a criticism4 ,footnote #bf3 ,it is now admitted that children cannot be expected to learn their lessons unless they are properly fed4 7,the ,times1 ,leading ,article1 ,december #ac1 #ahhd47 ,footnote #bg3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #bh3 ,charity ,organisation ,review1 ,january1 #ahhe1 p4 #be4 ,as we shall see 7post1 p4 #ai71 their fears in this respect were realised4 ,footnote #bi3 ,the ,times1 ,leading ,article1 ,january #bj1 #ahhe4 ,footnote #cj3 ,the ,school ,board ,chronicle1 ,december #ac1 #ahhd1 p4 #fbg4 ,the outcome of this lengthy public discussion was a great increase in voluntary feeding agencies all over the country about the year #ahhd4ca ,at the ,conference of ,board ,school ,managers and ,teachers in that year1 ,mr4 ,mundella stated that1 since he referred in the ,house of ,commons to the ,rousdon experiment1 provision for school meals was being made in rural districts to an extent which he could hardly believe4#cb ,in ,london the ,council for ,promoting ,self-supporting ,penny ,dinners was established and the movement spread rapidly4 ,in ,august1 #ahhd1 there were only two centres where penny dinners on a self-supporting basis were provided4 ,by ,december such dinners had been started in thirteen other districts4#cc ,footnote #ca3 ,such voluntary agencies were established1 for instance1 at ,hastings 7about #ahhb71 at ,birmingham and ,gateshead 7in #ahhd71 at ,carlisle 7in #ahhi74 ,footnote #cb3 ,school ,board ,chronicle1 ,december #ac1 #ahhd1 pp4 #fbi-fcj4 ,footnote #cc3 ,ibid41 p4 #fbh4 ,meanwhile the promoters of free meals continued their work unabashed4 ,the ,board ,school ,children's ,free ,dinner ,fund declared in #ahhe1 our work does not cross the lines of the penny dinner movement4 ,it was started before that movement and has been in some cases carried on side by side with it1 its object being to feed those children whose parents have neither pennies nor half-pennies to pay for their dinners4 ,free dinners are restricted to the children of widows1 and to those whose parents are ill or out of work4#cd ,the ,referee ,fund now supplied schools over a large part of ,south ,london and had always given free meals4 ,in most provincial towns1 whether the dinners were nominally self-supporting or not1 necessitous children were seldom refused food on account of inability to pay4 ,private philanthropists saw the suffering and tried to alleviate it1 not enquiring too closely into the consequences4 ,footnote #cd3 ,the ,times1 ,december #af1 #ahhe4 ,it was generally taken for granted that the meals1 whether free or self-supporting1 should be provided by voluntary agencies4 ,the ,local ,education ,authorities sometimes granted the use of rooms and plant1#ce but seldom took any further action4 ,it is remarkable that the ,guardians1 whose duty it was to relieve the destitution existing1 seem to have paid but the scantiest attention to it4 ,even where they attempted to deal with it by granting relief to the family1 this relief was generally inadequate and the children were consequently underfed1 with the result that they were given meals by the voluntary feeding agencies4#cf ,there seems indeed to have been no co-operation whatever between the various voluntary agencies established all over the country and the ,boards of ,guardians4#cg ,by an ,act of ,parliament passed in #ahfh it was enacted that where any parent wilfully neglected to provide adequate food for his child the ,board of ,guardians should institute proceedings4#ch ,this ,act seems to have remained almost a dead letter4 ,in giving evidence before the ,house of ,lords ,select ,committee on ,poor ,law ,relief in #ahhh1 ,mr4 ,benjamin ,waugh1 ,director of the ,national ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children1 in speaking of the ,act1 stated1 first1 that the ,guardians do not act upon it to any very great extent2 secondly1 that the police know that it is not their business1 and they do not act upon it2 and1 thirdly1 the public have an impression that they are excluded from taking cognisance of starvation cases because the term used is 'the ,guardians shall' do it4 ,there are cases in which they are habitually doing it1 chiefly where ladies are upon the board1 but in a very small number of cases indeed throughout the country4#ci ,the part taken by the ,state in the matter of relieving the wants of underfed children was thus as yet a small one4#dj ,footnote #ce3 ,thus at ,liverpool1 about #ahhe1 the ,council of ,education resolved to offer grants to ,school ,managers for the supply of needful appliances for penny dinners1 provided that the payment of a penny should absolutely cover the cost of each dinner1 so as not only to avoid pauperising the recipient1 but also to render the scheme entirely self-supporting4 7,report of ,special ,sub-,committee on ,meals for ,school ,children1 in ,minutes of ,london ,school ,board1 ,july #be1 #ahhi1 p4 #chc47 ,at ,birmingham the ,school ,board allowed a voluntary committee to erect kitchens on the school premises4 7,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,general ,purposes ,committee on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bec47 ,at ,gateshead1 in #ahhd1 the ,school ,board arranged for a supply of dinners in the schools in the poorest parts of the town4 7,report of ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,q4 #daja47 ,in ,london1 the ,school ,board in #ahhe resolved that the ,board grant facilities to local managers and to other responsible persons for the provision on the school premises of penny dinners on self-supporting principles for elementary school children1 where it can be done without interference with school work or injury to the school buildings4 7,report of ,special ,committee on ,meals for ,school ,children1 in ,minutes of ,london ,school ,board1 ,july #be1 #ahhi1 p4 #cgd47 ,at ,manchester1 as early as #ahgi1 the ,school ,board initiated a scheme for providing meals4 ,the chairman1 ,mr4 ,herbert ,birley1 had been in the habit of supplying breakfasts to poor children in some of the schools1 and on these schools being transferred to the ,school ,board1 he induced it to continue the work4 7,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,qs4 #bgde;,a1 #bged1 evidence of ,mr4 ,c4 ,h4 ,wyatt47 ,footnote #cf3 ,in ,manchester there had been a serious attempt to meet the difficulty4 ,there the ,board of ,guardians maintained a ,day ,feeding ,school and gave three meals a day to its out-door relief children for some years between #ahef and #ahff4 7,report of ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 #hvo ,edition1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #adh n47 ,footnote #cg3 ,see for instance the evidence given before the ,london ,school ,board in #ahie4 7,see post1 p4 #ag47 ,footnote #ch3 #ca and #cb ,vict4 c4 #abb1 sec4 #cg4 ,footnote #ci3 ,house of ,lords ,select ,committee on ,poor ,law ,relief1 #ahhh1 ,qs4 #eheg1 #eheh4 ,footnote #dj3 ,by an ,act of #ahgf1 the ,local ,education ,authority might establish ,day ,industrial ,schools at which one or more meals were provided1 towards the cost of which the parents should contribute4 7#ci and #dj ,vict41 c4 #gi1 sec4 #af47 ,very few such schools were established4 7,see post1 p4 #aai47 7b7--,the ,organisation of the ,voluntary ,agencies4 ,the history of the movement for the next ten years or so is mainly concerned with organisation4 ,in ,london1 with the number of feeding centres growing so rapidly1 with many different agencies whose principles and methods conflicted1 some plan of organisation and co-operation was the crying need4 ,in ,may1 #ahhg1 at the instigation of ,sir ,henry ,peek1 a committee1 composed of representatives of the various voluntary societies1#da was formed to consider in what ways co-operation was feasible4 ,this ,committee recommended that 7i7 self-supporting dinner centres should be opened in as many districts as possible in ,london1 and the various societies for providing dinners for children should be invited to make use of them2 7ii7 free dinners to children attending public elementary schools should only be given on the recommendation of the head teacher2 7iii7 when free dinners were given a register should be kept of the circumstances of the family4#db ,footnote #da3 ,the ,committee represented the ,self-,supporting ,penny ,dinner ,council1 the ,board ,school ,children's ,free ,dinner ,fund1 the ,south ,london ,schools ,dinner ,fund1 ,free ,breakfasts and ,dinners for the ,poor ,board ,school and other ,children of ,southwark 7the ,referee ,fund7 and the ,poor ,children's ,aid ,association4 ,footnote #db3 ,the ,times1 ,november #af1 #ahhg4 ,this attempt cannot have been very effective1 for when1 at last1 the ,london ,school ,board took the matter in hand1 feeding arrangements were as chaotic as ever4 ,in #ahhi a special committee was appointed to enquire into the whole question and report to the ,board4 ,the report shows that the supply of food was extraordinarily badly distributed4 ,in some districts there is an excess of charitable effort leading to a wasteful and demoralising distribution of dinners to children who are not in want1 while in other places children are starving4#dc ,in most cases the provision was insufficient to feed all the indigent children every day1 many getting a meal only once or twice a week4#dd ,only a rough estimate of the number of necessitous children could be obtained1 but it was calculated that #dc1hhh or #abh per cent4 of the children attending schools of the ,board were habitually in want of food1 and of these less than half were provided for4#de ,the ,committee recommended that a central organisation should be formed to work with the existing ,associations with a view to a more economical and efficient system for the provision of cheap or free meals4#df ,as a result the ,london ,schools ,dinner ,association was founded4 ,most of the large societies were merged into this body1 one or two retaining their separate organisation1 but agreeing to work in harmony with it4#dg ,footnote #dc3 ,report of ,special ,sub-,committee on ,meals for ,school ,children1 in ,minutes of ,london ,school ,board1 ,july #be1 #ahhi1 p4 #cgc4 ,footnote #dd3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #de3 ,ibid41 p4 #cgb4 ,footnote #df3 ,ibid41 p4 #cgg4 ,footnote #dg3 ,seven members of the ,school ,board were placed on the ,executive ,committee as a kind of informal representation1 but in #ahii this number had dwindled to three4 7,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,general ,purposes ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahii1 pp4 v4-vi47 ,there was no direct touch between the two bodies1 except the accidental circumstance that ,members of the ,board might be on the ,committee of the ,association4 7,ibid41 p4 #f1 evidence of ,mr4 ,t4 ,a4 ,spalding47 ,another committee appointed by the ,school ,board in ,december1 #ahid1 was just as emphatic as to the general inefficiency and want of uniformity4 ,the work of giving charitable meals1 they found1 was still in the experimental stage1 as was shown by the extremely divergent views 444 both as to the nature and extent of the distress 444 and as to the efficiency of the methods employed in meeting it4#dh ,they were struck by the apparent want of co-ordination between the various agencies which were dealing with distress in ,london 7i4e41 the ,poor ,law1 the ,labour ,bureaux established by the ,london ,vestries1 etc474 ,the local committees in connection with the schools seem to have had no knowledge whatsoever of what was being done by these other bodies1 except in the few cases where more or less permanent out-door relief was being given1 and where the children presented attendance cards to be filled up by their teachers4#di ,our work1 remarked one witness1 is carried on without paying heed to what may be done under the ,poor ,law ,authorities4#ej ,relief was often given without any connection with the managers or teachers of ,public ,elementary ,schools4 ,in one instance tickets for meals were distributed without enquiry at the door of a ,music ,hall 444 the proprietor of which had been one of the chief subscribers to the ,fund4#ea ,in another case tickets issued by an evening paper fund were sold over and over again by the people to whom they were given2 sold in the streets and in the public-houses4#eb ,even when the arrangements were nominally controlled by the ,education ,authorities the methods of selection were haphazard and the provision often totally inadequate4 ,a number of witnesses gave evidence of this4 ,it was found that one child of a family was given fourteen tickets during the season1 whilst another child of the same family had only one or two4#ec ,it might have been well to have taken one or two children in hand for the purpose of observations1 remarked the head-master of a ,stepney school1 but ,i remember one of my instructions was that the same child was not to be given a meal too often4#ed ,in one school the number of children needing a dinner on any day was ascertained by a show of hands4 ,each child was then called out before the teacher and asked about its parents' circumstances4#ee ,in another case the teachers merely asked the children in the morning which of them would not get any dinner at home that day4#ef ,of course there were seldom enough tickets to go round4 ,for the parents this haphazard method was most bewildering4 ,no arrangement is made with the parents as to whether or not a child will have a meal on any day 4444 ,in many cases the parents hardly know whether the children are having a meal at school or not1 as they constantly come home for something more4#eg ,footnote #dh3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,special ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahie1 p4 vii4 ,footnote #di3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #ej3 ,ibid41 p4 #aa1 evidence of ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,libby4 ,i am of opinion1 said this witness1 that the children of parents who are in receipt of out-door relief are more in need of our help than others4 7,ibid47 ,in my experience1 said ,mrs4 ,burgwin1 the greatest distress was amongst the children of parents who were in receipt of out-door relief1 and free meals should certainly be given to them1 for the amount allowed as out-door relief is so small that a family is left practically on the verge of starvation4 7,ibid41 p4 #g47 ,footnote #ea3 ,ibid41 p4 ii4 ,footnote #eb3 ,ibid41 p4 #bd4 ,footnote #ec3 ,ibid41 p4 #cj 7evidence of ,mrs4 ,marion ,leon1 ,manager of ,vere ,street ,school1 ,clare ,market74 ,footnote #ed3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ad-ae 7evidence of ,mr4 ,j4 ,morgan74 ,footnote #ee3 ,ibid41 p4 #ba 7evidence of ,mr4 ,c4 ,h4 ,heller1 ,headmaster of ,sayer ,street ,school1 ,walworth74 ,footnote #ef3 ,ibid41 p4 #cj 7evidence of ,mrs4 ,marion ,leon74 ,footnote #eg3 ,ibid41 p4 #da 7evidence of ,miss ,l4 ,p4 ,fowler74 ,in #ahhi the self-supporting meal was still regarded as the normal type although the number of free meals was on the increase4 ,in #ahie the committee recognised that self-supporting penny dinners were a failure4 ,only #aj per cent4 of the meals were paid for by the children4#eh ,this had one rather curious effect4 ,the meals were much more uniform in type than in #ahhi1 and this uniformity was distasteful if not harmful to the children4 ,the chief reason was perhaps that the need to attract the children was not so great as when it was hoped to establish the meals on a self-supporting basis4 ,another reason was that the ,national ,food ,supply ,association1 which did most of the catering1 desired to encourage the use of vegetable soup as well as to relieve distress4#ei ,footnote #eh3 ,ibid41 p4 iii4 ,even when the dinners were paid for1 the payment rarely covered the cost4 ,the same want of success was reported in the provinces4 ,at ,birmingham the experiment of giving penny dinners failed completely1 and the meals had to be given free4 7,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration1 #aijd1 ,qs4 #acbch1 #acbdj1 evidence of ,dr4 ,airy47 ,the experience of all workers in this movement testifies1 says ,canon ,moore ,ede1 that the poorest of all--those who are least well nourished--are scarcely touched by the penny dinners4 7,cheap ,meals for ,poor ,school ,children1 by ,rev4 ,w4 ,moore ,ede1 in ,report of ,conference on ,education under ,healthy ,conditions at ,manchester1 #ahhe1 p4 #ha47 ,footnote #ei3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,special ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahie1 pp4 iv41 v4 ,under the penny dinner system1 we had to provide something to attract the children1 as they would not come to the same meal every day and pay a penny for it2 puddings and meat pies were provided and varied from day to day4 ,now they get soup4 7,ibid41 ,appendix ,i41 p4 #ci1 evidence of ,rev4 ,r4 ,leach47 ,the soup 444 supplied by the ,national ,food ,association varies so very little from day to day that it is natural for the children to grow tired of it1 7,ibid41 p4 #bb1 evidence of ,mr4 ,c4 ,h4 ,heller47 ,apart from the question of more efficient organisation1 the recommendations of this committee were somewhat indefinite4 ,they urged that1 as a guide for future action1 continuous records should be kept of all children fed4#fj ,on the adequacy of the existing voluntary organisations to cope with the distress the majority declined to commit themselves4 ,the minority asserted emphatically that these charitable funds were amply sufficient4 ,the ,committee questioned how far the supply of food was the right way of dealing with distress4 ,actual starvation1 they said1 was undoubtedly at one time the chief evil to be feared by the poor4 ,but now that rent in ,london is so high and food so cheap conditions have changed4#fa ,other forms of help1 they felt1 were possibly more needed1 e4g41 medical advice and clothing4 ,indeed1 during the last sixty years there had been such an improvement in the economic conditions of the working classes as had not been known at any other period of history4 ,comparisons between conditions obtaining at the beginning and at the end of the nineteenth century are to some extent vitiated by the fact that the former was a period of extraordinary social misery4 ,nevertheless1 the improvement is striking4 ,sir ,robert ,giffen1 speaking on ,the ,progress of the ,working ,classes in the ,last ,half ,century1 in ,november1 #ahhc1 showed that1 while the wages of working men have advanced1 most articles he consumes have rather diminished in price1 the change in wheat being especially remarkable1 and significant of a complete revolution in the conditions of the masses4 ,the increased price in the case of one or two articles--particularly meat and house rent--is insufficient to neutralise the general advantages which the workman has gained4#fb ,by further statistics he showed a decline in the rate of mortality1 an increase of the consumption of articles in general use1 an improvement in general education1 a diminution of crime and pauperism1 a vast increase in the number of depositors in savings banks1 and other evidences of general well-being4#fc ,up to #ahie the cost of living steadily declined1 and in that year real wages were higher than they had ever been before4 ,this did not mean1 as some urged1 that ,society might slacken any of its efforts to improve the condition of the poorer classes4 ,even from the most optimistic standpoint the improvement was far too small1 and there was still a residuum whose deplorable condition demanded something like a revolution for the better4#fd ,but now that the more prosperous working men were consciously striving to improve their own position1 the community1 or the philanthropists among it1 were more able to assist the submerged remainder4 ,the history of school feeding illustrates how one of the least noticed but most certain facts of social life is the fact that ,society very seldom awakes to the existence of an evil while that evil is at its worst1 but some time afterwards1 when the evil is already in process of healing itself4444 ,society can seldom be induced to bother itself about any suffering1 the removal of which requires really revolutionary treatment4 ,it only becomes sensitive1 sympathetic and eager for reform when reform is possible without too great an upheaval of its settled way of life4#fe ,a higher standard of living was now required and the real question was whether feeding the school child was the right way to attain to it1 or only a following of the line of least resistance4 ,if it was a healthy movement1 then clearly it was time to set about feeding in a more thorough fashion4 ,footnote #fj3 ,ibid41 pp4 v41 viii4 ,footnote #fa3 ,ibid41 p4 vi4 ,footnote #fb3 ,economic ,enquiries and ,studies1 by ,sir ,robert ,giffen1 #aijd1 ,vol4 ,i41 pp4 #cih-i4 ,footnote #fc3 ,ibid41 p4 #dai4 ,footnote #fd3 ,ibid41 p4 #djh4 ,footnote #fe3 ,a ,philosophy of ,social ,progress1 by ,e4 ,j4 ,urwick1 #aiab1 pp4 #hh1 #hi4 ,in #ahih a third attempt was made by the ,london ,school ,board to deal with the question4 ,it was referred to the ,general ,purposes ,committee to enquire into the number of underfed children and to consider how far the present voluntary provision for school meals is1 or is not1 effectual4#ff ,the evidence given before the committee shows the prevalence of a state of affairs very similar to that of the earlier years4 ,there is the same complaint about the want of any general plan1 the utter lack of uniformity 444 the absence 7except in a few places7 of any means of enquiring into doubtful cases1 and above all the non-existence of any sort of machinery for securing that where want exists it shall be dealt with4#fg ,but the report and recommendations of the majority of the ,special ,committee show an astonishing advance on the views of the two former committees4 ,the necessity for feeding was not now denied1 they thought1 even by those 444 who are keenly anxious to prevent the undermining of prudence or self-help by ill-advised or unregulated generosity4#fh ,they were most emphatic as to the good effects on the children when the meals were nicely served in the schools under proper supervision1 and they considered that food provision and training at meals should in particular form part of the work of all ,centres for ,physically and ,mentally ,defective children1 and that the ,government grant should be calculated accordingly4#fi ,one or two of the members of the committee and some of the witnesses urged that meals should be continued in the summer4#gj ,as to the effect on the parents1 it appears to the sub-committee 444 that its concern is with the well-being of the children1 and even if it were the case that it was1 in some way1 better for the moral character of the parents to let the children starve1 the sub-committee would not be prepared to advise that line of policy4 ,the first duty of the community to the child 444 is to see that it has a proper chance as regards its equipment for life4#ga ,if they come to school underfed 444 it would seem to be the duty of those who have a care of the children to deal with it1 and to see that the underfeeding ceases4 ,it is1 of course1 obvious1 in any case1 that this1 like all other social evils1 may be gradually eliminated by the general improvement1 moral and material1 of the community4 ,but apart from the fact that that is a slow process and that many generations of actual school children will come and go in the meantime1 it is obvious that the prevention of underfeeding in school children 7with its results of under-education and increasing malnutrition7 is itself one of the potent means of forwarding the general improvement4#gb ,at the same time the idea that school dinners pauperise the parents or destroy the sense of parental responsibility appears to the sub-committee to be a mere theoretic fancy entirely unsupported by practical experience4#gc ,parents who could feed their children and would not should simply be summoned for 'cruelty4'#gd ,footnote #ff3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,general ,purposes ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahii1 p4 ii41 par4 #a4 ,footnote #fg3 ,ibid41 p4 vi41 par4 #bi4 ,footnote #fh3 ,ibid41 p4 iii41 pars4 #aa1 #ab4 ,footnote #fi3 ,ibid41 p4 v41 par4 #be4 ,school dinners well managed may be made to have an admirable educative effect4444 ,this makes me think that a proper part of the business of the ,school should be a common mid-day meal4 7,evidence of ,mrs4 ,despard1 ibid41 p4 #c47 ,mrs4 ,burgwin was of the same opinion4 7,ibid41 p4 #ad47 ,footnote #gj3 ,see1 for instance1 the suggestions made by ,mr4 ,whiteley 7ibid41 p4 ix471 and the evidence of ,mrs4 ,burgwin and ,mr4 ,j4 ,morant 7ibid41 pp4 #ad1 #ae74 ,footnote #ga3 ,ibid41 p4 iv41 par4 #bj4 ,footnote #gb3 ,ibid41 p4 iv41 par4 #ag4 ,footnote #gc3 ,ibid41 p4 iv41 par4 #ai4 ,footnote #gd3 ,ibid41 p4 v41 par4 #ba4 ,the majority of the committee declared themselves convinced by the consideration of the subject1 and by the special information now obtained from ,paris and from other foreign countries1#ge that the whole question of the feeding and health of children compulsorily attending school requires to be dealt with as a matter of public concern4#gf ,they therefore recommended that a ,central ,committee should be formed1 which should be authorised to call for reports and general assistance from the ,board's staff1 facilities being granted for the use of rooms at the schools for meals1 and they made the following important statement of principle3--,it should be deemed to be part of the duty of any authority by law responsible for the compulsory attendance of children at school to ascertain what children1 if any1 come to school in a state unfit to get normal profit by the school work--whether by reason of underfeeding1 physical disability or otherwise--and there should be the necessary inspection for that purpose2 that where it is ascertained that children are sent to school 'underfed' 444 it should be part of the duty of the authority to see that they are provided1 under proper conditions1 with the necessary food2 that the authority should co-operate in any existing or future voluntary efforts to that end1 and that1 in so far as such voluntary efforts fail to cover the ground1 the authority should have the power and the duty to supplement them4 ,where dinners were provided1 it was desirable that they should be open to all children1 and that the parents should pay for them1 unless they were unable by misfortune to find the money1 and that no distinction should be made between the paying and the non-paying children4 ,if the underfed condition of the child was due to the culpable neglect of the parent1 the ,board should prosecute the parent1 and1 if the offence was persisted in1 should have power to deal with the child under the ,industrial ,schools ,acts4#gg ,footnote #ge3 ,for some account of the ,cantines ,scolaires of ,paris1 and the provision of meals in other foreign towns1 see ,appendix ,,iii4 ,footnote #gf3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report of ,general ,purposes ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #ahii1 p4 vii41 par4 #ce4 ,footnote #gg3 ,ibid41 p4 i4 ,the ,board rejected these proposals and acted on the more cautious recommendations of the minority1 who were convinced that there was no necessity for any public authority to undertake the work1 the voluntary associations being entirely capable of dealing effectively with the need1 if they were properly organised4 ,they considered1 therefore1 that the duties of the ,school ,board should be confined to co-operation in the organisation of these associations4#gh ,this decision was hailed with relief by ,the ,times1 which rejoiced that the attempt of the ',fabian' ,school of ,socialists1 assisted by some philanthropic dupes1 to capture the ,london ,school ,board has been decisively repelled4#gi ,footnote #gh3 ,ibid41 p4 xii4 ,minutes of the ,london ,school ,board1 ,november #cj1 #ahii1 ,vol4 #ea1 pp4 #ahfh-gb4 ,the ,majority ,report was rejected by #bg votes to #ab4 ,footnote #gi3 ,the ,times1 ,december #a1 #ahii4 ,as a matter of fact the ,fabian ,society seems as yet to have paid little attention to the question1 and1 in so far as these proposals had been due to socialist influence1 the agitation had come from the ,social ,democratic ,federation4 ,this body had1 since the early 'eighties1 made the provision of a free meal for all children attending elementary schools one of the fundamental planks of its platform4#hj ,several memorials were sent to the ,school ,board1#ha urging that all children whose parents were unemployed should be fed and clothed out of the rates1 but this proposal was too sweeping to meet with a favourable reception4 ,footnote #hj3 ,justice1 ,march #bi1 ,september #ac and #bg1 ,december #f1 #ahhd4 ,footnote #ha3 ,see1 for instance1 the memorials presented in #ahib1 #ahif1 and #ahii4 7,minutes of the ,london ,school ,board1 ,november #ag1 #ahib2 ,february #bj1 #ahif2 ,december #g1 #ahii47 ,the recommendations1 which were finally adopted in ,march1 #aijj1 provided for the establishment of a permanent committee1 to be known as the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children4 ,this was composed partly of members of the ,school ,board1 partly of representatives of various other bodies4 ,sub-committees1 consisting of managers1 teachers1 ,school ,board visitors and one or more co-opted outsiders1 were to be appointed in each ,board ,school1 or group of ,schools1 where the necessity for providing meals for underfed children was felt1 and these sub-committees were to make all necessary arrangements for the provision of meals4#hb ,the functions of the ,joint ,committee were limited4 ,it was to receive reports from the sub-committees1 to draw their attention to any defect which might appear in the selection of the children or the arrangements made for providing relief1 to give them assistance by placing them in communication with a source of supply so as to enable them to obtain the necessary funds1 to communicate with the chief collecting agencies when there was reason to fear that the funds might not be sufficient1 and generally to keep the public informed of what is being done to provide relief for underfed children1 and to stimulate public interest in the work4#hc ,how far this effort to meet the need was successful we shall relate in a subsequent chapter4#hd ,footnote #hb3 ,similar committees had been in existence in several schools for some years4 ,footnote #hc3 ,minutes of the ,london ,school ,board1 ,march #a1 #aijj1 ,vol4 #eb1 pp4 #hed-e1 #ije4 ,footnote #hd3 ,see ,chapter ,,iii4 7c7--,the ,demand for ,state ,provision4 ,soon after the beginning of the new century the agitation for some form of ,state feeding grew urgent and widespread4 ,there was no attempt to deal with the matter in the ,education ,act of #aijb1 but from about this date onwards the question constantly recurred in ,parliamentary debates1 a sure indication that the question was interesting others besides the expert and the philanthropist4 ,and to the old motives of sentiment and educational need was added a new motive1 a motive specially characteristic of the present century and one which in some other directions threatens to become almost an obsession4 ,this was the desire for race regeneration1 the conviction of the supreme importance of securing a physically efficient people4 ,formerly the tendency had been to sacrifice the needs of the child to the supposed moral welfare of the family1 now the child was regarded primarily as the raw material for a nation of healthy citizens4 ,the ,south ,african war had been partly instrumental in producing this extreme anxiety about physical unfitness1 and two public enquiries--the ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training in ,scotland1 and the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration--furnished abundant proof of the harm which was being done in this direction by the mal-nutrition of school children4 ,the report of the ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training showed indisputably the necessity for better feeding4 ,on this point a large number of important witnesses were unanimous4#he ,the ,commissioners were1 however1 cautious in their recommendations4 ,though fully convinced of the necessity for feeding1 they were doubtful as to how far the responsibility for dealing with the need should be placed upon the ,education ,authorities4 ,it is matter for grave consideration1 they declared1 whether the valuable asset to the nation in the improved moral and physical state of a large number of future citizens counterbalances the evils of impaired parental responsibility1 or whether voluntary agencies may be trusted to do this work with more discrimination and consequently less danger than a statutory system4#hf ,on the other hand1 they urged1 it must be remembered that1 with every desire to act up to their parental responsibility1 and while quite ready to contribute in proportion to their power1 there are often impediments in the way of the home provision of suitable food by the parents4#hg ,they considered1 therefore1 that accommodation and means for enabling children to be properly fed should 444 be provided either in each school or in a centre2 but1 except a limited sum to provide the necessary equipment1 no part of the cost should be allowed to fall on the rates4#hh ,the meal should be educational in character4 ,an obligation for the proper supervision of the feeding of those who come for instruction should be regarded as one of the duties of school authorities4#hi ,footnote #he3 ,report of ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training 7,scotland71 #aijc4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cj1 par4 #afb4 ,if we are going to develop the physical training of children we must be on our guard against overworking them1 said one witness1 and1 of course1 underfed children would be positively injured by even light exercises4 7,ibid41 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,q4 #gfj1 evidence of ,mr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,legge1 ,inspector of ,reformatory and ,industrial ,schools47 ,children can exist1 when doing no mental or physical work1 on a bare subsistence diet1 said ,dr4 ,clement ,dukes1 but 444 a bare subsistence diet becomes a starvation diet when mental or bodily work is added4 7,ibid41 ,q4 #hadj47 ,footnote #hf3 ,ibid41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cj1 par4 #afe4 ,footnote #hg3 ,ibid41 p4 #cj1 par4 #afg4 ,footnote #hh3 ,ibid41 p4 #ca1 par4 #agb4 ,footnote #hi3 ,ibid41 p4 #cj1 par4 #afh4 ,the findings of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration were more definite and striking4 ,to take first the evidence as to the extent of underfeeding1 ,dr4 ,eichholz1 after careful investigation1 estimated that the rough total of underfed children in ,london was #abb1jjj or #af per cent4 of the elementary school population4 ,these figures were based on the assumption that all the children being fed at schools and centres would otherwise have gone unfed2 but1 considering the loose method of enquiry prevalent1 this was questionable4 ,the ,london ,school ,board put the number at #aj1jjj1 but this seems to have been grossly understating the case4#ij ,in ,manchester1 according to the estimate of the ,education ,committee and the ,medical ,officer of ,health1 not less than #ae per cent4 were underfed4#ia ,the evidence given was1 however1 conflicting1 and indeed little reliance can be placed on these statistics4 ,footnote #ij3 ,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration1 #aijd1 p4 #ff1 pars4 #ccb-ccd2 evidence of ,dr4 ,eichholz1 ,qs4 #dga-dgf4 ,footnote #ia3 ,ibid41 p4 #fg1 par4 #cce2 evidence of ,dr4 ,eichholz1 ,q4 #dgf4 ,with regard to the effect of underfeeding on the physique of the children1 the doctors gave striking testimony4 ,dr4 ,robert ,hutchison was of opinion that1 if a child had not sufficient food during the period of growth1 that is during the school years1 it would be permanently stunted4#ib ,apart from infectious diseases1 said ,dr4 ,collie of the ,london ,school ,board1 malnutrition is accountable for nine-tenths of child sickness4#ic ,dr4 ,eichholz pointed out that at ,leeds ,dr4 ,hall had found that fifty per cent4 of the children in a poor school suffered from rickets1 the true cause of which was poor and unsuitable food1 whilst in a well-to-do school the proportion was only eight per cent4#id ,in the opinion of this witness1 an opinion shared by medical men1 members of ,education ,committees1 managers1 teachers and others conversant with the condition of school children 444 food is at the base of all the evils of child degeneracy4#ie ,the sufficient feeding of children1 declared ,dr4 ,niven1 ,medical ,officer of ,health for ,manchester1 is by far the most important thing to attend to and 444 specially important in connection with the ,army4444 ,when trade is good1 he argued1 you will have to rely for the ,army upon this very poor class1 and in order to get good soldiers you must rear good children1 you must see that children are adequately fed4#if ,footnote #ib3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #iigd4 ,the critical age1 he considered1 was from #aj to #ae4 ,looking at the enormous improvement in children in the ,navy and in ,industrial ,schools1 where they were properly fed1 he did not share the pessimistic view that the mischief is hopelessly done by the time a child reaches school age4 ,he felt certain that the provision of meals would do a great deal to improve the health and growth and development of the children of the poorer classes4 7,ibid41 ,qs4 #iigc1 #ajjdg-h1 #ajjea1 #ajjjf47 ,footnote #ic3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #ciib4 ,footnote #id3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #deb4 ,footnote #ie3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #dge4 ,footnote #if3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #fdhd4 ,see also evidence of ,general ,sir ,t4 ,maurice1 ,q4 #bgh4 ,such were the arguments on the negative side--on the positive side there was ample proof of the good effects of a regular nutritious diet4 ,dr4 ,eichholz referred to ,dr4 ,hall's experiment in feeding poor children at ,leeds4 ,taking sixty poor seven-year-old children1 at the beginning of the period they totalled #dee lbs41 below normal weight4444 ,they gained in three months forty lbs4 in addition to the normal increase in weight for that time1 and they looked less anmic and more cheerful4#ig ,too much importance must not be attached to these figures since the data on which they are based are not sufficiently known to gauge their value1 but that the improvement was very considerable cannot be doubted4 ,moreover1 in the special schools for mentally defective children where meals were regularly provided1 the results were astonishing4 ,dr4 ,collie told how1 in a large number of instances after the careful individual attention and midday dinner of the special schools1 the children returned after from six to eighteen months to the elementary schools with a new lease of mental vigour4 ,these children are functionally mentally defective4444 ,their brains are starved1 and naturally fail to react to the ordinary methods of elementary teaching4#ih ,bad nutrition and normal brain development1 he added1 are incompatible4#ii ,footnote #ig3 ,ibid41 evidence of ,dr4 ,eichholz1 ,q4 #dhf4 ,footnote #ih3 ,ibid41 evidence of ,dr4 ,collie1 ,q4 #cich4 ,footnote #ii3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #cigc4 ,there was indeed1 as the ,committee pointed out1 a general consensus of opinion that the time had come when the ,state should realise the necessity of ensuring adequate nourishment to children in attendance at school 444 it was1 further1 the subject of general agreement that1 as a rule1 no purely voluntary association could successfully cope with the full extent of the evil4#ajj ,in a large number of cases such voluntary organisations would be sufficient for the purpose1 with the support and oversight of the ,local ,authority1 and1 as long as this was so1 the ,committee would strongly deprecate recourse being had to direct municipal assistance4#aja ,but in cases where the extent or the concentration of poverty might be too great for the resources of local charity 444 it might be expedient to permit the application of municipal aid on a larger scale4#ajb ,as a corollary to the exercise of such powers on the part of the ,local ,authority1 the law would have to be altered to make it more possible to prosecute neglectful parents4#ajc ,the ,committee were also in favour of establishing special schools of the ,day ,industrial ,school type in which feeding would form an essential feature4 ,to these definitely retarded children might be sent4#ajd ,they recommended that the funds for these experiments should be found through the machinery of the ,poor ,law1#aje for they were anxious to guard the community from the consequences of the somewhat dangerous doctrine that free meals are the necessary concomitant of free education4#ajf ,footnote #ajj3 ,ibid41 p4 #fi1 par4 #cdh4 ,footnote #aja3 ,ibid41 p4 #gb1 par4 #cei4 ,footnote #ajb3 ,ibid41 par4 #cfb4 ,footnote #ajc3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #ajd3 ,ibid41 par4 #cfc4 ,footnote #aje3 ,ibid41 par4 #cfd4 ,footnote #ajf3 ,ibid41 par4 #cfe4 ,following on these reports came a strenuous agitation in ,parliament and in the country4 ,the ,national ,labour ,conference on the ,state ,maintenance of ,children1 held at the ,guildhall in ,january1 #aije1 declared unanimously in favour of ,state ,maintenance as a necessary corollary of ,universal ,compulsory ,education1 and as a means of partially arresting that physical deterioration of the industrial population of this country1 which is now generally recognised as a grave national danger4 ,as a step towards such ,state ,maintenance1 the conference called upon the ,government to introduce without further delay legislation enabling ,local ,authorities to provide meals for school children1 the cost to be borne by the ,national ,exchequer4#ajg ,the ,national ,union of ,teachers1 at a largely attended conference at ,llandudno in the same year1 were agreed as to the urgent need for legislation4#ajh ,footnote #ajg3 ,report of the ,national ,labour ,conference on the ,state ,maintenance of ,children1 at the ,guildhall1 ,january #bj1 #aije1 p4 #be4 ,footnote #ajh3 ,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,qs4 #gib1 #ibd1 #ibe4 ,by a considerable majority the ,conference defeated an amendment that the ,board of ,guardians should be substituted for the ,local ,education ,authority as the authority for making the provision1 but owing to a technical difficulty the main resolution was not put4 ,see also the resolution passed at a conference of the ,school ,attendance ,officers' ,association1 quoted by ,mr4 ,slack in the ,house of ,commons 7,hansard1 ,april #ah1 #aije1 #dth ,series1 ,vol4 #ade1 p4 #ecc74 ,in ,parliament the agitation was led by ,mr4 ,claude ,hay1 ,sir ,john ,gorst and ,dr4 ,macnamara4 ,it was urged that a large part of the money spent on education was wasted4 ,to teach children who were physically quite unfit to receive instruction1 was1 as ,sir ,john ,gorst pointed out1 the height of absurdity4#aji ,thirty years' compulsory education had1 ,mr4 ,claude ,hay declared1 resulted in disappointment4 ,the gain in intelligence was1 to say the least of it1 equivocal1 while the physical deterioration of the people was obvious4 ,the reason was largely that we had taken education as an isolated factor1 whereas it was part of an absolutely indivisible unit4444 ,we had assumed that 444 the intellect could act independently of all other parts of the total human being4 ,we had ignored the body1 the soul and the will1 and the result had been a fiasco4#aaj ,compulsory education involved free meals1 but only for the necessitous child4#aaa ,it was declared that many parents would gladly pay if they were thereby assured that their children were adequately and properly fed4#aab ,footnote #aji3 ,hansard1 ,july #i1 #aijc1 ,vol4 #abe1 p4 #aid4 ,see also ibid41 ,february #ad1 #aije1 ,vol4 #ada1 p4 #adc4 ,footnote #aaj3 ,ibid41 ,april #bj1 #aijd1 ,vol4 #acc1 pp4 #ghb-c4 ,footnote #aaa3 ,ibid41 p4 #ghd4 ,footnote #aab3 ,ibid41 p4 #ghh2 ,sir ,john ,gorst1 ibid41 ,july #i1 #aijc1 ,vol4 #abe1 p4 #aif4 ,for some time the ,government remained obdurate1 and declined to take any action4 ,at last1 however1 it became clear that something must be done4 ,the findings of the ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training and the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration had created too profound an impression to be ignored4 ,yet even now the ,government were not prepared for legislation4 ,they were of opinion that there still existed a wide divergence of views as to the extent of underfeeding and the remedies to be applied4 ,accordingly1 in ,march1 #aije1 another ,departmental ,committee was appointed to collect further information4#aac ,footnote #aac3 ,hansard1 ,march #ac1 #aije1 ,vol4 #adb1 p4 #aahe4 ,the reference of this ,committee made it clear that the ,government had no intention of allowing the rates to be utilised for the supply of food4 ,in the matter of feeding1 the ,committee were merely to enquire into the relief given by the various voluntary agencies1 and report whether relief of this character could be better organised1 without any charge upon public funds4#aad ,the ,report was1 therefore1 mainly concerned with questions of administration4 ,a careful and elaborate account was given of the existing agencies all over ,england1 the methods employed1 the sums expended1 and the kind of relief given4 ,evidence was received from representatives of all the more important societies in ,london and the provinces4 ,it was found that outside ,london feeding agencies existed in #ee out of the #ga county boroughs1 in #ch out of the #acg boroughs and in #bb out of the #ee large urban districts4#aae ,in addition to these there were numerous efforts of a spasmodic character1 school meals being often started hastily during some special emergency4 ,the ,committee estimated that the total amount spent on the provision of meals in ,england and ,wales was approximately #cc1efh1 of which #aj1bii was spent in ,london4#aaf ,but these figures were very far from representing the full amount of money spent out of charitable sources4#aag ,no account was taken of the innumerable philanthropic agencies existing all over the country1 such as ,soup ,kitchens1 ,district ,visiting ,societies and the like1 who were incidentally spending large sums on the provision of food for school children4 ,moreover1 the impracticability of obtaining returns from all the feeding agencies and the varying methods in which their accounts were made up1 made any exact computation impossible4 ,footnote #aad3 ,report of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 vii4 ,footnote #aae3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ed1 #ee1 pars4 #ahb1 #ahf1 #ahi4 ,the total number of these agencies was #adj4 ,of these #ga were permanent 7i4e41 had been in existence over a year71 #bd were new1 and #de were intermittent in their operations4 ,footnote #aaf3 ,ibid41 pp4 #gh-hj1 pars4 #bij-bic4 ,footnote #aag3 ,ibid41 p4 #gi1 par4 #bia4 ,in the evidence given before the ,committee1 we note the same evils prevailing as had been discovered in former years4 ,there is the same diversity in the method of selection and the same inadequate provision4 ,we find still the practice of giving a child a meal two or three days a week only4#aah ,in the great majority of cases the feeding was confined to the winter months1 though many witnesses were of opinion that meals should be obtainable in the summer also4#aai ,footnote #aah3 ,at present1 declared one witness1 the funds are wasted through their being distributed over too large a number of children4444 ,at one school 444 the headmaster asked the boys whether they would like to have their ticket this week or next week4 7,ibid41 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,q4 #aghj1 evidence of ,mr4 ,t4 ,e4 ,harvey47 ,at ,norwich1 a child received a meal only once a week4 ,there was no system of feeding the children regularly4 ,they had to take it in turns4 7,ibid41 ,q4 #dbbh1 evidence of ,mrs4 ,pillow47 ,at ,hull it was a rough rule given to the teacher that a child should be fed every other day4 7,ibid41 ,qs4 #faeg1 #faeh1 evidence of ,mr4 ,g4 ,f4 ,grant47 ,see also evidence given by ,mrs4 ,adler 7,qs4 #ace-acf71 ,mrs4 ,burgwin 7,q4 #ddf71 and the ,rev4 ,j4 ,c4 ,mantle 7,q4 #bdeb74 ,it was even urged by ,mr4 ,hookham1 of ,birmingham1 that the insufficiency of the provision was a positive advantage4 ,the fact that there are more children wanting meals than can get them 444 is the main safeguard against imposition4 ,without this safeguard1 he declares1 you will lose the evidence which the children give against one another when imposition takes place1 which ,i think is the most valuable of all evidence 7,ibid41 ,q4 #abec47 ,footnote #aai3 ,ibid41 ,vol4 ,i41 pp4 #ge-gf1 pars4 #bhj-bha4 ,the meals given at ,bradford were continued all through the year1 and so were the breakfasts given by ,mr4 ,hookham at ,birmingham 7ibid474 ,the ,committee were convinced that1 in all county boroughs and large towns1 no voluntary agency which extended beyond the limits of one or two schools could be worked properly1 except in intimate connection with1 if not directly organised by1 the ,local ,education ,authority4 ,to avoid overlapping and abuse it was essential that managers and school teachers should be required to supply full information1 and only the ,local ,authority had power to insist on this being done4#abj ,the ,committee deprecated the proneness for starting school meals hastily upon some special emergency4#aba ,it was essential that any organisation for feeding school children should be of a permanent character and provision should be made for enabling meals to be given where necessary throughout the year4#abb ,it was desirable that meals should be obtainable on every school day1 and it should be the object of the feeding agency to feed the most destitute children regularly rather than a larger number irregularly4#abc ,the ,committee recognised the valuable help which had been given by the teachers4 ,many of the systems for feeding the children had in fact originated entirely with them1 whilst in many more the whole brunt of the work had fallen upon them4 ,but this work involved too great a strain upon the teachers and they should not be required to supervise the meals unless their attendance was indispensable4#abd ,nor in the matter of the selection of the children should the teachers be asked to do more than draw up the preliminary list4 ,they had no time for visiting the homes nor were they always the most competent persons for making enquiries4 ,the final selection of the children should be in the hands of a ,relief ,committee1 which should be formed for each school or group of schools4#abe ,the increasing attention paid to the medical side of the question is shown by the recommendation that1 wherever possible1 the advice and guidance of the school doctor should be obtained4#abf ,the ,committee refer with approval to the proposal that a system of school restaurants should be established1 at which meals could be supplied at cost price4 ,not much attempt1 they say1 has yet been made through the medium of school meals towards raising the standard of physical development among the children and promoting a taste for wholesome and nourishing food4#abg ,in view of the very divergent opinions expressed by witnesses1 the ,committee were unable to come to a clear conclusion whether or not such restaurants would succeed1 but they would welcome experiments made in this direction4#abh ,the restaurants1 they thought1 would probably have to be kept separate from any system of free dinners1 for attempts to combine free and cheap meals had always ended in failure4 ,in country districts1 where the children often lived at a great distance from the school1 the need for school restaurants was distinctly felt4 ,the lunches brought by the children were generally of a most unsatisfactory nature4 ,the ,committee were of opinion that the managers should arrange for the provision of a hot dinner1 or at any rate soup or cocoa1 for those children who were unable to go home at midday4 ,a charge should be made which should at least cover the cost of the food4#abi ,footnote #abj3 ,ibid41 p4 #ei1 par4 #bjh4 ,footnote #aba3 ,ibid41 p4 #ge1 par4 #bgi4 ,footnote #abb3 ,ibid41 pp4 #hd1 #he1 par4 #cjf1 secs4 #c1 #d4 ,footnote #abc3 ,ibid41 p4 #he1 pars4 #e1 #f4 ,footnote #abd3 ,ibid41 pp4 #fj1 #fa1 pars4 #baj1 #bae4 ,footnote #abe3 ,ibid41 pp4 #fb1 #he1 pars4 #bbj1 #cjf 7secs4 #i1 #aj74 ,footnote #abf3 ,ibid41 p4 #ff1 par4 #bcf4 ,so far as the committee could discover1 the question of malnutrition and underfeeding has attracted very little attention in connection with medical inspection4 ,there appears to be no area where the ,medical ,officer works in close touch with the organisations for the feeding of children4 7,ibid41 p4 #be1 par4 #ig47 ,footnote #abg3 ,ibid41 p4 #fh1 par4 #bdb4 ,footnote #abh3 ,ibid41 p4 #ga1 par4 #beh4 ,footnote #abi3 ,ibid41 p4 #eh1 par4 #bje4 ,this was already being done in some rural schools4 ,at ,siddington1 for instance1 a hot dinner had been supplied for the last two years1 the parents' payments more than covering the cost of the food4 7,ibid41 par4 #bjb47 ,we have already alluded to the experiment at ,rousdon1 where dinners were provided throughout the year in a specially provided dining-room1 as a part of the school organisation4 ,here the cost of the food was not quite covered by the parents' payments4 7,ibid41 par4 #bjc47 ,the report of the ,committee was published late in #aije4 ,meanwhile the ,parliamentary agitation had continued4 ,two ,bills were introduced in ,march by ,mr4 ,claude ,hay and ,mr4 ,arthur ,henderson4#acj ,these were withdrawn to make way for a resolution moved by ,mr4 7afterwards ,sir ,bamford7 ,slack--that in the opinion of this ,house1 the ,local ,education ,authorities should be empowered 7as unanimously recommended by the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration1 #aijd7 to make provision1 under such regulations and conditions as they may decide1 for ensuring that all the children at any public elementary school in their area shall receive proper nourishment before being subjected to mental or physical instruction1 and for recovering the cost1 where expedient1 from the parents or guardians4#aca ,this resolution marks an important stage in the movement1 for it received support from all sides of the ,house1 and was passed by a considerable majority4#acb ,one feature of the debate was new4 ,it was no longer said that the matter should be left solely to private charity4 ,the main point at issue now was whether the money required should come from the ,education rate or the ,poor rate4#acc ,footnote #acj3 ,hansard1 ,march #bg and #bi1 #aije1 ,vol4 #adc1 pp4 #acjg-i1 #aedc4 ,footnote #aca3 ,ibid41 ,april #ah1 #aije1 ,vol4 #ade1 p4 #eca4 ,footnote #acb3 ,ibid41 ,march #b1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aeb1 p4 #acid4 ,footnote #acc3 ,ibid41 ,april #ah1 #aije1 ,vol4 #ade1 p4 #eed4 ,the balance of opinion was at this date in favour of the latter4 ,sir ,john ,gorst thought that where the parents could not pay for the meals reference should be made to the ,poor ,law authority1 and the natural consequences of the receipt of public relief would follow4 7,ibid41 ,july #i1 #aijc1 ,vol4 #abe1 p4 #aig47 ,in the ,bill introduced by ,mr4 ,claude ,hay in ,march1 #aije1 provision was made for payment of the cost of meals by the ,guardians1 but any parent receiving such relief from the ,guardians might apply to a court of summary jurisdiction and the court1 if satisfied that the parent's 444 inability to pay is temporary and arises from no fault of his own1 might make an order that he should not be disfranchised4 7,elementary ,education 7,feeding of ,children7 ,bill1 #aije1 clause #c47 7d7--,provision by the ,guardians4 ,following on this resolution came an attempt to deal with the question through the machinery of the ,poor ,law4 ,by the ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order1#acd issued in ,april1 #aije1 the ,guardians were empowered to grant relief to the child of an able-bodied man without requiring him to enter the workhouse or perform the outdoor labour test4#ace ,any relief so given was to be on loan if the case was one of habitual neglect1 and might be so given in any case at the discretion of the ,guardians4#acf ,except with the special sanction of the ,local ,government ,board proceedings were always to be taken to recover the cost4#acg ,the children of widows and of wives not living with their husbands were expressly excluded from the scope of the order4#ach ,the reason for this omission was that these children could already be dealt with by the ,guardians and that1 therefore1 no further sanction was needed1 but this was not clearly explained by the ,local ,government ,board1 and was indeed not generally understood4#aci ,it was recommended that1 where charitable organisations existed1 the ,guardians should make arrangements with them for the supply of food2 in other cases an arrangement might be made with a local shopkeeper4#adj ,a circular issued by the ,board of ,education to the ,local ,education ,authorities1 explaining how these authorities could co-operate with the ,guardians in carrying out the order1 classified underfed children under three heads3--7#a7 those whose parents were permanently impoverished2 7#b7 those whose parents through illness1 loss of employment1 or other unavoidable causes were temporarily unable to provide for them2 7#c7 those whose parents1 though capable of making provision1 had neglected to do so4 ,it was suggested that the second of these groups of cases should be left to the voluntary agencies1 the first and third being dealt with by the ,guardians4#ada ,footnote #acd3 ,for a description of the working of this order see the ,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 #hvo4 edition1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 pp4 #afj-afb4 ,footnote #ace3 ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order1 #aije1 ,article ,v4 7in #ceth ,report of ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #cbb74 ,footnote #acf3 ,ibid41 ,article ,,ii41 sec4 #b4 ,footnote #acg3 ,ibid41 ,article ,,vi4 ,whether the amount was recovered or not the parent became a pauper1 and was disfranchised4 ,footnote #ach3 ,ibid41 ,article ,,vii4 ,footnote #aci3 ,the whole ,order1 declared ,mr4 ,wyatt1 the ,director of ,elementary ,education at ,manchester1 was a most perplexing thing4 ,very early in the year there came down to ,manchester a ,poor ,law ,inspector who said that the construction of the ,order was that the children of widows or deserted women should not come under the ,order4 ,that swept away a great many of those we had been feeding4 7,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,q4 #abjh47 ,miss ,margaret ,frere was of opinion that the ,order would be a dead letter in that it ruled out the two most difficult classes1 one being widows and deserted wives4 7,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,q4 #dhc47 ,footnote #adj3 ,circular of ,local ,government ,board accompanying ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order1 in #ceth ,report of ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #cbj4 ,footnote #ada3 ,circular issued by the ,board of ,education to the ,local ,education ,authorities re ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order1 ,april #bh1 #aije4 ,in a large number of ,unions this order was entirely disregarded4#adb ,in ,london the ,county ,council1 though ready to assist in carrying it out where local authorities desired it1 declined to initiate proceedings1 for they did not look upon the order as materially helping the solution of the problem4#adc ,where the ,local ,education ,authority and the ,guardians agreed on a scheme1 there was constant friction4 ,this was only to be expected4 ,the opposing views of the two bodies--the one actuated by a desire to ensure that children should not be prevented by lack of food from taking advantage of the education provided for them1 the other imbued with the spirit of deterrence--militated against any successful co-operation4 ,when the ,local ,education ,authority sent in lists of underfed children1 the ,guardians cut them down ruthlessly4#add ,there was no serious contention that these children did not need food1 but merely that their parents' circumstances were such that they could afford to provide it4 ,undoubtedly under the voluntary feeding system there had been much abuse1 many parents obtaining the meals when they were in receipt of good incomes4#ade ,but in these cases1 with very few exceptions1#adf no pressure was brought to bear by the ,guardians on the parents to force them to provide adequate food for their children1 and the children consequently remained unfed4 ,in many cases the fathers of the children indignantly refused to allow them to receive the meals when they discovered that disfranchisement was entailed4 ,footnote #adb3 ,the order has been so far practically a dead letter in this district the counties of ,bedford1 ,hertford1 ,huntingdon1 etc44 7#ceth ,report of ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #deb47 ,such seems to have been the case also in ,yorkshire and the northern counties1 in ,wales1 in ,essex and in ,surrey1 for we find no mention of the ,order in the reports of the ,inspectors for these districts4 ,footnote #adc3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,july #aa1 #aije1 p4 #big4 ,the ,council objected to the introduction of a dual authority in every district1 which would cause delay and possibly friction2 the absence of any provision for uniformity of rules in the different districts2 and the radical error of allowing the cost to fall on the local authorities instead of on ,government funds1 or at least on the rates of ,london as a whole4 ,the risk of fathers being disfranchised as a result of meals being supplied by the ,guardians to their children without their knowledge1 would militate against the usefulness of the scheme 7ibid474 ,as a matter of fact very few cases were relieved in ,london under the ,order4 7,hansard1 ,july #ca1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #afb1 p4 #fhj47 ,in two unions1 ,fulham and ,wandsworth1 where the ,guardians offered to assist1 the ,council allowed lists to be sent from the schools1 but the great majority of these children were reported by the ,relieving ,officers not to be underfed4 7,report of ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children for #aije-f1 p4 #d47 ,footnote #add3 ,at ,bristol out of #abi applications from the ,local ,education ,authority1 the ,guardians felt justified in giving relief in #ab cases only4 7#ceth ,report of ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #dhj47 ,at ,chorlton1 relief was given in #bai cases out of #a1bie applications2 at ,salford in #age out of #a1jhf4 7,ibid41 p4 #ejd47 ,at ,stoke-on-,trent1 out of #gb cases reported #d were relieved1 and at ,ecclesall ,bierlow #ea cases were reduced after careful investigation to one4 7,ibid41 pp4 #dhh1 #ebj47 ,at ,kettering1 on the other hand1 practically all the cases referred to the ,guardians were relieved4 7,report of ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 ,appendix1 ,vol4 ,i41 ,q4 #fddc47 ,this1 however1 was exceptional4 ,footnote #ade3 ,at ,birmingham it was found that many parents were earning over #cjs4 a week1 and in one case the parent was in constant employment with an average rate of #c #ags4 #f;d4 a week4 7#ceth ,report of ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #die47 ,at ,bolton1 some of the parents were receiving from #b to #c a week4 7,ibid41 p4 #ejf47 ,footnote #adf3 ,in the ,bolton ,union1 in cases where the father's income was considered sufficient to provide meals without assistance1 the children were specially watched and reported upon by the ,cross ,visitor each fortnight1 until the ,guardians were satisfied that the parents were carrying out their responsibility in this respect4444 ,the ,relieving ,officer visits the home at meal time1 or in the evening1 to see what provision is made for feeding the children4 7#ceth ,report of ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #ejc47 ,at ,birmingham the head teachers were of opinion that the children were being better looked after by their parents than formerly owing to the way in which the ,order was being carried out4 7,ibid41 p4 #die47 ,at ,bradford1 where the most systematic attempt was made to carry out the order1 the disputes and difficulties proved endless4 ,the principles upon which the ,guardians 444 proceeded in selecting the children to be fed were1 declared ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,jowett1 such as made not for the feeding of the children so much as for the saving of expense4#adg ,the quality of the food and the conditions under which the meals were served#adh were hotly criticised4 ,the attempt on the part of the ,guardians to recover the cost from the parents raised a storm of protest4#adi ,finally1 in ,may1 #aijg1 the ,guardians announced their intention of discontinuing the provision of meals and the ,local ,education ,authority took over the work4#aej ,in no other town was the action of the ,guardians prolonged to so late a date4 ,by the end of #aijf1 indeed1 the ,order had become a dead letter4 ,meanwhile1 the public having assumed that everything necessary would be undertaken by the ,poor ,law ,authorities1 voluntary contributions had declined4#aea ,footnote #adg3 ,bradford ,city ,council ,proceedings1 ,september #bf1 #aije4 ,footnote #adh3 ,at the centres provided by the ,guardians the children were kept outside the doors until all was ready1 and when they were allowed to enter they came in without any semblance of order1 to tables without cloths1 without seats4 7,bradford and its ,children3 ,how ,they are ,fed1 by ,councillor ,j4 ,h4 ,palin1 #aijh1 pp4 #f-g47 ,later the ,guardians distributed the children among various little eating-houses in the town1 where the food was better1 though the conditions of serving were not much improved4 7,ibid47 ,footnote #adi3 ,hansard1 ,february #bh1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aeb1 p4 #aabi2 ,bradford ,city ,council ,proceedings1 ,september #bf1 #aije2 see also the local newspapers about this time4 ,the prosecutions were apparently confined to those cases where the underfeeding of the children was due to neglect on the part of the parents4 ,the charge fixed by the ,guardians was1 however1 very high1 #c;d4 per meal4 ,up to ,march #a1 #aijf1 action had been taken in the ,county ,court against #ea men and orders for payment obtained in each case4 7,a short account of the working of the ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order1 issued by the ,bradford ,poor ,law ,union1 #aijf2 ,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,qs4 #agjb-je47 ,in other unions there seems to have been little or no attempt to recover the cost4 ,at ,birmingham1 for instance1 it was reported1 the process of recovery laid down by the ,local ,government ,board was farcical in character and was dropped4 7,report of ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 ,appendix1 ,vol4 ,,iv41 ,q4 #dcfbf1 par4 #cg47 ,footnote #aej3 ,extracts from the ,annual ,reports of the ,bradford ,education ,committee for the four years ended ,march #ca1 #aijg1 #aijh1 #aiji and #aiaj in respect to the working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 p4 #c4 ,footnote #aea3 ,at ,birmingham the ,free ,dinner ,society1 after an existence of thirty years1 ceased its operations when the ,order came into force4 7,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 ,appendix1 ,vol4 ,i41 ,q4 #hebe47 ,there was at first1 declared ,mr4 ,jenner ,fust1 a ,local ,government ,board ,inspector1 much misapprehension among the public as to the scope of the ,order1 the prevalent idea being that all school children requiring it would now be supplied with free meals at the public expense1 and that there was no further occasion for voluntary efforts4 7#ceth ,report of the ,local ,government ,board1 #aije-f1 p4 #ejf47 7e7--,the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act4 ,the ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order having proved a relative failure1 to use ,mr4 ,john ,burns' moderate expression1#aeb and the evidence given before the ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding of ,school ,children having demonstrated once more the inadequacy of existing agencies to cope with the evil1 it became imperative for ,parliament to take action4 ,early in #aijf the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bill was introduced4#aec ,the opposition to this ,bill1 both inside#aed and outside#aee the ,house1 rested mainly on the familiar arguments respecting parental responsibility and the advisability of leaving all questions connected with relief to the ,poor ,law ,authorities4 ,we hear also the objection that free meals must lead to a reduction in wages4#aef ,the strongest argument1 to which1 however1 little attention was paid1 was that urged by the ,edinburgh ,school ,board before the ,select ,committee of the ,house of ,commons to which the ,bill was referred4 ,the ,bill touches the fringe of very serious and comprehensive social problems with which the ,imperial ,parliament should deal1 and it the ,school ,board objects to so much power being placed upon a local authority before ,parliament has dealt with serious principles underlying the questions involved4#aeg ,the causes of low physique and vitality1 and inability to profit by instruction are insanitation1 overcrowding1 keeping the children out at night very late or all night1 bad footwear1 and homes where they have no ventilation at night1 irregular meals1 uncleanliness and bad clothing and out-of-school employment4#aeh ,this was very true1 but it did not convince the public that nothing should be done4 ,in the experience of ,miss ,horn1 the secretary of the ,westminster ,health ,society1 where continuous feeding was combined with regular visits to the parents1 there was a distinct improvement in the standard of the homes4#aei ,footnote #aeb3 ,hansard1 ,december #f1 #aijf1 vol4 #aff1 p4 #abhd4 ,footnote #aec3 ,the ,bill was introduced by a private member1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,t4 ,wilson4 ,the ,government decided to make the matter an open question with their followers4 7,ibid41 ,february #bb and ,march #b1 #aijf1 vol4 #aeb1 pp4 #ebe1 #acii47 ,footnote #aed3 ,for the debates on the ,bill see ,hansard1 ,march #b1 ,december #f1 #g1 #ac1 #ai1 #bj and #ba1 #aijf 7vol4 #aeb1 pp4 #acij-addh2 vol4 #aff1 pp4 #abgc-abib1 #acae-adfe2 vol4 #afg1 pp4 #gbb-ghj1 #adgc-adhb1 #afbi-afgj1 #ahfe-ahha74 ,footnote #aee3 ,see1 for instance1 the discussions at a conference of representatives of ,charity ,organisation ,societies held in #aijf4 7,charity ,organisation ,review1 ,july1 #aijf1 pp4 #cj et seq47 ,footnote #aef3 ,mr4 ,harold ,cox1 ,hansard1 ,march #b1 #aijf1 vol4 #aeb1 pp4 #adab1 #adag4 ,footnote #aeg3 ,report of the ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 evidence of ,mr4 ,mill1 ,chairman of ,edinburgh ,school ,board1 ,q4 #daid4 ,footnote #aeh3 ,ibid41 evidence of ,mr4 ,scott1 ,head ,teacher of ,wood ,close ,school1 ,bethnal ,green1 ,q4 #bfda4 ,cf4 evidence of ,dr4 ,kerr 7,q4 #bihd71 ,miss ,horn 7,qs4 #acba-b71 and ,mr4 ,ferguson 7,q4 #bgci74 ,footnote #aei3 ,ibid41 ,qs4 #abhg-abij4 ,during the ,parliamentary debates1 for the first time1 much emphasis was laid on the educational value of the meals if served under proper conditions4 ,mr4 ,birrell could conceive no greater service to posterity than to raise the standard of living in the children of the present day4#afj ,it was desired that this work should be not a work of relief1 but a work of education1 declared ,mr4 ,lough1 the ,parliamentary ,secretary to the ,board of ,education4 ,they wanted wholesome food given to the children and they wanted the children taught how to eat it1 which was a most useful lesson4#afa ,this was not merely a question of providing the meals1 said ,mr4 ,john ,burns1 it was also one of teaching better habits and manners4#afb ,for this work the ,local ,education ,authorities were better fitted than the ,guardians1 for they would attract1 in a way which ,boards of ,guardians would not1 the services of voluntary agencies1 of leisured people 444 and of managers and teachers1 whose assistance was absolutely essential4#afc ,for these reasons it was essential that the ,local ,education ,authorities should have power to provide meals1 not only for necessitous children but also1 on receipt of payment1 for the children of all parents who desired it4#afd ,footnote #afj3 ,hansard1 ,march #b1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aeb1 p4 #adda4 ,footnote #afa3 ,ibid41 ,december #f1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aff1 p4 #abhj4 ,footnote #afb3 ,ibid41 p4 #abhe4 ,footnote #afc3 ,ibid4 ,see also the speeches of ,mr4 ,jowett 7ibid41 ,march #b1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aeb1 p4 #adab71 ,mr4 ,claude ,hay 7ibid41 ,december #f1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aff1 p4 #abhh7 and the ,earl of ,crewe 7ibid41 ,december #ai1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #afg1 p4 #adgh74 ,an amendment to substitute the ,poor ,law ,guardians for the ,local ,education ,authority as the authority for the administration of the ,act was defeated by an overwhelming majority1 the voting being #bij to #cf4 7,ibid41 ,december #f1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aff1 pp4 #abgd-abhh47 ,the ,local ,government ,board did not1 in fact1 desire to have the duty imposed on them4 7,mr4 ,john ,burns1 ibid41 p4 #abhe47 ,footnote #afd3 ,an amendment to limit the provision of meals to underfed children only was defeated by #bcj votes to #ci4 ,mr4 ,lough declared the amendment would strike at the root of one of the objects of the ,bill4 7,ibid41 ,december #g1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aff1 pp4 #acci-dj1 #acej47 ,the new attitude of ,society towards the child and the family was brought out by ,lord ,grimthorpe during the debates in the ,house of ,lords4 ,the children are the paramount consideration4444 ,in a great many cases the parents are already demoralised owing to having themselves been insufficiently nourished in their youth4 ,because they suffer from those conditions there is no reason why we should inflict similar conditions on the children4444 ,experience in this matter shows us that the sense of parental responsibility will be increased rather than decreased4 ,when the parent sees that his child is regarded by the nation as a valuable national asset he himself will think more of his child4#afe ,footnote #afe3 ,ibid41 ,december #bj1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #afg1 p4 #afcg4 ,the ,bill received the ,royal assent on ,december #ba1 #aijf4aff ,it provided that the ,local ,education ,authority might associate with themselves any committee 7called a ,school ,canteen ,committee7 on which the ,authority was represented1 who would undertake to provide food1 and might aid that committee by furnishing buildings and apparatus and the officers and servants necessary for the organisation1 preparation and service of the meals4#afg ,the parents were to be charged such an amount as might be determined by the ,local ,education ,authority1 and1 in the event of non-payment1 the ,local ,authority1 unless satisfied that the parent was unable to pay1 should recover the amount summarily as a civil debt4#afh ,failure on the part of the parent to pay was not1 however1 to involve disfranchisement4#afi ,where the ,education ,authority resolved that any of the children attending an elementary school within their area are unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of the education provided for them1 and have ascertained that funds other than public funds are not available or are insufficient in amount to defray the cost of food1 they might1 with the sanction of the ,board of ,education1 provide for food out of the rates1 the amount thus spent being1 however1 limited to what would be produced by a halfpenny rate4#agj ,the teachers might1 if they desired1 assist in the provision of meals but they were not to be required as part of their duties to do so4#aga ,footnote #aff3 #f ,edward ,,vii41 c4 #eg4 ,footnote #afg3 ,ibid41 clause #a4 ,footnote #afh3 ,ibid41 clause #b4 ,the ,select ,committee to which the ,bill had been referred1 while of opinion that the local education authority ought to undertake the administration rather than the ,boards of ,guardians1 nevertheless recommended that it should be the duty of the ,guardians to recover the cost from neglectful parents4 7,report of ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 pp4 viii41 x47 ,they accordingly inserted a provision to this effect 7see the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bill as amended by the ,select ,committee1 ,no4 #cca of #aijf1 clause #b74 ,this was amended in the committee stage in the ,house of ,commons4 7,hansard1 ,december #g1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #aff1 pp4 #adci-addd4 ,footnote #afi3 #f ,edward ,,vii41 c4 #eg1 clause #d4 ,footnote #agj3 ,ibid41 clause #c4 ,footnote #aga3 ,ibid41 clause #f4 ,the ,bill1 when it left the ,commons1 applied to ,scotland as well as ,england and ,wales4 ,the ,lords1 however1 struck out the clause extending its application to ,scotland4#agb ,the ,commons1 in view of the fact that the session was so far advanced1 agreed to this amendment1 but under protest4#agc ,it was not till two years later that the ,scottish ,school ,boards1 by the ,education 7,scotland7 ,act of #aijh1agd received power to spend the rates on the provision of food4 ,footnote #agb3 ,hansard1 ,december #bj1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #afg1 pp4 #affb-afgj4 ,footnote #agc3 ,ibid41 ,december #ba1 #aijf1 pp4 #ahfe-ahha4 ,footnote #agd3 #h ,edward ,,vii41 c4 #fc 7,december #ba1 #aijh74 ,a ,bill was introduced by the ,government in #aijg1 but was withdrawn4 7,hansard1 ,march #bj1 #aijg1 ,vol4 #aga1 pp4 #hhj-hhc47 ,for an account of the provision made in ,scotland see ,appendix ,,ii4 ,the ,provision of ,meals ,act marks an important point in the history of school feeding4 ,the experiments of forty years had amply demonstrated the impossibility of dealing with the evils of underfeeding through voluntary agencies alone4 ,parliament was indeed still convinced that voluntary organisations were the best bodies to supply the necessary food4 ,the proposal that the duty of providing meals should be cast entirely upon ,local ,education ,authorities1 relying only on public funds1 had indeed1 as the ,select ,committee of the ,house of ,commons declared1 not been seriously suggested4 ,such a course would obviously result in the extinction of all voluntary societies1 a result from every point of view 444 much to be deplored4#age ,only where voluntary subscriptions failed might the ,local ,authority provide the necessary funds4 ,even in this case there was no compulsion on the authority to take any action whatsoever4 ,still1 with all these limitations1 the ,act involved the assumption1 however partial and incomplete1 by the ,state of the function of securing to its children1 by one means or another1 the necessary minimum1 not only of education1 but also of food4 ,footnote #age3 ,report of ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 p4 vi4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,administration ,,of ,,the ,,education 7,,provision ,,of ,,meals7 ,,act ,we propose in this chapter to describe the manner in which the ,local ,education ,authorities are administering the ,act of #aijf4 ,we shall see that the adoption of the ,act has been by no means universal and that in many towns provision is still made by voluntary agencies4 ,where the ,act has been put in force we shall find the greatest diversity of practice in such matters as the selection of the children1 the dietary provided and the manner in which the meals are served4 ,one ,local ,authority will construe its duties under the ,act in the narrowest sense1 cutting down the number of children to be fed to the minimum1 and serving the meals with the least possible expense4 ,another authority will look on the school meal as a valuable means for improving the physique of its scholars2 it will endeavour to secure that all children who are underfed shall be given school meals2 the dietary will be carefully planned1 while1 in the matter of the service of the meals1 the aim will be to make these in every way educational4 ,we shall see that meals are as a rule given only during term-time1 holiday feeding out of rates being held to be illegal1 while many authorities limit their operations to the winter months4 ,most authorities have confined their provision almost entirely to necessitous children1 the plan of providing meals as a matter of convenience for children of parents who are at work all day or are otherwise prevented from preparing a midday meal1 and who would be able and willing to pay for school dinners1 finding but little favour4 ,we shall describe the arrangements made in the ,special ,schools for defective children1 where a dinner is provided either for all children attending the school or for all those who care to stay1 and in the ,day ,industrial ,schools1 where the provision of three meals a day for all is the rule4 ,we shall discuss the extent to which the provision of meals by the ,local ,education ,authority overlaps the relief given by the ,poor ,law ,guardians4 ,finally we shall touch upon the question of underfeeding in the rural districts1 where the problem is little less urgent than in the towns4 7a7--,the ,adoption of the ,act4 ,the ,provision of ,meals ,act came into force on ,december #ba1 #aijf4 ,as we have seen1 it was merely permissive and its adoption was1 therefore1 only gradual4#agf ,many ,local ,education ,authorities contented themselves with making arrangements with voluntary agencies1 the ,education ,committee continuing the already common practice of providing accommodation and apparatus1 and the voluntary society providing as hitherto funds for the food4 ,thus1 at ,hull1 the ,education ,authority co-operated with the ,hull ,school ,children's ,help ,society1 which had been founded in #ahhe for the provision of free meals4 ,this arrangement was continued till #aijh1 when the ,society's funds were exhausted and recourse was had to the rates4#agg ,at ,scarborough1 the ,amicable ,society1 which had been founded in #agbi for clothing and educating the children of the poor of ,scarborough1 arranged with the ,education ,authority that the provision of meals should be organised through a ,joint ,committee of the two bodies4#agh ,at ,liverpool1 where the provision of meals had been undertaken since the early part of #aijf1 before the ,act was passed1 by a voluntary committee consisting of members of the ,education ,committee1 the ,central ,relief ,society1 the ,guardians and others1 this system was continued for some years4 ,in spite of strenuous opposition in #aijh from the ,labour party and the local ,fabian ,society1 who complained that the numbers fed were far below the number in need of food1 and that no proper attempt was made to ascertain the extent of the need1 a special committee appointed by the ,education ,committee to investigate the whole question reported that the existing voluntary system was adequate4 ,it was not till ,november1 #aiji1 that the ,education ,committee resolved that1 after full consideration of the circumstances and after having regard to the fact that it has been necessary to call upon the general public on two occasions during each year for subscriptions to the funds1 the ,committee cannot but conclude that the time has now come when the provisions of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 #aijf1 should be put into force1 and1 therefore1 though with great reluctance1 they recommended that application be made to the ,board of ,education for power to levy a rate4#agi ,footnote #agf3 ,aston ,manor was the first town to apply for authority to levy a rate4 ,bradford1 ,manchester1 and other towns soon followed4 ,during the year ended ,march #ca1 #aijh1 #dj authorities were authorised to levy a rate4 ,during the two following years the number was increased to #he and #if respectively4 7,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #h2 ,report of the ,board of ,education for #aijh-i1 p4 #abc2 ditto for #aiji-aj1 p4 #fb47 ,footnote #agg3 ,appendix to ,minutes of the ,hull ,education ,committee1 ,october #bb1 #aiji4 ,footnote #agh3 ,report of the ,scarborough ,amicable ,society for #aiaj1 pp4 #e1 #h4 ,footnote #agi3 ,feeding the ,children1 by ,h4 ,beswick1 in the ,clarion1 ,october #aa1 #aiab4 ,leicester1 perhaps1 furnishes the most notable example of the survival of the voluntary principle4 ,in #aijf1 when the ,provision of ,meals ,bill was before ,parliament1 the ,town ,council appears to have been in favour of it4 ,after the ,act was passed1 however1 the ,leicester branch of the ,charity ,organisation ,society opposed its adoption4 ,at a conference between representatives of the ,charity ,organisation ,society and the ,national ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children1 a scheme was formulated for administering the ,act from voluntary funds4 ,the scheme was accepted by the ,town ,council1 and the formation of the ,children's ,aid ,association was the result4#ahj ,this body consists chiefly of members of the ,charity ,organisation ,society and of the ,national ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children1 with a small minority representing the ,education ,committee4 ,in spite of considerable opposition from the ,labour party1 who demand that the ,act shall be put into force1 meals are still provided by this ,association out of voluntary funds4#aha ,footnote #ahj3 ,first ,annual ,report of the ,leicester ,children's ,aid ,association1 #aijg-h1 p4 #c4 ,footnote #aha3 ,for a description of the methods adopted1 see post1 pp4 #if-g4 ,a somewhat similar system is in force at ,chesterfield1 where the arrangements for feeding are made by the ,civic ,guild1 the expense being borne out of their funds4 ,the ,education ,committee is represented on the ,general ,council and ,executive ,committee of the ,guild in a general sense1 not in connection with feeding alone4 ,cases of children requiring food are reported by the ,attendance ,officers1 and are fed at once by the ,guild1 investigation being made afterwards4 ,if help is found necessary the whole family is adequately relieved4 ,arrangements are usually made for the children to be fed at eating-houses4 ,the number of children so dealt with is very small4 ,this delay on the part of the ,local ,authorities in towns where1 it was asserted1 it was notorious that children suffered from want of food1#ahb led to an attempt to make the ,school ,medical ,officer responsible for determining whether or not it was necessary to put the ,act in force4 ,in ,december1 #aijh1 a ,bill was introduced by the ,labour party with the object of providing that1 when requested by the ,education ,committee1 by a majority of the managers1 or by the head teachers1 the ,local ,authority should provide for the medical inspection of the children for the purpose of determining whether they were suffering from insufficient or improper food2 if the medical inspector reported that the children were so suffering1 the ,local ,authority should be obliged to provide food4 ,the ,bill was not proceeded with1 and the same fate befell four similar ,bills introduced within the next five years4#ahc ,footnote #ahb3 ,hansard1 ,april #bc1 #aiji1 #eth ,series1 ,vol4 #c1 p4 #agig4 ,footnote #ahc3 ,education 7,administrative ,provisions7 ,bill1 ,december #h1 #aijh2 ,february #ai1 #aiji2 ,april #ad1 #aiaj2 ,february #ai1 #aiab2 ,april #ae1 #aiac4 ,in #aiaa-aiab1 out of #cbb ,local ,education ,authorities in ,england and ,wales1 #aca were returned as making some provision for the feeding of school children 7i4e4 #ac counties1 including ,london1 #eg ,county ,boroughs1 #ce ,boroughs and #bf ,urban ,districts74#ahd ,of these #ie were spending rates on the provision of food2 #ai were spending rates on administrative charges only 7accommodation1 apparatus1 etc471 the cost of food being borne by voluntary funds2 whilst in the remaining #ag areas#ahe the cost of both food and administration was met by voluntary contributions4 ,footnote #ahd3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #cbj-cbb1 #cbi4 ,footnote #ahe3 ,the most important of these are ,leicester1 ,sunderland1 and ,barnsley4 ,the steady decrease in the amount derived from voluntary contributions1 and the increase in rates are shown by the following table 3--#ahf ,rates ,voluntary ,miscellaneous sources ,total4 ,contribution 7contributions from parents1 ,poor ,law ,guardians1 etc47 ,for the year #fg1ebd #ag1hca #cce #he1fij #aijh-i ,for the year #abe1cgb #i1hac #ijf #acf1jia #aiji-aj ,for the year #adj1hge #g1ecg #a1cgj #adi1ghb #aiaj-aa ,for the year #aea1gfc #c1jfd #b1bib #aeg1abg #aiaa-ab ,footnote #ahf3 ,see ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #cj1 and 7for ,london7 p4 #bd2 ditto for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiaj1 p4 #bj2 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 p4 #cji2 ditto for #aiaa1 p4 #ccb4 ,the voluntary contributions are understated in the figures for #aijh-i1 and possibly throughout4 ,the returns for #aijh-i1 for instance1 do not include ,liverpool1 where the whole cost was defrayed by voluntary contributions1 and no financial details were supplied to the ,board4 ,the discrepancy in the total for #aiaa-ab is due to the fact that the figures in the several columns are not given exactly1 but to the nearest 4 ,the total number of children fed is given in the returns for #aiaa as #abd1fhe4ahg ,this1 however1 does not include a few counties and towns which did not return the number fed during the year4 ,in most of these areas the number fed is very small1 but at ,barnsley the number attending daily was about #b1iag1 and in ,london the highest number fed in any one week during the year was #dd1ihc4 ,if we take these figures as representing roughly between two-fifths and one half of the total number of children who were fed at some time or other during the year1 we get a total of about #bcj1jjj1ahh out of a total school population of #e1ceg1efg4ahi ,footnote #ahg3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #cbb-bd1 #ccj4 ,footnote #ahh3 ,this does not include children fed at ,day ,industrial ,schools1 ,open ,air ,schools or1 with one or two exceptions1 ,special ,schools for ,mentally or ,physically ,defective ,children4 ,footnote #ahi3 ,this number represents the average attendance at the ordinary ,elementary ,schools1 not the total number on the rolls4 7,statistics of ,public ,education in ,england and ,wales1 #aiaa-ab1 ,part ,i41 pp4 #bg1 #ccc47 ,in most towns where the ,act has been adopted the amount spent on food is well within the limit of the halfpenny rate4 ,in #aiaa-ab1 only ,bradford and ,stoke-on-,trent exceeded the limit1 the latter 7by an inconsiderable sum7 owing to the coal strike4 ,at ,bradford the rate has almost from the first been annually exceeded by a considerable amount4#aij ,this excess is due partly to the numbers fed 7a large proportion of the children receiving breakfasts as well as dinners71 partly to the fact that the meals are continued throughout the holidays4 ,the ,local ,government ,board ,auditor has regularly surcharged the excess expenditure1 but the ,finance ,committee defrays it out of the ,corporation trading profits1 which are not subject to the ,local ,government ,board audit4 ,footnote #aij3 ,in #aijh-i1 by #a1fde2 in #aiji-aj1 by #b1cgj2 in #aiaj-aa1 by #a1afc1 and in #aiaa-ab1 by #cgd4 7,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #bf2 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 p4 #cjd2 ditto for #aiaa1 p4 #cag47 ,the limitation of the rate has in some towns undoubtedly restricted operations4 ,in #aiji1 for instance1 the ,workington ,education ,committee were reluctantly obliged1 owing to the exhaustion of the funds raised by the halfpenny rate1 to stop the meals at a time of great distress4#aia ,at ,east ,ham1 the product of a halfpenny rate not being sufficient for a whole year1 meals can only be given during the winter months4#aib ,footnote #aia3 ,hansard1 ,april #bc1 #aiji1 #eth ,series1 ,vol4 #c1 pp4 #ahfb-ahfc4 ,a similar complaint was received from ,hartlepool4 7,ibid47 ,footnote #aib3 ,see ,minutes of ,kingston-on-,hull ,provision of ,meals ,sub-,committee1 ,march #bd1 #aiaa1 ,appendix1 p4 #af4 ,the abortive ,bills introduced in #aijh and the following years by ,labour members contained a clause that the limitation of the rate should be abolished4 ,we may note that the power of the ,local ,education ,authorities to provide food for necessitous children is not limited to their powers under the ,provision of ,meals ,act4 ,by the ,education ,act of #aijb grants may be given for the maintenance of children at ,secondary ,schools4 ,at ,bradford1 at any rate1 in quite a number of cases this grant is earmarked for providing school meals4#aic ,more important is the power to provide three meals daily for all children attending ,day ,industrial ,schools4 ,these children are drawn very largely from the class to whom free meals would have to be given if they were attending the ordinary elementary schools4#aid ,again1 necessitous children who are physically or mentally defective can receive meals at the ,special ,schools1 and the cost of the food 7and other expenses7 can be charged to the ,special ,schools account4 ,thus1 at ,liverpool1 dinner is provided for all defective children1 this provision having been undertaken deliberately as part of the school curriculum long before the ,provision of ,meals ,act was passed4 ,the class of physically defective children for whom ,special ,schools can be provided include not only cripples1 but all children who are certified by a doctor to be by reason of 444 physical defect 444 incapable of receiving proper benefit from the instruction in the ordinary public elementary schools4#aie ,this wide definition enables the ,school ,medical ,officer to send to the ,open ,air ,schools1 which several ,local ,authorities have established1 and at which one or more meals a day are provided1 not only children suffering from definite diseases1 but also those who are underfed1 anmic and generally debilitated1 to whom the fresh air1 healthy life and regular1 wholesome meals prove an inestimable boon4 ,footnote #aic3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,wm4 ,leach1 in the ,crusade1 ,november1 #aiaa 7,vol4 #b1 p4 #aib74 ,footnote #aid3 ,for a fuller account of the arrangements made for providing food at the ,day ,industrial ,schools and the ,special ,schools see post1 pp4 #aag-abb4 ,footnote #aie3 ,elementary ,education 7,defective and ,epileptic ,children7 ,act1 #ahii 7#fb and #fc ,vict41 c4 #cb1 sec4 #a 7#a774 7b7--,canteen ,committees1 their constitution and functions4 ,the arrangements for carrying out the ,provision of ,meals ,act are usually in the hands of a ,committee called variously the ,school ,canteen ,committee1 the ,children's ,care ,committee1 the ,underfed ,children's ,meals ,committee1 or1 as at ,leicester1 the ,children's ,aid ,association4 ,the constitution of this ,committee varies in different towns4 ,sometimes it is composed entirely of members of the ,education ,committee4#aif ,sometimes outside bodies1 such as ,boards of ,guardians and voluntary agencies1 are represented upon it4 ,thus at ,crewe the ,children's ,care ,committee consists of representatives of the ,local ,education ,authority1 teachers1 ,guardians and various voluntary societies4#aig ,at ,leicester the members of the ,education ,committee are in the minority1 the ,children's ,aid ,association being composed chiefly of members of the ,charity ,organisation ,society and the ,national ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children4 ,elsewhere the ,committee may be composed entirely1 or almost entirely1 of voluntary workers4 ,thus at ,leeds1 where all the members are women1 all1 except the ,chairman and ,vice-chairman1 who are members of the ,education ,committee1 are voluntary workers2 two ,inspectors attend the meetings and carry recommendations to the ,education ,committee1 but they do not vote4 ,at ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 where the ,committee is also composed of women members1 the only representative of the ,education ,committee is the official who holds the post of ,borough ,treasurer and ,secretary to the ,education ,committee4 ,at ,bournemouth the schools are grouped under four ,district ,care ,committees1 composed of voluntary workers nominated by the ,school ,managers1 and of representatives of the head teachers1 the ,school ,attendance ,officers being ex officio members4 ,these ,district ,care ,committees are controlled by a ,central ,care ,committee1 composed partly of members of the ,education ,committee1 and partly of co-opted members4 ,the ,school ,medical ,officer here1 as in some other towns1 is an ex officio member4#aih ,footnote #aif3 ,as at ,birkenhead1 ,bradford1 ,liverpool1 ,manchester1 ,nottingham1 ,stoke1 ,west ,ham4 ,footnote #aig3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,crewe1 #aiaa1 p4 #bc4 ,footnote #aih3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,bournemouth for #aiaa1 pp4 #e-g4 ,the functions of the ,canteen ,committee also vary in different towns4 ,sometimes1 as at ,bradford1 all the arrangements for the management of the centres and the decision as to which children shall be fed are in the hands of the ,committee4 ,at ,leeds the ,committee has no executive power1 its functions being limited to making recommendations to the ,education ,committee as to the management of the dining centres4 ,at ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds each member of the ,committee is responsible for one school1 making arrangements with caterers for the feeding of the children and visiting the homes4 ,this visiting of the homes is rarely1 if ever1 undertaken by members of the ,canteen ,committee1 unless it is composed of voluntary workers4 7c7--,the ,selection of the ,children4 ,in the selection of the children who are to receive school meals two methods may be adopted4 ,the selection may be based either on the physical condition of the child or on the economic circumstances of the family4 ,the majority of the children selected will1 of course1 be the same whichever method is adopted1 since the child will generally be found to be under-nourished if the family income is inadequate1 and vice versa2 but there are some children who1 although the family income is comparatively good1 are yet1 for some cause or other1 underfed1 and these will be excluded if the poverty test is the only criterion used4 ,from the first the ,board of ,education has urged that the physical test should be used as well as the poverty test4 ,the administration of the ,provision of ,meals ,act should be carried on in the closest co-operation with the ,school ,medical ,service4#aii ,the ,school ,medical ,officer should approve the dietary1 he should supervise the quality1 quantity1 cooking and service of the food and should inspect the feeding centres4#bjj ,in the selection of the children he should take an important part4 ,not only should he recommend for school meals all cases of bad or insufficient nutrition observed in the course of medical inspection4 ,the end to be aimed at1 writes ,sir ,george ,newman1 is that all children admitted to the meals should be medically examined by the ,school ,medical ,officer either before1 or as soon as possible after1 admission4#bja ,that is to say1 the ,provision of ,meals ,act should not be considered primarily as a measure for the relief of distress2 the physical and mental well-being of the children 444 should be regarded as the principal object to be kept in view4#bjb ,footnote #aii3 ,when a system of medical inspection of school children such as already exists under several ,local ,education ,authorities has been established1 the ,school ,canteen ,committee1 so far as its operations are concerned with underfed1 ill-nourished or destitute children1 should work in intimate connection with the school medical officer4 7,circular issued by the ,board of ,education1 ,january #a1 #aijg1 in ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #dd47 ,it is obviously desirable that any arrangements made by a ,local ,education ,authority under the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 #aijf 444 should be co-ordinated1 as far as possible1 with the arrangements for medical inspection under the ,act of #aijg4 7,board of ,education1 ,code of ,regulations for ,public ,elementary ,schools in ,england1 #aijh1 p4 ii47 ,the general supervision of the administration of the ,act was placed in the hands of the ,board's ,medical ,department4 ,footnote #bjj3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 p4 #bed4 ,footnote #bja3 ,ibid4 for #aiaa1 p4 #bgf4 ,this course is strongly urged by the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,portsmouth4 ,all children1 however selected1 either by the physical or poverty test1 should be examined by the ,school ,medical ,officer4 ,this in many areas would involve a good deal of extra work on many medical men who find their time already fully occupied4 ,yet if any work is worth doing it is worth doing well1 and here it is that the value of the ,school ,medical ,officer comes in1 by culling and recording facts relating to the personal condition of the child1 as well as the home conditions and surroundings of his or her life4 7,the ,importance of a ,well-advised and ,comprehensive ,scheme in the ,selection of ,children 444 under the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 by ,victor ,j4 ,blake1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 pp4 #bb-bc47 ,footnote #bjb3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bge4 ,very few authorities have made any attempt to select the children primarily or even to any great extent on the physical test4 ,in ,brighton the plan has perhaps been tried with more thoroughness than in any other town4 ,when1 in #aijg1 the ,education ,committee undertook the provision of meals in association with the ,voluntary ,canteen ,committee1 it was resolved that the term 'underfed' 444 should be held to apply distinctively to those scholars who1 by reason of more or less continuous antecedent underfeeding1 are physically below a certain specified standard of size and weight4 ,these cases1 which must of course be the first consideration of any feeding scheme1 can only be scientifically detected by a detailed system of medical weighing and examination1 and when so detected should be dealt with in accordance with medical advice4#bjc ,accordingly all the children for whom an application for free meals is made are weighed and measured1 and the ,canteen ,committee1 when deciding whether any particular child shall be fed or not1 has before it this report as to the child's physical condition4 ,whether the meals are supplied free depends on the economic circumstances of the family4 ,if the child needs meals on medical grounds but the income is adequate1 a circular is sent to the parent warning him of the child's condition4 ,sometimes the parent will be willing for meals to be supplied on payment of the cost4 ,if the parent refuses to pay1 meals are not granted1 but the name of the child is placed on a special list for observation4#bjd ,roughly about fifty per cent4 of the children are fed solely on economic grounds and fifty per cent4 on medical grounds4#bje ,footnote #bjc3 ,brighton ,education ,committee1 ,report of ,canteen ,joint ,branch ,sub-,committee1 ,july #ag1 #aijg4 ,there were1 of course1 also the cases of necessitous children who did not appear on medical grounds to be suffering from malnutrition1 but who1 from the economic circumstances of the parents1 were unable to obtain sufficient food4 ,children to whom the provision of a mid-day meal would be a convenience1 and whose parents were able and willing to pay the cost1 should also be provided for4 7,ibid47 ,footnote #bjd3 ,we have not been able to ascertain exactly what happens to these children on the watching list4 ,in #aiaj the ,school ,medical ,officer reports that they are examined at intervals by the school doctor1 and their progress is noted1 the ,canteen ,committee taking such action as is recommended4 ,enquiries are also carried out by the school nurse1 under the supervision of the school doctor1 as to the nature of the meals given at home in these cases4 7,report on the ,medical ,inspection of ,school ,children in ,brighton for #aiaj1 p4 #acd47 ,these home visits by the school nurse are no longer paid4 ,footnote #bje3 ,in #aiaa1 out of #a1jej children who received free meals1 #ed were not examined1 #eej were recommended by the school doctor on medical grounds1 #ddf were fed solely on economic grounds4 7,ibid4 for #aiaa1 p4 #aai47 ,in #aiab1 out of #a1jgj children fed1 #fi were not examined1 #dbb were recommended on medical and #egi on economic grounds4 7,ibid4 for #aiab1 p4 #abb47 ,at ,heston and ,isleworth1 the ,canteen ,sub-,committee decided in #aiaa to obtain from the ,school ,medical ,officer a report on the state of each child before determining whether it required school meals4#bjf ,at ,lancaster also all children who are recommended for free meals are seen by the ,school ,medical ,officer4#bjg ,footnote #bjf3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bgg4 ,footnote #bjg3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,lancaster for #aiaa1 p4 #bf4 ,but these cases are exceptional4 ,in #aiji the number of ,local ,education ,authorities who left the final selection in the hands of the ,school ,medical ,officer1 or acted exclusively upon his recommendation or required every application to be endorsed by him1 was1 so far as the information of the ,board of ,education extended1 less than a dozen4#bjh ,in #aiaa ,sir ,george ,newman writes1 it is true that in the majority of cases the ,school ,medical ,officer takes some part 444 in the work connected with the provision of meals1 but the number of cases in which he exercises all the functions 444 appropriately devolving upon him are very few indeed4#bji ,in the great majority of towns1 though the ,school ,medical ,officer may recommend for school meals children whom he finds suffering from malnutrition in the course of medical inspection1 the greater number of children are selected on the poverty test4 ,footnote #bjh3 ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 pp4 #ab-ac4 ,footnote #bji3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bgc4 ,as a rule the primary selection is made by the teachers1 either on their own initiative or on receiving requests from the parents4 ,the ,school ,nurse1 the ,attendance ,officer or perhaps a member of the local ,guild of ,help may also recommend cases4 ,sometimes a personal application by the parent at the ,education ,offices or before the ,canteen ,committee is insisted on4 ,thus at ,manchester the parents have to make application either at the ,education ,offices or at any of the district centres1 of which there are twenty-four1 situated in different parts of the town1 and open at convenient hours4 ,the teachers can advise children1 whom they consider to be in need of food1 to tell their parents to apply1 but they take no further part in the selection of the children4 ,at ,west ,ham also the parents have to apply at the ,public ,hall or ,education ,office4 ,the section of the ,act dealing with repayment is read to the applicant1 who then decides whether or not he wishes his children to be fed4#baj ,on the parent's signing a form 7by which he agrees to repay the cost of meals when he gets into work#baa71 tickets are issued for a week1 pending enquiry4 ,the parent is expected to send a note to the head teacher each day to say that he or she still wishes the child to be fed4#bab ,this personal application has to be renewed every month4 ,the teachers are allowed to give urgency tickets for three meals1 but if the parents fail to apply the meals have to be discontinued4 ,at ,erith no breakfasts are supplied till the parents have registered at the ,distress ,committee 7if eligible71 or have made personal application there1 or at the ,education ,office4#bac ,at ,leicester1 again1 the parent has to make personal application at the office of the ,canteen ,committee1 and this application has to be renewed every month4 ,at ,birmingham1 except in special cases1 the parent has to attend the meeting of the ,committee2 if he fails to appear1 after being given a second chance1 the child1 who has meanwhile been temporarily receiving the meals1 is removed from the feeding list4#bad ,footnote #baj3 ,report of ,west ,ham ,education ,committee for the year ending ,march #ca1 #aiaj1 p4 #ea4 ,this is the procedure now in force4 ,footnote #baa3 ,see post1 p4 #aaj4 ,footnote #bab3 ,we were informed by the head teacher of an infants' department that she did not insist on a note being sent more than two or three times a week4 ,footnote #bac3 ,report of ,erith ,education ,committee for the three years ending ,march #ca1 #aiaa4 ,footnote #bad3 ,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 p4 #bg4 ,the primary selection of the children having been made1 by whatever method1 enquiry is then made into the home circumstances of the family4 ,the object of this enquiry is or should be twofold3 to ascertain the resources of the family1 so as to determine whether the parents are able to provide adequate food for the child or not1 and to find out whether help is needed in any other direction1 and by friendly advice to improve the conditions of the home4 ,we shall discuss later the great advantages to be obtained from the employment of voluntary workers for the purpose of these friendly home visits1 as distinct from the duty of making enquiries4#bae ,here it is sufficient to note that very few ,education ,authorities have made use of their services at all4#baf ,the most notable example is1 of course1 furnished by the ,london ,care ,committees4 ,a somewhat similar system has been adopted at ,bournemouth4 ,here1 as we have seen1 the schools have been divided into four groups1 and a ,care ,committee appointed for each4 ,the members investigate the circumstances of children who are alleged to be in want of food and report to their ,committee1 which thereupon decides whether or not the children shall receive free meals4 ,at ,liverpool a tentative effort has been made in the same direction4 ,care ,committees1 managed by the different settlements1 have for some years been attached to some half-dozen schools1 but their position is rather indefinite4 ,the enquiries are made by the ,school ,attendance ,officers1 but the ,education ,committee asks the ,care ,committee for reports on special cases4 ,at one school the ,care ,committee appears to visit all the cases4 ,a wider scheme for the establishment of a system of ,care ,committees is at the present time 7#aiac7 under consideration4 ,at ,brighton also1 where ,care ,committees have been appointed1 mainly for the purpose of finding employment and generally supervising the children when they leave school1 a ,care visitor is sometimes asked to supplement the enquiries of the ,school ,attendance ,officers in doubtful cases where further investigation is needed4 ,at ,leicester the enquiries are made by a paid investigator appointed by the ,children's ,aid ,association1 subsequent friendly visits being paid by voluntary workers4#bag ,in most towns1 however1 the work of enquiry is undertaken solely by the ,school ,attendance ,officers4#bah ,footnote #bae3 ,see post1 pp4 #ade et seq4 ,footnote #baf3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 pp4 #ajg-h2 ditto for #aiaa1 pp4 #ajd-e4 ,in several of the few towns where ,care ,committees have been appointed1 they take no part in the work of feeding the children1 their functions being confined to the following up of medical cases and perhaps the finding of employment for the children when they leave school4 ,footnote #bag3 ,at ,southend-on-,sea enquiry is made by the ,civic ,guild into many of the cases4 7,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,southend-on-,sea for #aiaa1 p4 #ed47 ,at ,bradford the ,canteen ,committee communicates to the ,guild of ,help the names of all the new cases which are put on the feeding list4 ,the members of the ,guild thereupon visit any cases in which other help besides the meals is needed4 ,footnote #bah3 ,as at ,birkenhead1 ,birmingham1 ,leeds1 ,manchester1 ,salford1 ,sheffield1 ,stoke1 etc4 ,at ,birkenhead an attendance officer has been specially appointed for this purpose4 ,at ,bradford a special constable has been told off to make enquiries in difficult cases4 ,the thoroughness of the investigation varies considerably in different towns4 ,the parent's statements as to the amount of wages earned are in some cases checked by enquiries from the employers4 ,at ,birmingham the wages are always thus verified where the worker is employed by one firm regularly4 ,at ,bradford the wages are verified except when the applicants are working on their own account1 for instance hawking1 when it is clearly impossible4 ,generally enquiry is made from the employer as to the wages of the head of the house only1 but at ,leeds and at ,leicester the wages of all earning members of the family are verified4 ,at ,leicester in doubtful cases enquiries may be made from the employer as often as once a week4 ,in other towns1 as at ,stoke and ,york1 where the current rates of wages are well known1 wages are only verified when there is any doubt as to the parent's statement4 ,at ,bootle little attempt is made to verify the information given by the parents4 ,here the enquiries are made--so far as they can be said to be made at all--by the teachers4 ,the help of the ,attendance ,officer can be asked in difficult cases1 but this appears to be seldom done4 ,the teachers naturally have no time to visit the homes1 and the enquiry generally resolves itself into a form being given to the child for its parent to fill up4 ,the parents are asked to state the rent1 the number in the family and the total weekly income1 taking the average for four weeks4 ,when one considers the difficulty normally experienced in filling up forms correctly1 one can readily imagine that the information thus obtained is practically valueless4 ,where the answers are unintelligible--an occurrence by no means rare to judge from the few specimens of case papers which we have seen--the information may be supplemented by questioning the children4 ,often urgency tickets can be issued by the teachers1 pending enquiries1 as at ,bradford1 ,birmingham1 ,bootle and ,liverpool4 ,at ,birkenhead the teacher can only report the need for meals1 but the enquiries only take two or three days4 ,at ,leeds we were told that a week or ten days generally elapses between the time of application and the child's being placed on the list1 with the result that in some cases the most urgent need is passed4 ,it is true that the head teachers can secure a child's being placed immediately on the list by writing specially to the ,education ,office1 but to do this every time would involve a considerable expenditure on postage1 which is not refunded4 ,when investigation has been made into the home circumstances1 the decision as to whether or no the child shall be fed is made generally by the ,canteen ,committee or by a small sub-committee of this ,committee1 or perhaps by the ,chairman4#bai ,sometimes the responsibility rests with the ,secretary of the ,education ,committee or some other official1 as at ,acton and ,leeds4 ,at ,bournemouth the cases are decided by the ,district ,care ,committees1 which are composed of voluntary workers and teachers4 ,at ,bootle the decision appears to rest entirely in the teachers' hands4 ,footnote #bai3 ,thus1 at ,birkenhead1 where the ,canteen ,committee meets very seldom1 the cases are decided by the ,chairman4 ,the decision is based on a consideration of the family income4 ,many authorities have adopted a scale4 ,at ,birmingham meals are granted if the income per head1 after rent is deducted1 does not exceed #bs4 #i;d4 in winter or #bs4 #f;d4 in summer4#bbj ,in ,bootle the income limit1 in summer and winter alike1 is #cs4 #f;d4 for an adult and #bs4 #f;d4 for each child under #ad4bba ,when we consider1 however1 the slipshod method of enquiry pursued at ,bootle1 we cannot attach much importance to the existence on paper of this scale4 ,at ,bradford dinners are given if the income does not exceed #cs4 per head2 if the income is less than #bs41 breakfasts also are given4 ,this scale is taken only as a rough criterion of the needs of the family4 ,special circumstances are taken into account1 such as the size of the family1 sickness1 old debts1 etc4 ,and where the circumstances of the family are slightly above the point at which free meals may be given1 the parents are often allowed to receive them on paying #a_/b;d4 or #a;d4 towards the cost4 ,at ,leeds1 on the other hand1 the scale1 which is a low one 7#bs4 in winter and #as4 #f;d4 in summer7 is1 we are informed1 rigidly observed4 ,no regard is paid to the circumstances of the family4 ,as a rule1 directly the family income rises above the limit1 the child's dinners are stopped1 no matter how much debt has to be paid off4 ,a delicate child who needed feeding or an underfed neglected child would not be fed if the income was above the limit4 ,at ,liverpool the scale is #bs4 per head2 at ,stoke it is #bs4 #f;d42 at ,brighton it is #cs4 per adult1 two children being reckoned as one adult4 ,in all these towns the limit is not a hard and fast one1 regard being paid to any special circumstances4 ,at ,manchester a sliding scale has been adopted4 ,if there are five or more in the family the limit is #bs4 #f;d4 per head1 if there are only three or four #bs4 #i;d4 is allowed1 while if there are only one or two #cs4 is allowed4#bbb ,at ,salford the limit is #ajs4 per week for two persons1 and #bs4 extra for each additional member of the family1 rent not being deducted4 ,in other towns1 as at ,birkenhead1 ,bournemouth1 ,leicester and ,west ,ham1 there is no fixed scale1 each case being decided on its merits4 ,footnote #bbj3 ,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 p4 #bf4 ,footnote #bba3 ,report of ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee1 #aiaa-ab1 p4 #c4 ,footnote #bbb3 ,report of the ,manchester ,education ,committee1 #aiaj-aa1 p4 #bba4 ,as a rule the cases are revised about once a month4 ,sometimes chronic cases will be continued for two or three months at a time1 as at ,liverpool4 ,at ,york the cases are revised only twice a year4 ,at the beginning of the winter the head teachers send in lists of children whom they consider to be necessitous4 ,these children 7if the ,cases ,selection ,sub-,committee decide to feed them7 remain on the feeding list till the following ,april1 when the head teachers are asked to send in a list of children who they consider need not receive meals during the summer4 ,the ,attendance ,officers visit again and the cases are revised by the ,committee4 ,this method is said to be satisfactory as1 though officially the cases are revised so seldom1 practically the circumstances are known1 since the ,attendance ,officers regularly visit the homes in the course of their ordinary work and the ,chairman of the ,canteen ,committee knows many of the children intimately4 ,at ,bootle1 where1 as we have seen1 the decision as to which children shall be fed is practically in the hands of the teachers1 there seems to be no system of revising the cases1 and the tendency is for a child who is once put on the feeding list to remain on it till the meals are discontinued in the summer1 unless the parents voluntarily withdraw the child on an improvement in the home circumstances4 ,without discussing here the question whether it is possible to devise any system of selection which can be satisfactory1 we may note some of the disadvantages of the methods at present in use4 ,in the first place1 since the selection is made in the main through the teachers1 it necessarily follows that the numbers fed in any particular school depend very largely on the attitude taken by the head teachers4 ,as a general rule the teachers are keenly interested in the physical welfare of their children1 and anxious to do everything in their power which may promote it2 but some teachers are opposed to the provision of meals1 feeling that too much is done for the children2 others1 again1 consider their schools superior1 and do not like their children to go to free meals4 ,constantly one finds an astonishing disproportion between the numbers fed at two adjacent schools1 drawing their children from the same locality4 ,it is true that the character of two schools1 within a stone's throw of each other1 may vary in a curious way1 one attracting a more prosperous class of children--perhaps because of the personality of the teacher1 better buildings1 or some other cause--but this would not account for all the difference4 ,at ,bootle1 for instance1 it was reported1 there is apparently an absence of uniformity in assessing the needs of the children2 for in the six schools of the poorest neighbourhoods it is found that of the number on the rolls the percentage of scheduled children varies from #f per cent4 to #cd per cent41 and that in two schools of almost identical character1 in one case #aj per cent4 of the children are returned as needing daily breakfasts1 and in the other #cd per cent4#bbc ,where the teachers are anxious to place all apparently underfed children on the feeding list1 pressure is not infrequently exercised by the ,education ,authority to induce them to keep down the numbers4 ,footnote #bbc3 ,report of the ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee for #aiaj-aa1 p4 #bb4 ,at ,birkenhead1 and probably in other towns1 the percentage of children fed in the ,church of ,england schools is very much higher than in the ,council schools1 whilst the ,roman ,catholic schools feed a larger number still than the ,church schools4 ,this is doubtless due partly to the character of the buildings1 the non-provided schools being generally very much inferior1 and the better-off children being consequently attracted to the ,council schools2 partly1 of course1 also to the fact that the ,roman ,catholic population is chiefly ,irish and very poor4 ,when an application by the parent is obligatory1 there is cause for very grave doubt whether the provision of meals reaches all for whom it is intended4 ,miss ,winder has shown that1 at ,birmingham1 out of #bb1gec children for whom applications were received during the three years #aiji-aa1 #d1gjj were not fed because the parent failed to appear before the ,committee4 ,she investigated the circumstances of twenty-eight of these families and came to the conclusion that1 although the small number of families investigated cannot justify an absolutely positive assertion1 ,i think it may fairly be concluded that1 on the whole1 they are representative of most of the families whose applications are not granted1 and that the home circumstances of these families are much the same as those of the families whose applications have been granted4#bbd ,this is the impression gained from enquiries at other towns4 ,at ,west ,ham it is clear that there are children who need the meals1 but do not get them because their parents will not apply4 ,the number of missed cases does not appear to be large1 for the ,act is administered in a sympathetic spirit1 the ,superintendent of ,visitors impressing on the ,attendance ,officers that they should bring to his notice any case where the children appear to be suffering from lack of food4 ,but there are cases where the parents1 though they will take the urgency tickets for three meals which the teachers can give them1 will take no further action4 ,at one school the headmaster pointed out two boys who looked obviously in need of food and attention generally1 but whose father1 though out of work1 would not apply4 ,in another case he had used his discretion and kept two boys on the list for a month in spite of their parents' failure to renew their application1 but he felt obliged at last to take them off though he considered that they still needed the meals4 ,in such cases the ,attendance ,officers are supposed to visit the homes to find out the cause of the children's underfed condition1 and to urge the parents1 if necessary1 to make application for school meals1 but this course does not seem to be by any means always pursued4 ,footnote #bbd3 ,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 pp4 #bg1 #bi1 #ei1 #fb4 ,at ,leicester again1 nothing appears to be done in those cases where the child needs food but the parent refuses to apply4 ,and such cases appear to be frequent4 ,we were told by the vicar of a very poor parish that numbers of the parents would not make the necessary application4 ,this evidence seems to be borne out by a comparison of the numbers of cases helped by the ,distress ,committee and the ,canteen ,committee4 ,in #aiaj1 for instance1 it was found that on ,september #cj1 #fjg married men and widowers1 having #a1ade children wholly1 and #bad partly1 dependent upon them1 were registered at the ,labour ,bureau as unemployed4#bbe ,these numbers were1 of course1 not a complete index of the unemployment in the town4 ,but1 turning to the report of the ,canteen ,committee1 we find that on the same date only #aje children were being helped4#bbf ,the great discrepancy between these figures seems to point to the fact that the ,canteen ,committee had not discovered all the cases of children who were suffering from want of food4 ,footnote #bbe3 ,leicester ,pioneer1 ,october #bi1 #aiaj4 ,footnote #bbf3 ,quarterly ,report of the ,leicester ,children's ,aid ,association1 ,july #a to ,september #cj1 #aiaj4 ,the failure of the parents to apply may in some cases be due to laziness and disregard for their children's welfare4 ,or it may be that they are too sensitive to ask for help4 ,or again it may be difficult or impossible for them to attend at the time named4 ,the hour is usually fixed so as to be that most convenient for the parents1 but it is impossible1 of course1 to fix a time which will suit all4 ,at ,birmingham cases have even occurred where the father has been obliged to pay tram fares in order to arrive in time to prove his inability to feed his children6#bbg ,footnote #bbg3 ,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 p4 #bi4 ,but even if the parent is not obliged to appear in person1 but may send an application by note or verbal message to the teacher1 there are still missed cases4 ,it is notorious that many parents are too proud to let their need be known2 in such cases1 as teachers have frequently told us1 it may be a considerable time before it is discovered that the child is suffering from want of food2 and when the discovery is made there is frequently difficulty in inducing the parents to send the child1 or in inducing the child itself to go1 to the school meals4 ,there still seems to exist1 in certain districts at any rate1 an idea that the provision of meals is ,poor ,law ,relief1 and parents consequently shrink from applying4 ,moreover1 it is not generally recognised that the provision of school meals is by no means universally known to the parents4 ,the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,leicester reports that in certain cases it was a matter for regret that the families had not received help earlier by personally applying for assistance4 ,ignorance of the existence of the ,canteen ,committee was given as the reason for non-application4#bbh ,and we have ourselves been told in other towns of cases where the children were suffering from want of food1 but were not receiving school meals because the parents were unaware that they could be obtained4 ,footnote #bbh3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,leicester for #aiab1 p4 #cf4 ,the enquiries into the home circumstances undoubtedly exercise a deterrent influence--to what extent depends on the manner of the particular individual who makes the enquiries--both with the more independent parent who resents the investigator's visit1 and with the criminal and semi-criminal parent whose record does not bear close investigation4 ,thus the headmaster of a school in one of the worst districts of ,liverpool told us that numbers of the boys were in need of food but the parents would not submit to the necessary enquiries and consequently meals were not granted4 ,at ,leicester1 the searching enquiries made by the ,canteen ,committee1 which1 it must be remembered1 is practically a department of the ,charity ,organisation ,society1 coupled with the insistence on an application by the parent in person1 result1 as we have seen1 in numbers of underfed children remaining underfed4 ,where the ,education ,authority has adopted a scale of income on which to base the decision as to which children shall be fed1 this scale is frequently below1 and in some cases very considerably below1 the minimum amount which has been shown to be necessary for expenditure on food4#bbi ,where the scale is rigidly adhered to1 two classes of children are excluded altogether1 those who are underfed through the neglect of their parents to provide for them though able to do so1 and those cases where the family income may be sufficient to meet normal calls but where1 owing to illness or the delicacy of the children or other special circumstances1 extra nourishment is required4 ,footnote #bbi3 ,see note on page #bje1 infra4 ,to sum up1 we find as between town and town1 and even as between school and school in the same town1 a great want of uniformity in selecting the children to be fed4 ,where the ,education ,authority has determined that all its underfed children shall be provided for1 the child's need being the paramount consideration1 undiscovered cases of underfeeding are reduced to a minimum4 ,where1 on the contrary1 enquiries are carried out in a deterrent manner1 or the parent is made to apply in person for the meals1 or the selection is based on a rigid application of a scale1 there is reason to fear that considerable numbers of children are1 and remain1 unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of the education provided for them4 7d7--,the ,preparation and ,service of the ,meals4 7i7 ,the ,time of the ,meal4 ,there are considerable differences of opinion as to what kind of meal should be given4 ,many ,local ,authorities prefer breakfast4 ,it is argued that when no breakfast is forthcoming at home the interval between the meal the previous evening and the midday dinner is too long1 and that it is cruel to expect the child to attend morning school1 when the heaviest work of the day is done1 without a meal1 especially in the cold winter months4 ,by midday the parents1 especially in districts where there is much casual labour1 may have earned enough to provide some sort of a meal4 ,but the arguments in favour of breakfast--as the sole meal provided--are largely based not so much on the child's physical needs as on the moral effect produced both on the child and the parent4 ,the provision of breakfast furnishes a test of need4 ,the meal is not so popular as dinner1 and will only attract those who are really hungry4#bcj ,co-operation on the part of the mother is demanded1 since she must get up early to see the children are dressed in time4 ,moreover1 the provision of breakfast does not act as an inducement to the mother to go out to work1 as it is feared the provision of dinner may4 ,footnote #bcj3 ,thus it was found at a school in ,bethnal ,green that1 in spite of the supervision of a most efficient ,care ,committee1 the change from a porridge breakfast to a meat pie dinner doubled the number of children attending4 7,the ,feeding of ,necessitous ,children4 ,a ,symposium4 ,i41 ,experience in ,s4 ,w4 ,bethnal ,green1 by ,a4 ,w4 ,chute1 in ,oxford ,house ,magazine1 ,january1 #aiji1 p4 #cg47 ,the arguments seem to us overwhelmingly in favour of dinner4 ,the provision of a midday meal may possibly encourage mothers to go out to work1 though it is exceedingly difficult to trace such a result to any great extent4 ,but on the other hand there are numbers of cases already where the mothers are forced1 by stress of circumstances1 to be the breadwinners and are obliged to leave home all day1 or1 if they come home for the dinner hour1 have no time to prepare a proper meal4 ,the children will either get a piece of bread1 or will be given coppers to buy their own dinner2 in either case the meal will be equally unsatisfactory4 ,possibly the children will go dinnerless altogether1 and the afternoon's lessons will then be a serious tax on their brains4 ,the attendance at breakfasts is always less than at dinner4#bca ,the breakfast acts1 that is to say1 as a successful test4 ,but this means that many children1 either because their mothers are too lazy to get them dressed early1 or because they are too lazy themselves1 miss the meals1 though they are admittedly in need of them4 ,footnote #bca3 ,at ,west ,ham1 for instance1 where all the children on the feeding list receive both breakfast and dinner1 the number of breakfasts given during the year #aiaa-ab was #bdg1bcc1 and the number of dinners #bgc1hid2 the attendance at breakfast was thus only ninety per cent4 of the attendance at dinner4 7,report of the ,west ,ham ,education ,committee for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiab1 pp4 #age-gg47 ,we do not wish to under-estimate the importance of the moral aspect of the question4 ,it is essential that co-operation on the part of the mother should be demanded4 ,but the child's need must be the first consideration4 ,the laziness of the children1 be it noted1 is frequently not entirely their own fault2 the drowsiness in the morning may be due to the fact that they have slept all night in a crowded room and stuffy atmosphere4 ,till the deep-rooted objection to open windows at night can be overcome1 this will continue to be the case4 ,for this reason too1 the children will often have little appetite for breakfast4 ,physiologically1 again1 dinner appears to be the better meal since it contains a greater quantity of the elements which are lacking in the ordinary home dietary of the child4 ,thus in the feeding experiment at ,bradford in #aijg1bcb the porridge breakfast1 the most satisfactory kind of breakfast that can be supplied from the food value point of view1 contained a proteid value of #ai grammes1 and a fat value of #bj grammes4 ,the dinners contained1 on an average1 #bi grammes of proteid and #ah grammes of fat4 ,thus the combined proteid and fat value of the breakfasts and dinners was respectively #ci and #dg grammes4#bcc ,moreover1 the gain in point of cheapness to be derived from provision on a large scale is much greater relatively in the case of dinners than in the case of breakfasts4 ,footnote #bcb3 ,see post1 pp4 #ahd-f4 ,footnote #bcc3 ,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,report on a ,course of ,meals given to ,necessitous ,children from ,april to ,july1 #aijg1 p4 #g4 ,about #bg per cent4 of the ,local ,authorities give breakfasts only1 and about #de per cent4 dinners only1 the remainder giving both meals4#bcd ,in the last-named case1 dinners may be given in some schools and breakfasts in others1 as at ,southampton and ,york4 ,at ,bradford dinner is given to all the children on the feeding list1 the most necessitous receiving breakfast as well4#bce ,at ,west ,ham all the children receive both meals4 ,at ,bootle1 where till a few years ago only breakfasts were given1 it was found that this provision was inadequate to meet the needs of many necessitous children4#bcf ,the expense and the practical difficulties in the way of providing a proper dinner led the ,education ,committee to adopt a simpler method1 namely1 that of increasing the quantity of food supplied for breakfasts1 any overplus being given at midday at the discretion of the teachers as an extra meal to children who would otherwise go dinnerless4#bcg ,footnote #bcd3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #cbb-cbd4 ,footnote #bce3 ,roughly about half the children fed receive both meals 7,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,return as to the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiac47 ,footnote #bcf3 ,enquiries made by the head teachers showed that in the aggregate #bie children received no mid-day meal or an insufficient meal4 ,since1 presumably1 these enquiries were made by the method of questioning the children1 no particular value can be attached to the actual figures2 the school attendance officers enquired into fifty-four of the cases taken at random and found that all but two showed undoubted poverty in the home4 7,report of ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee1 #aiaj-aa1 pp4 #aj-aa47 ,footnote #bcg3 ,ibid41 p4 #aa4 ,this is the plan still pursued 7see post1 pp4 #hf-hg74 7ii7 ,the ,dietary4 ,taking into consideration the fact that with a large number of elementary school children bread and tea form the chief elements in the home diet1 it is of the greatest importance that the school meal should be planned so as to contain a good proportion of the ingredients which are lacking at home4 ,whatever views may be held as to the amount of proteid food that is necessary for adults1 it is not disputed that in the case of children the more expensive forms are necessary because the growth of the body depends entirely upon the proteids4 ,it is impossible1 declares the ,school ,medical ,officer of the ,london ,county ,council1 to cut down proteids to the same extent in children as in adults without serious results4444 ,to set out1 therefore1 to relieve underfeeding by a single meal a day1 it is necessary to concentrate attention upon proteids and fats 444 and1 therefore1 a dinner for necessitous children must be necessarily more costly than for those properly fed in institutions or in their own homes4 ,the want of clothing1 which often accompanies underfeeding1 also necessitates more expensive feeding in relief1 the loss of bodily heat to be made up being greater than in the case of the child in an industrial school or workhouse1 who is warmly clad1 and who1 moreover1 spends much time in a properly heated playroom or dormitory4#bch ,footnote #bch3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,report of the ,medical ,officer 7,education7 to ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #aiji4 ,see also ,school ,feeding1 by ,dr4 ,john ,lambert1 in ,medical ,examination of ,schools and ,scholars1 edited by ,t4 ,n4 ,kelynack1 ,m4,d41 #aiaj1 pp4 #bdj-bdb4 ,few ,local ,authorities have so planned their dietary as to contain this excess of proteid and fat over starchy food4 ,judged by this standard1 declared ,dr4 ,kerr in #aijh1 and the same statement holds good to-day1 most diets supplied by public funds are probably wanting in value for the children1 however useful they might be as a single meal for a normal individual4#bci ,footnote #bci3 ,report of the ,education ,committee of the ,london ,county ,council1 submitting report of the ,medical ,officer 7,education7 for the twenty-one months ending ,december #ca1 #aijh1 p4 #ag4 ,it would naturally be expected that the ,school ,medical ,officer would be consulted about the dietary as a matter of course1#bdj but this is by no means invariably the case4 ,at ,birkenhead1 for instance1 the ,school ,medical ,officer has no voice in the planning of the menu4 ,at ,stoke-on-,trent the ,school ,medical ,officer reports in #aiaa that1 with the exception of the ,fenton district1 the medical staff does not appear to have even been consulted on the matter of dietary4#bda ,footnote #bdj3 ,the determination of the dietary of the children generally1 and of individual children whose health or age renders it desirable that special arrangements should be made in their case is1 as the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education points out1 a matter on which the ,school ,medical ,officer is particularly competent to form an opinion1 and on which1 therefore1 his opinion should be sought by the ,authority4 7,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bge47 ,footnote #bda3 ,annual ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,stoke-on-,trent for #aiaa1 p4 #ef4 ,where the meals are given at restaurants1 the dietary is almost invariably unsatisfactory1 adequate inspection being impossible4#bdb ,footnote #bdb3 ,see the descriptions of ,stoke and ,liverpool1 post1 pp4 #hi1 #ij-ia4 ,the most elaborate dietary is probably that adopted by the ,bradford ,education ,committee4 ,in #aijg1 after the ,education ,committee had adopted the ,provision of ,meals ,act1 but before arrangements had been made to feed the children out of the rates1 an experiment was made in feeding forty children for fourteen weeks4 ,the dietary was carefully planned so that1 while containing the requisite amount of proteid and fat1 it should not be beyond the purse of the ordinary parent in normal times4#bdc ,this dietary is still in force1 a few alterations having been made which experience showed to be advisable4 ,the menu is varied1 according to the season1 winter1 summer1 and spring or autumn4 ,the same meal is not repeated for four weeks4#bdd ,at ,portsmouth again1 where the dietary is drawn up by the ,medical ,officer of ,health and the ,school ,medical ,officer1 a different meal is given every day for three weeks4#bde ,in most towns1 however1 the same menu is continued week after week1 with some slight variation in the summer4 ,the same meal is given on the same day in the week so that the children learn to know what meal to expect1 and in consequence the attendance is often considerably smaller on days when the dish is unpopular4 ,sometimes the food will vary very little even from day to day4 ,though served under various names1 soup1 stew or hash1 it is really almost precisely the same4 ,some authorities supply only one course1 others two4 ,in some towns a child is allowed to have as much as it wants1 in reason2 in other towns only one helping is allowed as a rule1 though1 if there happens to be any food over1 this may be distributed among the children4#bdf ,footnote #bdc3 ,see ,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,report on a ,course of ,meals given to ,necessitous ,children from ,april to ,july1 #aijg1 p4 #g4 ,footnote #bdd3 ,for ,bradford and some other typical menus see ,appendix ,i4 ,footnote #bde3 ,the ,importance of a ,well-,advised and ,comprehensive ,scheme in the ,selection of ,children 444 under the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 by ,victor ,j4 ,blake1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #bd4 ,footnote #bdf3 ,at one centre that we visited1 the second helping consisted only of what was left by some of the children on their plates6 ,those who wanted more were asked to hold up their hands1 and the food was then handed to them1 the recipients being apparently selected at random1 since there was not enough for all4 ,occasionally special provision is made for the infants4 ,thus1 at ,york1 milk and bread is given in the middle of the morning to infants who are on the feeding list1 it having been found that they could not digest the ordinary dinners4 ,but as a rule1 though in well managed centres the infants are placed together at special tables1 so that they can be better supervised and taught how to eat1 there is no separate dietary for them4 ,where only breakfasts are provided there is1 of course1 less room for variation4 ,generally cocoa or coffee is given1 with bread and butter1 margarine1 dripping1 jam or syrup4 ,at ,bootle pea soup is given one day a week4 ,in several towns porridge is provided1 either alternately with the cocoa or coffee breakfast1 or every day4 ,at ,sheffield1 where a cocoa breakfast used to be given1 porridge was substituted at one school as an experiment2 it was found that the boys who were fed on porridge increased in weight at double the rate of the boys who received only the cocoa breakfast2 as a result porridge breakfasts were substituted in all the schools4#bdg ,footnote #bdg3 ,report of ,chief ,school ,medical ,officer for ,sheffield1 for the year #aiaj1 pp4 #bf1 #bg4 ,see post1 p4 #aij4 7iii7 ,preparation and ,distribution of the ,meals4 ,in a few cases the ,local ,education ,authority has equipped a kitchen for the preparation of the food1 and makes arrangements for distributing it to the various centres4 ,at ,bradford all the meals1 with the exception of those for schools in outlying districts where arrangements are made with local caterers1 are cooked at a central kitchen and distributed in special heat-retaining boxes to the different dining centres by motor vans4 ,manchester1 ,birkenhead and other towns also have their own central kitchen4 ,sometimes1 as at ,west ,ham1 a kitchen is attached to each of the centres2 or occasionally a cookery centre is utilised for the preparation of the meals4 ,sometimes1 as at ,leeds and ,portsmouth1#bdh the ,local ,education ,authority provides the kitchen and a caterer prepares the food4 ,frequently1 however1 all the arrangements for the preparation and the distribution of the meals are in the hands of caterers4 ,footnote #bdh3 ,the ,importance of a ,well-,advised and ,comprehensive ,scheme in the ,selection of ,children 444 under the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 by ,victor ,j4 ,blake1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #be4 7iv7 ,the ,service of the ,meals4 ,from the first great stress was laid by the ,board of ,education upon the educational aspect of the meals4 ,the methods employed in the provision of meals should be not merely such as will secure an improvement in the physical condition of the children1 but such as will have a directly educational effect upon them in respect of manners and conduct4#bdi ,the school dinner may 444 be made to serve as a valuable object-lesson and used to reinforce the practical instruction in hygiene1 cookery and domestic economy4#bej ,footnote #bdi3 ,board of ,education1 ,code of ,regulations for ,public ,elementary ,schools in ,england1 #aijh1 p4 ii4 ,footnote #bej3 ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 prefatory note by ,l4 ,a4 ,selby-,bigge1 p4 #f4 ,in many cases this advice was totally disregarded4 ,the second report on the working of the ,act contains many examples of the utter lack of discipline prevailing in some centres4 ,in one case no attempt to teach orderly eating was made2 there was a certain amount of actual disorderly conduct1 throwing bits of food at each other and so forth4 ,in another case where the meals were served in a small outhouse in the playground1 the table was a low locker4444 ,on this a newspaper was spread1 and there was hardly room for more than six children to sit round it4 ,other children sat on low benches where they could1 holding their bowls on their knees 444 about fifty partake of the dinner1 but there is not room for more than twelve at a time1 and then it is a scramble4444 ,the food 7,irish stew and bread7 was good but everything else was as bad as could be4 ,at another centre1 we read1 the dinner is eaten in a perfect pandemonium of noise4 ,nine charwomen of a rather low type attend to about #dgj children4#bea ,footnote #bea3 ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiaj1 pp4 #h1 #i4 ,it is encouraging to note that there has since been1 generally speaking1 an improvement in the service of the meals4 ,but there are still areas in which the educational possibilities of the meals have not been realised1 or1 if realised1 have not received the attention which they deserve#beb--;a statement which we can amply corroborate4 ,footnote #beb3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #bgh1 #bgi4 ,the different methods in vogue may be classified roughly under four heads1 according to the place in which the meal is served1 i4e4 7a7 in the school1 7b7 in eating-houses1 7c7 in centres1 or 7d7 in the home4 7a7 ,the ideal place for the meal is the school when a room is specially set apart as a dining-room4 ,the meal should be attended only by the children from that particular school and should be served under proper supervision4 ,the tables should be nicely laid1 regard being paid to the sthetic side of the meal1 and table manners should be taught4 ,the children should themselves lay the tables and wait on one another4 ,we have found these ideal arrangements in some of the ,special ,schools for ,defective ,children and in ,open ,air ,schools1#bec but it is very rare to find such provision made for the necessitous children in the ordinary elementary schools4 ,many authorities1 indeed1 adopt the plan of serving the meals in the schools1 but too frequently class-rooms are utilised4 ,the objections to this course are obvious4 ,adequate ventilation after a meal is often impossible1 and the smell of food pervades the atmosphere4 ,it is frequently necessary to hurry over the meal so that the room may be prepared in time for school4 ,the food is often served on the desks1 an uncomfortable arrangement and one which renders it very difficult to teach the children to eat nicely4 ,footnote #bec3 ,we describe two or three of these schools later4 7,see post1 pp4 #aba-b47 ,the worst example of this utilisation of the school premises that we have seen is that of ,bootle4 ,here the arrangements made for supplying the meals show a deplorable lack of appreciation1 on the part of the ,education ,authority1 of the benefits which may be derived from the ,provision of ,meals ,act4 ,the breakfasts are served sometimes in class-rooms1 sometimes in the cloak-rooms or the cellars6 ,when we visited ,bootle 7in ,april1 #aiac7 the breakfasts had been stopped for the summer1 but we were shown one or two of these cellars4 ,we were told that they are made as inviting as possible--the walls are whitewashed1 sawdust is sprinkled on the floors1 a table is placed for the children to sit down to--but when all is done that can be done they remain entirely unsuitable places for the purpose4 ,the only point that is urged in their favour is that the children enjoy the warmth from the heating apparatus4 ,in the cloak-rooms there is not always room for a table1 and the children sometimes have to sit along the walls1 holding their mugs of cocoa or their basins of soup on their knees4 ,when the class-rooms are utilised the food has to be placed on the desks2 nothing in the nature of table-cloths is provided1 and the state of the desks after the children1 the infants especially1 have eaten soup or bread and syrup1 can be well imagined4 ,often the breakfasts arrive late1 and the children have consequently to be hurried over the meal so that the class-rooms may be got ready for school4#bed ,it must not be assumed that nothing in the way of table manners is attempted2 clean hands1 for instance1 can be insisted on 7though even this is difficult in some schools where there is an insufficient supply of water71 and at one school we were told that the infants had learnt to eat without spilling their food2 but it is obvious that very little can be done4 ,the method of serving the midday meal is even less educational4 ,we have seen that the ,education ,committee refused to make arrangements for the provision of a suitable dinner1 and decided instead that the teachers should distribute at midday to the most necessitous children any surplus left over from breakfast4 ,the dinner thus consists usually of merely a piece of bread1 with perhaps some cocoa1 if any remains from the morning meal4 ,the bread is given to the children to take away1 and they eat it on their way home4 ,what renders the failure of the ,education ,authority to pay any regard to the educational aspect of the meal more disastrous is that it is the teachers who supervise the meals4 ,many of them bitterly resent the way in which the meals are served2 as one pointed out to us1 the girls are taught in the school how to set a table1 but the practical example which the teachers are forced to show will have much more weight than any theoretical teaching4 ,a year ago the head teachers presented a memorial to the ,education ,committee1 urging that the schools should no longer be used4 ,as a temporary expedient1 runs the communication1 they have loyally endeavoured to work this imperfect system1 but they now feel that the time has arrived for the adoption of a scheme on a more satisfactory and permanent basis4444 ,the serving of meals in cloak-rooms1 cellars or basements1 and other unsuitable places1 calls for immediate remedy4 ,in some cases the children receive their meals whilst sitting upon the floor2 in all1 the bread is of necessity placed upon the dirty desks4 ,in others1 there is no adequate supply of hot water and towels for use in cleansing the utensils4 ,under such conditions there can be no training in habits of decency or cleanliness4444 ,when the meals are served in class-rooms1 the desks and floors are rendered unfit for immediate school use1 and a smell of food permeates the atmosphere4 ,to combat this state of affairs as far as possible1 the teachers have1 in many cases1 to wash the desks and brush the floors4 ,in other cases1 the children are hurried over their meals in order that the necessary preparations for lessons may be made4#bee ,to this the ,education ,committee replied that1 while they agreed that an ideal system of feeding the children would be by properly equipped centres quite apart from the school premises1 the cost of such would be prohibitory1 and that quite possibly the pressing of such a change would jeopardise the continuance of the exercise of the powers given by the ,provision of ,meals ,act1 now so beneficially and economically administered4 ,the committee hoped that the teachers will recognise the ,authority's financial difficulties in the way of the introduction of a more desirable system1 and1 pending the arrival of the long-expected parliamentary aid for this and other ameliorative work devolving upon local education authorities1 will continue their valuable co-operation in meeting the needs of their hungry scholars by the existing practical if not perfect system4#bef ,the teachers had apparently been considering the advisability of withdrawing their services altogether1 but this threat of a possible cessation of the meals induced them to continue their assistance4 ,footnote #bed3 ,at ,birmingham we note the same defect4 ,the children are quiet and well-behaved2 but all the time is taken in serving the food1 and there is no opportunity to teach individual children to eat slowly4 ,the tendency1 especially with the cocoa breakfast1 is to gulp down the drink1 eat part of the bread and jam1 and carry the rest away4 7,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 p4 #db47 ,footnote #bee3 ,report of ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee1 #aiaa-ab1 p4 #aj4 ,footnote #bef3 ,ibid41 p4 #aa4 7b7 ,a second method is the service of the meals at local restaurants4 ,this plan is strongly discouraged by the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education1 since it is impossible to secure adequate supervision of the meals or proper control of the dietary2 the meals are consequently of little1 if any1 value from an educational or even nutritional point of view4#beg ,any authority adopting this system is1 in fact1 animated solely by the desire to get the children fed with the least possible trouble4 ,footnote #beg3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bgb4 ,unfortunately the plan is still in favour with a considerable number of local authorities1#beh even in some of the large towns4 ,footnote #beh3 ,in many towns where meals are usually served at centres1 local restaurants are utilised in outlying districts where the number of children is too small to allow of a centre being established4 ,thus at ,stoke-on-,trent the children for whom free meals are granted are sent to eating-houses4#bei ,these houses are often1 if not always1 small bakers' shops1 not general restaurants4 ,they are usually situated at an easy distance from the school4 ,the numbers attending each are small1 amounting to not more than twenty or so4 ,at the one we visited#bfj the conditions seemed to be as good as could be expected under the circumstances2 the caterer was a motherly old woman who took an evident interest in the children1 and the food was hot and palatable4 ,the disadvantages inherent in the system1 the impossibility of supervision and the lack of control over the dietary1 are1 however1 observable here as elsewhere4 ,probably in few cases would the children get an insufficiency of food4 ,the difficulty lies rather in securing good quality and the proper kind of meal4 ,thus it was found that one caterer had substituted1 for the regulation fish pie1 bread and jam1 because the children preferred it4 ,i have inspected several of these eating-houses1 reports the ,school ,medical ,officer1 and although ,i found one instance in which the children were treated on exactly the same lines as the contractor's own children1 in fact sat at the same table1 and were regarded quite as members of the family2 in most instances the surroundings1 the manner of serving and the dietary left much to be desired4444 ,i would strongly urge the advisability of getting the catering in all instances into our own hands4 ,i do not think that the full benefit of the ,act can be secured in any other way2 it is doubtful1 as things are1 whether the intention of the ,act1 as a remedy for malnutrition1 can be carried out at all4#bfa ,footnote #bei3 ,at one school1 the children have the meal in the school1 the food being sent in by a caterer1 the head-mistress preferring that arrangement4 ,footnote #bfj3 ,in ,april1 #aiac4 ,footnote #bfa3 ,annual ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,stoke-on-,trent1 #aiab1 p4 #bc4 ,at ,acton the meals are given at a dingy eating-house which is intended primarily to serve the needs of the women working at the laundries in the district4#bfb ,there is only one room1 so that the children have to have their meals with the other customers1 and the hour at which the children come in1 between twelve and one1 is1 of course1 the busy hour for the restaurant4 ,at one time a rota of ladies attended voluntarily to supervise the meals1 but this plan has been given up2 the ,school ,attendance ,officers now take it in turn to be present4 ,the children come and go as they please and there is no attempt to teach table manners4 ,footnote #bfb3 ,this eating-house is situated in the poorest part of ,acton1 where the great majority of the children who are on the dinner-list live4 ,in a few cases1 where the children live in other districts1 arrangements are made for them to obtain food at the cookery centres2 this food they take home with them4 ,this plan1 we were told1 is only adopted in cases where the mother can be trusted to see that the dinners are really eaten by the children for whom they are intended4 ,at ,liverpool1 till quite recently1 the same system was in force4 ,the children received coupons at the school1 which they presented at various cocoa rooms in the city4#bfc ,the objections to this system were many4 ,the number of cocoa rooms1 at which coupons were accepted1 was limited1 and in some cases the nearest cocoa room was situated too far from the school for the children to be sent there4#bfd ,though some managers refused to supply unsuitable food1 others gave whatever the children asked for--frequently buns1 jam puffs1 or iced cakes4#bfe ,often the children would take the food home to be shared among the other members of the family4#bff ,at some cocoa rooms the children were served in the general room1 and were brought into contact with adult customers of a class not choice in language or manners4 ,there was little or no supervision--only occasional visits by the teachers--and consequently no attempt to influence the children in the direction of cleanliness and orderliness at meals4#bfg ,in spite of these revelations the system was continued for several years1 being only finally given up in ,august1 #aiab4 ,the meals are now served in centres4 ,the food is at present supplied by caterers1 but the ,education ,committee are considering the advisability of providing their own kitchen4 ,footnote #bfc3 ,some were sent to the depts of the ,food and ,betterment ,association4 ,footnote #bfd3 ,interim ,report of the ,special ,committee appointed to investigate the ,insufficient or ,improper ,feeding of ,school ,children1 ,liverpool ,city ,council ,proceedings1 #aijg-h1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 pp4 #e1 #ae4 ,footnote #bfe3 ,ibid41 pp4 #aa1 #ab1 #ai4 ,footnote #bff3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ag1 #bb1 #bc1 #bd4 ,in one case where five coupons were given daily to five members of a family1 it was found that the children took the coupons home every day1 and at the end of the week these coupons were presented and value obtained4 7,ibid41 p4 #ba47 ,footnote #bfg3 ,,ms4 ,memorandum on the ,feeding of ,school ,children1 by the ,liverpool ,fabian ,society1 #aijh4 7c7 ,the plan most usually adopted1 and the one recommended by the ,board of ,education1 is the system of serving the meals at centres attended by children from three or four neighbouring schools4 ,for this purpose some room belonging to the ,corporation may be utilised1 perhaps a room attached to the ,police ,station1 as often at ,manchester1 or a room in some disused school2 frequently the hall of a club or mission is hired4 ,the arrangements are often of a makeshift character1 the room being ill-adapted for the purpose and the surroundings dark and dreary4 ,moreover1 the assembling of large numbers of children from different schools renders the work of supervision more difficult and detracts considerably from the educational value of the meal4 ,the actual conditions vary widely from town to town1 and even from centre to centre in the same town4 ,the best results are perhaps to be seen at ,bradford1#bfh the town in which most attention has been paid to the subject4 ,here the teachers supervise the meal1 two or three being present generally1 one to apportion the food and the others to supervise the table manners of the children4 ,they are assisted by boy and girl monitors4 ,these are selected generally from the elder children on the dinner list4#bfi ,on arrival1 about ten minutes before the meal1 each monitor puts on one of the blue overalls provided for them1 sets the table for which he or she is responsible and hands round the food4 ,the position of monitor is a much coveted one4 ,the system provides a valuable training for the children in doing things for themselves1 and in looking after one another4 ,the results are most marked4 ,in every centre we visited the children were quiet and orderly1 and in some cases the behaviour was excellent4 ,at one centre we were particularly struck by the table manners of the boys1 their consideration for one another1 and the quick and quiet way in which they collected all the plates and spoons and packed them in the boxes for return to the cooking depot of their own accord1 without any instructions from the teacher in charge4 ,the results vary1 of course1 in different centres4 ,for instance1 with regard to clean hands and faces1 some teachers are very strict1 each child having to hold up his hands for inspection as he enters the dining-room4 ,in others only periodical inspection is made1 and we noticed several dirty hands1 notably in the case of some of the boys who were assisting to hand round the food4 ,infants are placed at separate tables so that they can receive special attention4 ,each child is expected to eat the first course1 or at any rate to try to eat it1 before being given the second4 ,when the child does not like the food1 it is given a small helping at first and coaxed to eat it4 ,over and over again we were told that at first the children would hardly touch the food1 being accustomed to the home dietary of bread and tea and pickles2 but by the patient endeavours of the teachers this difficulty was overcome and the children have learnt to appreciate nourishing food4 ,the importance of the sthetic side of the meal is fully appreciated4 ,table cloths are provided and often flowers4 ,the meal1 indeed1 from start to finish is educational4#bgj ,footnote #bfh3 ,the centres at ,bradford1 ,leeds1 ,west ,ham and ,birkenhead were all visited in the spring of #aiac and the descriptions refer to that date4 ,footnote #bfi3 ,in the secondary schools1 the poorer children are allowed to act as monitors1 being given in return a #c;d4 dinner free4 ,footnote #bgj3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,bradford1 #aiji1 pp4 #ajj-a4 ,at ,nottingham the conditions are very similar to those at ,bradford1 the ,education ,committee having1 in fact1 modelled their policy on that of ,bradford4 ,at ,leeds it struck us that the chief aim was merely to feed the children1 the educational side receiving only secondary consideration4 ,as most of the centres are not large enough to accommodate all the children at once 7at any rate in winter time71 two sittings-down are necessary1 and the meal is hurried through so as to allow the second relay to come in as soon as possible4 ,the children begin their meal as soon as they enter1 without waiting till the others have come in so that all may begin together in an orderly manner4 ,grace is said halfway through the meal4 ,as soon as a child has finished the first course 7of which it is allowed to have a second helping1 if desired71 it is given a piece of cake or bun which it eats outside in the street4 ,the supervision is undertaken by the teachers1 but only for a day or two at a time4 ,this constant change of supervisors makes the teaching of table manners more difficult4 ,one of the regulations runs that the supervisor should see that no child is admitted who has not clean hands and face1#bga but to judge from the very dirty state of some of the hands and faces we saw1 this rule seems to be ignored1 at any rate at some of the centres4 ,no special provision is made for the infants2 they have the same food and are placed at the same tables with the bigger children2 in some cases the tables are so high that they have to kneel on the forms in order to reach their food1 and the spoons provided are so large that it is difficult for them to eat without spilling it4#bgb ,the condition of the rooms after the children have finished their dinner is anything but desirable1 soup being spilled on the table and pieces dropped on the floor4 ,especially was this noticeable at one centre where the meal was served on desks4 ,these desks were covered with dirty and ragged linoleum1 and the whole surroundings were inexpressibly dreary1 the litter of food on the floor at the end of the meal adding to the general squalor4 ,footnote #bga3 ,leeds ,education ,committee1 ,rules for the ,management of ,dining ,centres4 ,footnote #bgb3 ,complaints on both these points had1 we were told1 been made to the ,education ,committee1 but1 on the score of expense1 nothing had been done4 ,at ,west ,ham some attempt is made to render the meal educational4#bgc ,monitors and monitresses are appointed from among the elder children to assist in waiting on the others4 ,table cloths are provided1 and in some cases flowers are placed on the tables4 ,but here again the meal is spoilt by the sense of rush4 ,since at each centre there may be twice or even perhaps three times as many children as can be accommodated at once1 each child is given its dinner as soon as it comes in1 and is dispatched as soon as it has finished4 ,table manners1 personal appearance1 good behaviour1 and punctuality1 are indeed1 as the ,superintendent of the ,centres remarks1 not overlooked2 but in these respects1 the results are not as satisfactory as one could desire4 ,the unusually large numbers of children attending the centres1 and the limited time in which to serve the meals to enable the children to return in time for school1 make it a difficult task to give the necessary individual attention4#bgd ,at one time school managers and members of the ,children's ,care ,committee took it in turn to attend the different centres and supervise the children1 but this plan has been given up1 and the supervision is now done solely by the women who prepare the meals4 ,footnote #bgc3 ,the meals are served at the schools in some room which is no longer needed for teaching purposes2 in some cases1 we believe1 in a room which was specially built as a dining-room4 ,we have included this example in the third class rather than in the first1 since in each case the school serves as a centre for children from neighbouring schools4 ,footnote #bgd3 ,report of the ,west ,ham ,education ,committee for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiab1 p4 #eb4 ,birkenhead affords a striking example of the varying conditions prevailing in different centres in the same town4 ,in one case a dining-room has been specially built at the school1 this dining-room serving as a centre for several other schools4 ,no table cloths are used1 but the tables are of white wood1 well scrubbed2 plants are sometimes provided1 and the whole surroundings are bright and cheerful4 ,the children were unfortunately allowed to come in as they liked1 but in other respects the discipline seemed good4 ,table manners were inculcated and clean hands insisted on4 ,food had to be finished at table and might not be taken away4 ,at another centre the conditions were entirely different4 ,the meals were served in a corridor at the public baths4 ,two long narrow tables were placed against each wall1 with forms on one side2 on the other side1 owing to the narrowness of the corridor1 there was no room for seats1 so that some of the children had to stand4 ,the children entered and left as they liked1 and were allowed to take away food with them4 ,little effort was made to teach table manners1 indeed it would have been impossible to do much in this respect owing to the unsuitable character of the premises4 ,it would perhaps be unfair to dwell too much on the conditions prevailing in this centre1 since the use of these premises was admittedly a temporary expedient 7though we understood they had been used for some time71 but the conditions at a third centre were not very much better4 ,the hall was large1 it is true1 and there was plenty of room for the children1 but the surroundings were very dreary4 ,the tables1 which were not covered with tablecloths1 were dark and dingy4 ,here again the children were allowed to straggle in as they pleased1 some as much as half an hour or forty minutes late4 ,they left as soon as they had finished1 frequently carrying away food with them unchecked4 ,little attention was paid to table manners and much of the food was wasted4 7d7 ,the three methods which we have described all present one feature in common4 ,the children1 whether fed at the schools1 at eating-houses or at centres1 all share with their schoolfellows in a common meal4 ,there remains one other method1 the supply of food to the family for consumption at home4 ,this is the method adopted at ,leicester and1 so far as we know1 in this town only4 ,as we have already pointed out1 no rate is levied at ,leicester1 voluntary funds being declared to be sufficient4 ,these funds are administered by the ,children's ,aid ,association1 a body composed largely of members of the ,charity ,organisation ,society and imbued with its spirit4 ,the ,association proceeds on the theory that the provision of meals is simply a form of relief2 this being so1 the relief should be adequate1 and the family as a whole should be dealt with4 ,the food is accordingly distributed in the homes1#bge sufficient being supplied for all the family1 not only for those attending school1 and it is given every day1 including ,sundays1 throughout the year4 ,milk being the chief article absent from the dietary of the poor1 the food chosen is bread and milk4 ,this is delivered by the ordinary baker and milkman so that the neighbours should not know that the family is receiving relief 7though as a matter of fact the bread and milk families appear to be well known74 ,footnote #bge3 ,where the home conditions are extremely bad1 provision is made for children to be fed at eating-houses1 but such cases are very rare4 ,at the time of our visit1 in ,july1 #aiac1 there was not one such case4 ,certain advantages have undoubtedly accrued from this system4 ,the parents have learnt the value of milk1 and the children have been taught to take it4 ,at first there was often much difficulty in this latter respect1 but by constant visitation the children's prejudice has been broken down1 and they now relish the food4#bgf ,on the other hand1 under this method of distributing the food in the homes the advantages to be derived from a common meal are totally ignored4 ,no provision is made to meet the case where the mother goes out to work all day1 and where the provision of a midday meal at school would be of great value4 ,moreover1 though frequent visits are paid to the homes at breakfast-time to see that the children are actually getting the food intended for them1 it is impossible to ensure this in all cases4 ,footnote #bgf3 ,second ,quarterly ,report of the ,children's ,aid ,association1 ,november1 #aijg1 to ,february1 #aijh1 p4 #c4 ,we have classified the different methods under the above four headings according to the place where the meal is served1 but1 as will have been seen by the examples given1 the educational value of the meal is determined even more by the character of the supervision than by the nature of the surroundings4 ,the supervision is frequently undertaken by the teachers4 ,in #aiji1 the ,board of ,education reports that the assistance of teachers has been the rule rather than the exception4#bgg ,this service is always rendered voluntarily1 though occasionally1 as at ,bradford1 the teachers receive some small remuneration4#bgh ,the amount of service given varies widely in different towns4 ,at ,bradford the same teacher will attend the centre daily for months4 ,in other towns his or her turn may come quite infrequently1 and may only amount to two or three days' service at a time4#bgi ,sometimes ,school ,managers1 members of the ,canteen ,committee or voluntary workers take it in turn to assist in the supervision1 but their attendance is generally spasmodic4 ,at ,portsmouth the centres are entirely in charge of ladies who give their services voluntarily4#bhj ,as a rule1 however1 paid superintendents are appointed1 too often women of the caretaker type4 ,in some towns the ,school ,attendance ,officer attends to collect the tickets and helps to maintain order4 ,footnote #bgg3 ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #ag4 ,footnote #bgh3 ,the head teachers receive #es4 a week for supervising dinners1 and #bs4 #f;d4 for breakfasts2 the assistant teachers #ds4 and #bs4 respectively4 ,at ,derby also the teachers are paid4 7,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,derby1 #aiaa1 p4 #fa47 ,this payment is very exceptional4 ,footnote #bgi3 ,at ,leeds1 for instance1 the teacher will perhaps be called on for a day or two every two months4 ,at ,liverpool a teacher is supposed to attend once a fortnight1 but often no teacher at all is present4 ,at ,bootle the turn may be one day a week or a fortnight1 or perhaps a week at a time2 here the teachers1 we were informed1 voluntarily give their services under protest1 a fact which1 when one considers the conditions under which they are asked to serve the meals1 is not surprising4 ,footnote #bhj3 ,the ,importance of a ,well-,advised and ,comprehensive ,scheme in the ,selection of ,children 444 under the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 by ,victor ,j4 ,blake1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #bd4 ,the question how far the teachers should be asked to give their services is a vexed one4 ,on the one hand1 where the teacher attends regularly--and regular attendance is essential if the full benefit from the meals is to be derived--this extra work involves a great strain4 ,especially when the midday interval is only from #ab to #a4cj1 as in many provincial towns1 the time for rest is seriously curtailed4 ,at ,leeds a reasonable time is allowed the teachers in charge for their own midday meal1 and they are allowed to arrive late at afternoon school in consequence of this1#bha but we were told that this permission is not in practice taken advantage of1 as their late arrival would dislocate the work4 ,moreover1 although the service is supposed to be always entirely voluntary on the part of the teachers1 there is always the danger that they may feel under a moral obligation to offer their services4 ,in some cases1 the burden seems to fall unduly on a few1 only a small minority offering to assist in the supervision1 the others taking no share4 ,footnote #bha3 ,leeds ,education ,committee1 ,rules for the ,management of ,dinner ,centres4 ,at ,bradford it is noticeable that it is as a general rule the men teachers who supervise the meals2 women teachers assist1 but the responsibility for the management of the whole centre seems to involve too great a strain upon them4 ,on the other hand1 it is unquestionable that where the teachers are willing to undertake the work1 they are1 generally speaking1 the most competent supervisors4 ,the reason for this is not far to seek4 ,the children1 being accustomed to obey the commands of their teachers1 are more ready to behave in an orderly and disciplined manner when under their supervision than when a stranger is in charge4 ,moreover1 the teachers' acquaintance with the idiosyncrasies of individual children enables them to keep an eye on those children who are specially in need of food or who need persuasion to make them eat the wholesome food provided4#bhb ,again1 the fact that the teachers are present connects the meal in the child's mind with the school1 and so tends to make it more a part of the school curriculum1 a lesson in table manners4 ,without the teacher1 ,miss ,mc,millan points out1 the whole venture will fail miserably on the educational side4 ,but it is a mistake to ask the teachers to serve the food and wait on the children4 ,their function should be to preside and to be the head1 and as far as possible the soul1 of the daily gathering1#bhc just as at dinner in a secondary school4 ,footnote #bhb3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bhj4 ,footnote #bhc3 ,london's ,children3 ,how to ,feed ,them and ,how not to ,feed ,them1 by ,margaret ,mc,millan and ,a4 ,cobden-,sanderson1 #aiji1 p4 #aa4 ,we have met with this ideal arrangement only at one school--a small special school for feeble-minded children at ,bradford 7see post1 pp4 #aba-b474 ,to sum up now the main characteristics of the present methods of serving the meals1 it will be seen that1 generally speaking1 the conditions are very far from satisfactory4 ,even where the ,local ,education ,authority draws up elaborate regulations for the management of the dining-centres1 these regulations are frequently disregarded in practice by the supervisors4 ,too often the object is to get the meal over as quickly as possible1 and inadequate attention is paid to the inculcation of table manners and the little amenities of a civilised meal4 ,to expedite the service the food is frequently placed on the table before the children come in1 and it is nearly cold before they eat it4 ,sometimes the second course is served and placed in front of the child before it has finished the first course4 ,the food is almost invariably such as can be eaten with a spoon and fork1 and the children are thus not taught the use of a knife4#bhd ,sometimes only a spoon is provided and the help of fingers is almost unavoidable4 ,we have as a rule found the supply of utensils fairly adequate1 though where water is given it is not always the case for each child to have a separate mug4#bhe ,it is rare to find any attempt at table decoration1 and table-cloths are by no means universal4 ,it may be objected that table cloths are expensive and1 if the tables are kept thoroughly clean1 unnecessary1 but to keep the tables well scrubbed costs as much as to provide table cloths and the necessity of keeping the cloth clean is a useful lesson to the child4 ,sometimes the food1 if of the bread and jam nature1 is placed on the table without plates4 ,in very few cases has the system of utilising the services of the elder children been adopted with any thoroughness1 and the valuable opportunity of training thus offered is lost4 ,footnote #bhd3 ,knives were used at ,bradford for a time1 but were given up1 as it was found that the children hurt themselves4 ,their use demands1 of course1 much supervision1 but they might be given to the elder children at any rate4 ,footnote #bhe3 ,at ,birmingham in one school the same mugs for cocoa were used twice over for different children without being washed4 ,the supply of utensils at several of the schools was too small for the numbers fed4 7,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 p4 #dc47 7e7--,the ,provision of ,meals during the ,holidays4 ,at the time the ,act of #aijf was passed1 it appears to have been generally taken for granted that it empowered ,local ,education ,authorities to provide meals during holidays as well as during school time4#bhf ,the circular issued by the ,board of ,education1 asking the ,local ,authorities for information as to the way in which the ,act had been administered1 contained a question as to the number of children who were fed during the school holidays1 thus assuming that the meals would be continued2 nowhere was it pointed out that the cost of the meals so provided could not be borne by the rates4#bhg ,moreover1 during the next two or three years1 the accounts of several ,local ,authorities1 who continued the meals during the holidays1 were certified by the ,local ,government ,board ,auditors4#bhh ,about #aiji1 however1 the question was raised whether ,local ,authorities could legally spend the rates on providing meals when the children were not actually in school4 ,the ,local ,government ,board1 on being appealed to by the ,newcastle-on-,tyne ,education ,authority1 replied that they could not concur in any interpretation of the ,act which would empower the authority to incur expenditure when the closing of the schools precluded the children's attendance4#bhi ,in ,august1 #aiji1 the cost of feeding children during the previous ,christmas holidays was disallowed by the ,auditor in the accounts of the ,west ,ham ,authority4 ,the ,local ,government ,board1 on appeal1 confirmed the disallowance1 though they remitted the surcharge4#bij ,footnote #bhf3 ,see preamble to the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act ,amendment ,bill1 ,july #bj1 #aiaj4 ,this ,bill introduces no new principle1 but simply extends the ,act to render permissible the continued operation of the ,act during the holidays1 a point which1 when the original ,act was passing through ,parliament1 it was generally thought was covered4 ,footnote #bhg3 ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #dh4 ,footnote #bhh3 ,hansard1 ,july #ab1 #aiaj1 #eth ,series1 ,vol4 #ai1 pp4 #ahi-aij4 ,in #aiaj1 out of the twenty-five or so ,local ,authorities who continued the meals during the holidays1 about one-fifth paid for them out of the rates4 7,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 p4 #bee47 ,footnote #bhi3 ,ibid41 p4 #bed4 ,footnote #bij3 ,ibid41 pp4 #bed-e2 ,report of ,west ,ham ,education ,committee for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiaj1 pp4 #de-f4 ,since this date1 in the great majority of towns where meals are continued during the holidays1#bia the cost is met by voluntary funds4 ,sometimes the ,local ,education ,authority will issue a special appeal for funds4 ,or the arrangements may be undertaken by some voluntary society or by philanthropic individuals4 ,where no provision is made officially1 the teachers sometimes make arrangements privately for the most necessitous children to be fed at shops4 ,at ,leeds it has become the custom for the ,lord ,mayor to provide out of his own purse meals during the ,christmas holidays 7the meals being discontinued during the other holidays72 the cost of this provision may amount to as much as #ejj4 ,footnote #bia3 ,the first report which was issued on the ,working of the ,provision of ,meals ,act gave the number of authorities who continued the meals during the school holidays--at that date #c out of the #g counties1 and #cb out of the #aje county boroughs1 boroughs and urban districts1 who were making some provision under the ,act 7,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 #aijf1 up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 pp4 #cd-ch74 ,no figures are now available4 ,in one or two towns the charge has been met year after year out of public funds4 ,at ,bradford1 for example1 the meals have from the first been continued during school holidays4#bib ,the expenditure has been surcharged regularly by the ,local ,government ,board ,auditor1 but1 as we have said1 it has been met out of a grant voted by the ,finance ,committee from the trading profits of the ,corporation4 ,the ,labour ,councillors maintain that when the ,act was passed holiday feeding was considered legal and the ratepayers generally seem to uphold them in this claim1 in spite of occasional protests4#bic ,at ,nottingham the same plan is pursued4#bid ,at ,portsmouth a grant is made to the ,mayor on the tacit understanding that he will use it for the provision of meals during the holidays4 ,at ,west ,ham1 after the ,local ,government ,board auditor had1 in #aiji1 disallowed the charge for holiday feeding1 the cost was for a year or two borne by voluntary funds4#bie ,it became1 however1 increasingly difficult to raise the necessary subscriptions1 and during #aiaa #did was charged to the rates1 the voluntary subscriptions only amounting to #gd4bif ,during the following year recourse was again had to the rates4 ,the ,local ,government ,board ,auditor surcharged the expenditure1 but the ,board1 on appeal1 remitted the surcharge1 though confirming the ,auditor's decision4#big ,at ,acton meals have been supplied regularly on ,saturdays#bih and during the school holidays for the past few years without any question having been raised4 ,footnote #bib3 ,report of ,bradford ,education ,committee for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aijh4 ,footnote #bic3 ,see letter from ,bradford ,ratepayers ,association1 in ,bradford ,city ,council ,proceedings1 ,august #aj1 #aiji4 ,footnote #bid3 ,in ,london1 during the ,christmas holidays1 #aiaa-ab1 meals were provided out of a sum placed at the disposal of the ,chairman of the ,council by the ,general ,purposes ,committee1 from the balance of the account in connection with the erection and management of the ,coronation ,procession stands4 7,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,february #ac1 #aiab1 p4 #bgia47 ,footnote #bie3 ,report of the ,west ,ham ,education ,committee for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiaj1 p4 #df2 ,ibid4 for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiaa1 p4 #ci4 ,footnote #bif3 ,ibid4 for the year ended ,march #ca1 #aiab1 pp4 #ej-a4 ,footnote #big3 ,the ,east ,ham ,echo1 ,august #bb1 #aiac4 ,footnote #bih3 ,at ,brighton meals were provided on ,saturdays by the ,local ,education ,authority out of the rates till ,january1 #aiji1 when it was declared to be ultra vires4 7,report on the ,medical ,inspection of ,school ,children in ,brighton for #aijh1 p4 #ii47 ,the question of the legality of the provision of meals during the holidays out of the rates is1 indeed1 an open one4 ,the ,london ,county ,council took counsel's opinion on the point in #aiji and again in #aiaj1 each time receiving the reply that holiday feeding was illegal1#bii but the question has never been settled by a case in the courts4 ,on special occasions the ,local ,government ,board have relaxed their prohibition4 ,thus1 in #aiaa1 ,mr4 ,john ,burns stated in ,parliament that though the ,board would not sanction in advance any expenditure incurred in providing meals during the week the schools were closed on account of the ,coronation festivities1 they would be prepared to consider each case on its merits1 and decide whether any surcharge that might be made should be remitted or upheld4#cjj ,and in the spring of #aiab1 during the widespread distress caused by the coal strike1 the ,board sanctioned the provision of meals during the ,easter holidays4 ,footnote #bii3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,february #b1 #aiji1 p4 #aba2 ,minutes of the ,education ,committee1 ,november #bc1 #aiaj1 p4 #iia4 ,footnote #cjj3 ,hansard1 ,march #bg1 #aiaa1 #eth ,series1 ,vol4 #bc1 pp4 #ajgd-e4 ,on several occasions ,bills have been brought in by the ,labour party to legalise the provision of meals during the holidays1 the latest being in ,april1 #aiac4cja ,so far these efforts have met with no success1 though the ,prime ,minister declared in #aiab that the ,government was favourable to the principle1#cjb but it has now been promised that the forthcoming ,education ,bill shall contain a clause enabling ,local ,authorities to provide meals on ,sundays and during holidays4#cjc ,footnote #cja3 ,see ,education 7,administrative ,provisions7 ,bills1 ,april #ad1 #aiaj 7,no4 #abh71 ,february #ai1 #aiab 7,no4 #ah71 ,april #ae1 #aiac 7,no4 #aja71 which all contained a clause for provision of school meals during the holidays2 ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act ,amendment ,bills1 ,july #bj1 #aiaj 7,no4 #bfe72 ,april #ai1 #aiaa 7,no4 #aha72 ,march #ac1 #aiab 7,no4 #hb72 ,april #af1 #aiac 7,no4 #aji74 ,footnote #cjb3 ,hansard1 ,march #bh1 #aiab1 #eth ,series1 ,vol4 #cf1 p4 #eih4 ,footnote #cjc3 ,hansard1 ,july #bb1 #aiac1 ,vol4 #ee1 pp4 #aiaj-aa4 ,there seems indeed to be a general consensus of opinion in favour of holiday feeding4 ,the experiments made by ,dr4 ,crowley at ,bradford in #aijg1 and by the ,medical ,officer of ,health at ,northampton in #aiji1 which we shall describe later1#cjd not to mention the testimony offered by numbers of teachers as to the deterioration of the children physically during the holidays1 prove conclusively the need for the continuation of the meals1 if the children are not to lose much of the benefit which they have derived during term time4 ,footnote #cjd3 ,see post1 pp4 #ahd-g4 ,in passing we may note that not only do many ,local ,authorities--how many we are unable to ascertain1 but the number must be considerable--discontinue the meals during the holidays1 but they stop them entirely during the summer months4#cje ,in some towns1 where employment is good during the summer1 there may be little need for school meals1 but in large towns1 such as ,bootle and ,salford1 which contain a large population who rely on casual labour1 it is obvious that the cessation of the meals during the summer must cause considerable hardship4 ,footnote #cje3 ,this may be through lack of funds1 as at ,east ,ham 7see ante1 p4 #ef71 but is not always due to this cause4 7f7--,the ,provision for ,paying ,children and ,recovery of the ,cost4 ,when the ,provision of ,meals ,act was passed it was assumed that a considerable proportion of the cost of the meals would be borne by the parents4 ,it was confidently expected that large numbers of parents would be willing to avail themselves of the provision of a midday meal at school for their children and would gladly pay for it4#cjf ,the circular issued by the ,board of ,education to the ,local ,authorities pointed out that the ,act aimed at securing that suitable meals should be available just as much for those whose parents are in a position to pay as for those to whom food must be given free of cost4#cjg ,there will generally be no difficulty in providing1 where it is so desired1 a school dinner at a fixed price in the middle of the day1 attended by children for whom1 by reason of distance from the school or because the mother's absence makes a home meal difficult1 the parent prefers to take advantage of an arrangement similar to that now in operation in most secondary day schools4#cjh ,moreover1 little difficulty was anticipated in extracting payment from those parents who could afford to pay but neglected to do so4 ,these expectations have not been fulfilled4 ,in the year #aijh-i the sums received from the parents1 either contributed voluntarily by them or recovered after prosecution or threat of prosecution1 amounted to only #bie1 or 4#dd per cent4 of the total receipts4#cji ,in #aiaa-ab the amount so received had increased but was still only #a per cent4#caj ,footnote #cjf3 ,see1 for instance1 ,hansard1 ,december #f1 #aijf1 #dth ,series1 ,vol4 #aff1 p4 #abhc2 ,december #g1 #aijf1 pp4 #acdj1 #acdd4 ,see also ibid41 ,july #i1 #aijc1 ,vol4 #abe1 p4 #aif1 and ,april #bj1 #aijd1 ,vol4 #acc1 p4 #ghh4 ,footnote #cjg3 ,report on ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 p4 #da4 ,footnote #cjh3 ,ibid41 p4 #db4 ,footnote #cji3 ,ibid41 p4 #cc4 ,footnote #caj3 ,the amount was #a1egj out of a total of #aeg1abg4 7,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #ccb47 ,the smallness of the sums voluntarily contributed by the parents is largely due to the action of the ,local ,authorities4 ,in the great majority of towns in ,england#caa no serious attempt has been made to establish school restaurants2 the ,local ,education ,authority1 owing perhaps to lack of accommodation1 perhaps to the difficulty of providing for a fluctuating number of children 7a difficulty felt especially where the meals are supplied through a caterer71 perhaps to the feeling that the provision of school meals as a matter of convenience would encourage the mothers to go out to work1 has limited the provision to necessitous children4 ,in #aiaa-ab1 out of #aah towns 7apart from ,london7 in which provision was made for underfed children1 in only twenty-two were any of the meals paid for wholly by the parents4 ,the number of children so paid for was in most cases negligible1 the total amounting to only a few hundreds4 ,and these figures include meals paid for under compulsion 7though without prosecution7 as well as meals voluntarily paid for as a matter of convenience4#cab ,footnote #caa3 ,for provision made for paying children in ,scottish towns1 see ,appendix ,,ii41 pp4 #bdb1 #bde1 #bdf4 ,footnote #cab3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #cbe-g1 #cca4 ,in eleven other towns the parents in some cases paid part of the cost4 ,but even where the system of voluntary payment has been tried1 it has been a failure4 ,at ,bradford1 where a large proportion of married women work in the mills1 it was felt that many parents would take advantage of a system by which they could obtain a midday meal for their children at cost price4#cac ,the ,education ,committee accordingly sent round a circular to the head teachers asking them to announce to their scholars that a good dinner could be obtained for #b;d4#cad ,the response was disappointing4 ,comparatively few of the mothers took advantage of the offer1 and the result1 though the number of paying children#cae seems to be larger than in any other provincial town1#caf can only be described as a failure4 ,this may be partly attributed to the cost4 ,where there are several children a payment of #b;d4 per head may be more than the parent can afford4 ,but the main cause of failure is undoubtedly the dislike of the independent type of parent who can afford to pay to sending his children to meals the majority of which are being given free4 ,in fact any system which seeks to combine free and paying meals1 the free meals being the chief element1 is fore-doomed to failure4#cag ,footnote #cac3 ,the needs would be met of a host of children who never got a decent meal4 7,councillor ,north1 ,bradford ,city ,council ,proceedings1 ,february #bf1 #aijg1 p4 #bcc47 ,footnote #cad3 ,extracts from the ,annual ,reports of the ,bradford ,education ,committee for the four years ended ,march #ca1 #aijg1 #aijh1 #aiji and #aiaj1 pp4 #ad1 #af4 ,the charge is now #b-a_/b;d4 ,footnote #cae3 ,the numbers given in the ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa 7p4 #cbe7 are #ahb1 but some of these were paid for by the ,guardians4 ,no record1 we were told1 is kept of the individual children who pay1 but the amount received in #aiab-ac from parents who voluntarily paid the whole cost was #afi #ais4 #h;d4 ,thus only some #af1cbj meals were wholly paid for1 out of a total of #ghb1igi4 7,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,return as to the ,working of the ,provision of ,meals ,act for the year ending ,march #ca1 #aiac47 ,footnote #caf3 ,at ,finchley as many as two-thirds of the meals are paid for1 but the charge is very low1 only #a_/b;d4 per meal4 ,we were informed that the price would not cover the cost of food if it were not for the fact that the meat used in connection with the dinners was provided as a voluntary gift4 ,footnote #cag3 ,this was the opinion of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding in #aije4 7,see ante1 p4 #cg47 ,if no distinction is made between the paying children and the non-paying children1 declared one witness1 ,i feel sure that the ,birmingham artisan would not send his children4 ,he would not let them go to receive a meal in regard to which it was not known whether it was given free or not4 7,report of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,q4 #abdf1 evidence of ,mr4 ,george ,hookham47 ,see also the evidence given by ,mr4 ,f4 ,wilkinson1 the ,director of ,education for ,bolton4 7,ibid41 ,qs4 #caae-caai47 ,in the ,special ,schools for mentally or physically defective children1 where the dinner is provided more as a part of the school curriculum than as a charity meal1 there is not1 as we shall see1 much difficulty in inducing the parents to pay for the meals4#cah ,in rural districts also1 where the children are in many cases unable to go home at midday1 the system of paying dinners has more chance of success4#cai ,footnote #cah3 ,see post1 p4 #abj4 ,footnote #cai3 ,see post1 pp4 #abc-e4 ,turning now to the question of the recovery of the cost from unwilling parents1 the ,provision of ,meals ,act1 it will be remembered1 laid down that the ,local ,authorities should require payment unless satisfied that the parents could not pay1 and the cost might be recovered summarily as a civil debt4 ,in practice this has been found very difficult to accomplish4 ,it is impossible to tell from the returns how much of the #a1egj received from parents in #aiaa-ab was contributed voluntarily1 and how much recovered after compulsion1 but the amount recovered must necessarily be very small4#cbj ,footnote #cbj3 ,the amount recovered after prosecution in #aiaa-ab was #db #ajs4 #f;d4 for the whole of ,england and ,wales1 ,london accounting for more than half this sum4 7,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #cbe-g47 ,to this we must add the amount recovered with more or less difficulty1 but without prosecution4 ,where the ,local ,education ,authority confines the provision of meals strictly to the cases where the family income is below a certain amount per head1 as at ,leeds1 there is of course little to be recovered1 attempts at recovery being limited to cases where the parents have made an incorrect statement as to their income1 and have therefore been obtaining the meals under false pretences4 ,at ,west ,ham1 indeed1 the ,education ,committee has interpreted the ,provision of ,meals ,act to mean that recovery must be attempted in every case where meals are supplied4 ,when a parent applies for meals for his children on the score of being unable to provide for them himself--for only necessitous children are fed1 no provision being made for voluntary payment--he has to sign a form by which he agrees to repay the cost of all meals which have been supplied when he gets back into work and can afford to do so4 ,moreover1 he has to send a note every day saying that he still wishes his children to be fed1#cba this being insisted on as a proof that meals have been supplied in the event of an attempt at recovery4 ,in any case the full cost is rarely charged1 the wage and the number of children being taken into consideration1 and a rebate of sometimes as much as #ge per cent4 being granted4 ,but as a matter of fact very few accounts are sent to the ,borough ,treasurer for collection1 as the wages of nearly all the parents of the children who are fed1 even when they are in good work1 are too small to allow of their paying for meals supplied in the past4#cbb ,footnote #cba3 ,see ante1 p4 #fd4 ,footnote #cbb3 ,report of the ,west ,ham ,education ,committee for the year ending ,march #ca1 #aiab1 p4 #ed4 ,when the ,local ,education ,authority is determined to provide food for all children who need it1 for those who are underfed through the neglect of their parents to provide for them as well as for those whose parents are too poor to do so1 a considerable amount ought to be recovered4 ,the difficulty lies in the impossibility in many cases of securing sufficient evidence of the parent's ability to pay4 ,magistrates are notoriously loth to convict4 ,at ,bradford we were told that in numbers of cases magistrates' orders for payment had been served on the parents1 but these orders were frequently disregarded by parents who knew the practical difficulties in the way of enforcing them4#cbc ,footnote #cbc3 ,in #aiaa proceedings were taken against parents in only eight towns1 including ,london4 ,the number of cases was #bai1 of which #adg were in ,london4 7,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 pp4 #cbe-cbg47 ,whether the amount due for meals which have been already supplied is paid by the parent or not1 the commonest result of sending a notice that the ,local ,authority intends to recover the cost is that the parents refuse to allow their children any longer to receive the meals4 ,in practice it is found1 says the ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee1 that when action is taken to enforce payment the children are withdrawn by their parents from further participation in the meals1 with the result that the children revert to their former ill-fed condition4#cbd ,at ,york1 too1 we were told that when a child who is found to be underfed through neglect is put on the feeding-list and a letter written to the father that he will be charged the cost of the meals1 he invariably writes back demanding that his child shall be taken off the list4 ,nothing more is done and the child remains underfed4 ,the ,local ,education ,authorities are1 indeed1 on the horns of a dilemma in dealing with such cases1 as the ,act obliges them to make this attempt to recover the cost1 and they know that the only result of their doing so will be that the children are withdrawn from the meals4#cbe ,so much has the ,bradford ,education ,authority felt this difficulty that they have more than once sought power1 by inserting a clause in the local ,bills promoted by the ,corporation1 to compel the attendance of children at meals in all cases in which the ,school ,medical ,officer certifies that the children are underfed1 and to recover the cost4 ,these efforts have so far proved useless1 it being held that such a clause involves a new principle and cannot therefore be included in a local ,act4#cbf ,footnote #cbd3 ,report on the work of the ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee1 #aiaj-aa1 p4 #ba4 ,since this date the ,committee have accordingly made no attempt to prosecute parents for repayment of the cost4 ,footnote #cbe3 ,extracts from ,annual ,reports of ,bradford ,education ,committee for the four years ended ,march #ca1 #aijg1 #aijh1 #aiji and #aiaj1 p4 #ac4 ,footnote #cbf3 ,at ,bradford a child who is underfed through neglect is put on the feeding-list for a month before the bill is sent to its parents1 so that it may receive the benefit of the meals for this period at any rate4 ,the question of dealing with neglectful parents is indeed beset with difficulties4 ,under the ,children ,act1 #aijh1 a parent or guardian can be prosecuted for neglecting a child in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary suffering or injury to its health4 ,this neglect is defined to mean those cases where the parent or guardian fails to provide adequate food1 clothing1 medical aid or lodging1 or1 if unable to provide the same himself1 fails to apply to the ,guardians for relief4#cbg ,it is rare for the ,local ,education ,authorities themselves to institute proceedings under this ,act4 ,usually they prefer to refer cases to the ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children4 ,often an improvement in the condition of the child is effected as a result of the visits of this society's inspectors to the home4 ,but when these warnings prove useless1 frequently nothing more is done2 the society are loth to prosecute1 except in extreme cases when they can be practically certain of securing a conviction4 ,footnote #cbg3 #h ,edward ,,vii41 c4 #fg1 sec4 #ab4 7g7--,overlapping between the ,poor ,law and the ,education ,authorities4 ,we have already alluded to the neglect of the ,guardians to deal with more than an insignificant fraction of the children who are underfed4 ,the attempt made in #aije to force them to fulfil their responsibility in this respect was1 as we have seen1 a complete failure1 and the duty was therefore cast upon the ,local ,education ,authorities4 ,but even in the few cases where the ,guardians have assumed the responsibility by granting out-relief to the family1 the amount of this relief is1 in the vast majority of cases1 totally inadequate4 ,this was abundantly proved by the ,report of the ,poor ,law ,commission in #aiji4 ,the children1 they reported1 are undernourished1 many of them poorly dressed and many bare-footed 444 the decent mother's one desire is to keep herself and her children out of the work-house4 ,she will1 if allowed1 try to do this on an impossibly inadequate sum1 until both she and her children become mentally and physically deteriorated4#cbh ,when the mother was careless or neglectful no supervision was exercised by the ,guardians to see that even this inadequate amount was really spent on the children4 ,this indictment still holds good to-day4 ,the inadequacy of the relief granted by the ,guardians1 in all but a few exceptional ,unions1 has1 in fact1 become a byword4 ,footnote #cbh3 ,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws and ,relief of ,distress1 #aiji1 #hvo edition1 ,vol4 ,,iii4 7,minority ,report71 p4 #cf4 ,in the great majority of towns1 the ,local ,education ,authority is consequently driven to feed children whose parents are in receipt of poor relief4 ,thus two authorities deal with the same case1 without1 in many instances1 either of them knowing what the other is doing4#cbi ,only in a few cases has any attempt been made to prevent this overlapping4 ,for example1 at ,leicester 7one of the few towns1 we may note1 where liberal out-relief is granted by the ,guardians7 there has from the first been co-operation between the ,guardians and the ,canteen ,committee4#ccj ,the ,relieving ,officer refers to the ,canteen ,committee many applications that are made to him where temporary help only is needed1 and the ,committee has frequently tided families over a bad time and saved them from recourse to the ,poor ,law4 ,on the other hand1 when a family is receiving out-relief the ,canteen ,committee refuses to grant food for the children4 ,at ,acton a similar policy has been adopted4 ,if parents who are in receipt of out-relief apply for school meals for their children1 the ,secretary of the ,education ,committee recommends them to apply to the ,guardians for more relief1 at the same time himself writing to the ,relieving ,officer4 ,as a rule the relief is increased in consequence4 ,meanwhile the teachers are told to watch the children to see that they do not suffer from want of food4 ,at ,dewsbury1 also1 temporary cases are dealt with by the ,canteen ,committee1 but all chronic cases by the ,guardians4#cca ,footnote #cbi3 ,occasionally1 as we have seen1 the ,guardians are represented on the ,canteen ,committee1 as at ,crewe4 ,footnote #ccj3 ,first ,annual ,report of the ,leicester ,children's ,aid ,association1 #aijg-h1 p4 #d4 ,footnote #cca3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,dewsbury for #aiaa1 p4 #da4 ,elsewhere an attempt has been made to prevent overlapping by other means4 ,while the ,education ,authority undertakes to provide for all the underfed children1 an arrangement is made with the ,guardians whereby they repay the cost of the meals supplied for all children whose parents are in receipt of relief4 ,the relief is thus given partly in the form of school meals1 a plan strongly to be commended1 since it ensures that the relief given on account of the children is in fact obtained by them4 ,this plan has been for some years pursued at ,bradford4 ,at first there appear to have been complaints that the ,guardians were reducing the relief granted1 on account of the dinners supplied at school1#ccb but the dinners are now given in addition to the ordinary relief4#ccc ,in #aiab-ac1 the ,guardians paid #cjc to the ,education ,authority on this account4#ccd ,even so1 there is some slight overlapping1 since the ,guardians only pay for dinners and in some cases the ,canteen ,committee are of opinion that a second meal is needed1 and consequently breakfasts are granted and paid for by the ,education ,authority4 ,a similar plan has been adopted at ,blackburn1#cce ,huddersfield1#ccf ,brighton1#ccg ,york and ,liverpool4 ,in the last named town the arrangement has only recently been made1 and is in force in only two of the three ,unions into which the town is divided1 ,west ,derby and ,liverpool4 ,the ,guardians have agreed to issue coupons for school meals to children whose parents are in receipt of out-relief1 and will pay to the ,education ,authority #b;d4 per meal4 ,we were informed that1 in the case of the ,west ,derby ,guardians at any rate1 these coupons would only be given to children whose mothers were out all day4 ,the relief would be reduced in consequence1 though not to the extent of the full value of the meal4 ,the ,guardians of the ,toxteth ,union declined to make a similar arrangement1 but suggested that the ,local ,education ,authority should inform them when they found children underfed whose parents were in receipt of relief1 and they proposed in these cases to increase the relief4#cch ,footnote #ccb3 ,bradford ,city ,council ,proceedings1 ,june #af1 #aijh1 p4 #cie2 ,april #aa1 #aiaa1 p4 #cje4 ,footnote #ccc3 ,thus the minimum relief for a widow is #ds41 with #bs4 each for the first two children1 and #as4 each for other children4 ,in addition five dinners a week1 amounting in value to #as4 #j-a_/b;d41 are given to all children attending school4 7,bradford ,poor ,law ,union1 ,outdoor ,relief ,arrangements47 ,footnote #ccd3 ,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,return as to the ,working of the ,provision of ,meals ,act for the year ending ,march #ca1 #aiac4 ,footnote #cce3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,blackburn1 #aiaa1 p4 #bah4 ,out of #ei1ecg meals given during the year1 the ,guardians paid for #ag1ghf1 or nearly one-third4 ,footnote #ccf3 ,report of the ,huddersfield ,education ,committee1 #aiaa1 p4 #bc4 ,footnote #ccg3 ,report of ,brighton ,education ,committee for the year ending ,march #ca1 #aiab1 p4 #bh4 ,footnote #cch3 ,for the arrangements made between the ,liverpool ,education ,committee and the ,guardians with regard to payment for children admitted as voluntary cases to the ,day ,industrial ,schools1 see post1 p4 #aah n4 ,other ,local ,education ,authorities have tried this plan of communicating with the ,guardians1 in the hope that they would grant adequate relief for the needs of the children1 but1 finding no such result ensue1 have discontinued the practice4 ,at ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 for instance1 it was found in the winter of #aijg-h that a large percentage of the families whose children were fed at school were in receipt of outdoor relief of an amount which the ,education ,authority thought inadequate4 ,the attention of the ,board of ,guardians was called to the fact1 but no steps were taken by them4#cci ,the ,education ,committee accordingly continued to feed the children1 and we gather that now no communication is made by them to the ,guardians4 ,similarly at ,west ,ham we were informed that the ,education ,committee used to report cases to the ,guardians1 but the practice proved useless and it has been given up1 except for special cases1 where the ,guardians will sometimes increase the relief given4 ,footnote #cci3 ,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws and ,relief of ,distress1 #aiji1 #hvo edition1 ,vol4 ,,iii4 7,minority ,report71 p4 #aff n4 ,in a few ,unions1 as at ,leeds1 the only result of the ,guardians learning that the children are receiving school meals--the need for which points to the conclusion that the out-relief granted is inadequate--is that they promptly reduce the relief1 though not contributing to the ,local ,education ,authority anything towards the cost of the meals4 ,they appear to regard the provision of school meals merely as a means of reducing the poor-rates1 and casting the burden on other shoulders4 ,naturally in such circumstances the ,local ,education ,authority does not report cases to the ,guardians4 ,any systematic arrangement between the two ,authorities appears indeed to be exceptional4 ,as a rule there is practically no co-operation1 beyond1 perhaps1 the notification of cases by both authorities to some ,mutual ,registration ,society1#cdj or the informal meetings of the ,relieving ,officers and the ,school ,attendance ,officers4#cda ,footnote #cdj3 ,thus at ,manchester1 the ,education ,committee and the ,guardians send lists of their cases to the ,district ,provident ,society1 and the ,secretary lets each ,authority know what the other is doing4 ,footnote #cda3 ,it is impossible to give any figures as to the overlapping that exists1 since the practice varies so much in different towns1 and in many cases no records are kept4 7h7--,the ,provision of ,meals at ,day ,industrial ,schools and ,special ,schools4 ,we have already alluded to the power of the ,local ,education ,authorities to provide meals for the children attending the ,day ,industrial ,schools and the ,special ,schools for the mentally or physically defective4 ,the ,day ,industrial ,schools are intended primarily for children who have played truant from the ordinary schools and who are committed by a magistrate's order4 ,but in the case of widows or deserted wives who have to work all day1 or when the father is incapacitated from work by illness or infirmity1 or if the father is a widower1 the children may be admitted to a ,day ,industrial ,school1 without an order1 as voluntary cases4#cdb ,when children are committed by a magistrate's order1 the parents are ordered to make a weekly payment towards the cost of industrial training and meals4#cdc ,in the case of children admitted voluntarily such payment is also theoretically demanded1#cdd but in practice it is1 as a rule1 impossible to exact it4 ,thus at ,liverpool1 though small payments are received from widowers1 the condition as to payment has to be waived in the case of widows and deserted wives1 or when the father is unable to work through illness4#cde ,at ,bootle we were informed that no payment is received from any of the voluntary cases4 ,the ,schools are open from #f or #g in the morning to #e4cj or #f at night and three meals are provided4 ,the dietary is as a rule monotonous1 being continued week after week with practically no variation4 ,in point of order1 as might be expected1 the service of the meals compares favourably with those given to necessitous children1 erring rather on the side of over-much discipline4 ,it is1 unfortunately1 by no means uncommon to find absolute silence insisted on1 a regulation which has a most depressing effect4 ,in these ,day ,industrial ,schools the ,local ,education ,authorities have a valuable instrument for providing for the numerous cases where mothers are at work all day and so cannot provide proper meals for their children1 or where the children are neglected4 ,this was urged by many witnesses before the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1#cdf and again recently by the ,departmental ,committee on ,reformatory and ,industrial ,schools4#cdg ,very few authorities1 however1 have taken advantage of this power4 ,in #aiaa there were only twelve ,day ,industrial ,schools in ,england1 provided by eight authorities1 and eight in ,scotland1 of which seven were in ,glasgow4#cdh ,the total attendance numbered a little over #c1jjj1 the voluntary cases amounting to only #cjh4cdi ,these numbers showed a decrease compared with previous years1#cej and this decline has since continued1 partly owing to the fact that truancy is far less common now than formerly1 partly owing to the provision of meals for children attending elementary schools1 which renders the ,day ,industrial ,schools less necessary4#cea ,footnote #cdb3 ,elementary ,education ,act1 #ahgf 7#ci and #dj ,vic41 c4 #gi71 sec4 #af 7#d72 ,children ,act1 #aijh 7#h ,edward ,,vii41 c4 #fg71 sec4 #gi2 ,day ,industrial ,schools1 by ,j4 ,c4 ,legge1 in ,proceedings of ,national ,conference on the ,prevention of ,destitution1 #aiaa1 p4 #cfj4 ,footnote #cdc3 ,children ,act1 #aijh1 sec4 #hb 7#a74 ,footnote #cdd3 ,ibid41 sec4 #gi4 ,footnote #cde3 ,day ,industrial ,schools1 by ,j4 ,c4 ,legge1 in ,proceedings of ,national ,conference on the ,prevention of ,destitution1 #aiaa1 p4 #cfa4 ,for many years an arrangement has been in force by which the ,liverpool ,select ,vestry pay the ,local ,education ,authority #i;d4 a week in respect of each child in their area admitted as a voluntary scholar4 7,ibid47 ,a few years ago the ,guardians of the ,toxteth ,union agreed1 in such cases1 where the parent was in receipt of outdoor relief1 to increase the relief by #f;d4 on condition that this was paid to the ,education ,authority4 7,ibid41 p4 #cfb47 ,the ,west ,derby ,guardians pay a lump sum of #dj a year4 ,footnote #cdf3 ,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji4 #hvo edition1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #afe4 ,footnote #cdg3 ,report of the ,departmental ,committee on ,reformatory and ,industrial ,schools1 #aiac1 p4 #fb4 ,footnote #cdh3 ,fifty-fifth ,report on ,reformatory and ,industrial ,schools1 #aiaa1 ,part ,i41 pp4 #bh-cj2 ,part ,,ii41 p4 #bj4 ,two of the schools in ,england have since been closed1 and the school at ,leeds is shortly to be given up4 ,footnote #cdi3 ,ibid41 ,part ,i41 pp4 #bfg-bib2 ,part ,,ii41 p4 #bj4 ,footnote #cej3 ,ibid41 ,part ,,ii41 p4 #ai4 ,footnote #cea3 ,report of the ,departmental ,committee on ,reformatory and ,industrial ,schools1 #aiac1 p4 #fb4 ,the arrangements made for providing for the mentally and physically defective children vary in different towns4 ,sometimes no special provision is made4 ,at ,leicester1 for instance1 the mentally defective children who come from a distance bring their food with them and the caretaker warms it4 ,frequently1 however1 a regular dinner is supplied4 ,thus at ,eastbourne dinners are provided at the ,special ,school for dull and backward children at a very small charge4#ceb ,at ,bradford some of the children pay #a-a_/b;d4 a meal1 others receive it free4 ,at ,liverpool a payment of #as41 #f;d4 or #c;d4 a week is demanded1 according to the circumstances1 the meals being given free in special cases4#cec ,in ,birkenhead1 too1 the charge varies1 some paying #as4 a week1 some #b;d4 or #a;d4 per meal1 at the discretion of the teacher2 no meals are given free1 children who cannot pay being sent to the centre to have their dinner with the necessitous children from the ordinary elementary schools4 ,there appears to be usually little difficulty in collecting payment4 ,at ,birkenhead we were told that some difficulty was experienced at first1 but the children appreciate the dinners so much now that they beg their parents to give them the necessary pence4 ,footnote #ceb3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,eastbourne for #aiab1 p4 #df4 ,footnote #cec3 ,the majority pay about #f;d4 a week4 ,in the case of physically defective children the parent's payment is intended to meet the expenses of dinner1 any medicines or dressings that may be necessary1 and the cost of conveyance4 ,it does not1 of course1 nearly cover these charges4 ,at the ,open ,air ,schools#ced the common meal always forms part of the regular school routine4 ,as a rule three meals a day are provided1#cee and sometimes milk is given in addition in the middle of the morning4 ,usually some charge is made towards the cost of the meals1 varying from #f;d4 to #cs4 per week1 according to the parents' circumstances1 but in necessitous cases the charge is remitted4#cef ,footnote #ced3 ,in #aiaa there were only nine ,open ,air ,schools1 maintained by eight authorities4 7,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bae47 ,footnote #cee3 ,at ,darlington only a mid-day meal is provided4 ,footnote #cef3 ,at ,norwich the charge varies from #f;d4 to #as4 #f;d42 at ,sheffield1 from #f;d4 to #bs4 #f;d42 at ,halifax it may amount to #cs4 ,at ,barnsley all the parents are charged #bs4 #f;d4 per week1 no children being admitted without payment4 ,at ,bradford the meals are given free to all4 ,the service of the meals at these ,special ,schools presents in general a marked contrast to the methods prevailing at the centres for necessitous children4 ,for example1 at ,birkenhead1 where the management of the feeding centres leaves much to be desired1#ceg the dinner provided at the ,mentally ,defective ,school1 for all children who care to stay1 is served in an attractive and educational manner4 ,one or more teachers are always present to supervise it4 ,the children enter all together and sit down at small tables4 ,the boys and girls take it in turns to lay the tables and clear away afterwards1 and help to serve the food4 ,table-cloths are provided and these are kept remarkably clean4 ,somewhat similar conditions prevail at ,liverpool in the ,special ,schools for ,physically and ,mentally ,defective ,children4#ceh ,but it is at a school for feeble-minded children at ,bradford that we found the most perfect arrangements4 ,the smallness of the numbers--only some #ag or #ah children being present--allowed attention to be paid to each individual child4 ,the dinner was served in a bright cheerful hall1 and the tables were nicely laid by the children1 with table-cloths1 plants and flowers2 these latter the children often bring themselves4 ,two teachers are always present and preside at the two tables1 having their dinner with the children4 ,the children's manners were excellent and spoke volumes for the patience and care exercised by the teachers4 ,footnote #ceg3 ,see ante1 pp4 #ie-f4 ,footnote #ceh3 ,at one of these schools1 the mentally defective children were having their dinner in one room1 the physically defective in an adjoining room4 ,all the children stay for the meal4 ,the headmistress supervised1 assisted by a teacher for the mentally defective1 and the school nurse for the physically defective children4 ,tablecloths were provided for the latter1 but not for the former4 ,the dinner was cooked by the children who had been attending the cookery class in the morning2 the children laid the tables1 and monitors helped to serve the food4 ,the example afforded by the service of the meals at these special schools might well be imitated by the ,education ,authorities in providing meals at the ordinary elementary schools4 7i7--,the ,underfed ,child in ,rural ,schools4 ,we have confined our investigations almost entirely to the ,urban ,districts4 ,we must1 however1 briefly touch upon the question of underfeeding in the country4 ,here the conditions are different4 ,the problem is not only how to provide for the children who do not get sufficient to eat2 there are also to be considered the large numbers who are unable to return home at midday and have to bring their dinner to school with them4 ,many of these children have to walk long distances1 perhaps two miles1 three miles1 or even more4 ,the long walk necessitates an early start from home2 this makes the interval between breakfast and dinner long and the exercise sharpens the appetite4 ,hence it is of the greatest importance that the midday meal should be adequate4 ,in most cases1 however1 as the reports of ,school ,medical ,officers abundantly testify1 the dinner which these children bring with them consists of bread and jam1 cake or pastry1 with perhaps a bottle of cold tea4#cei ,in a few schools the teachers have organised cocoa clubs1 the children paying #a;d4 or #a-a_/b;d4 per week1 which is as a rule just sufficient to cover expenses4#cfj ,incidentally1 it is noticed1 the weekly payment for cocoa has a good effect on the attendance4 ,a child having once paid his or her cocoa fee at the beginning of the week seldom stays away from school during the remainder of the week if it can possibly be avoided4#cfa ,footnote #cei3 ,in ,east ,sussex1 for instance1 where particulars were supplied by the teachers as to the meals brought by eleven of the children1 it was found that the food was totally inadequate1 in most cases consisting of bread and butter1 or cake1 with perhaps a small piece of cheese or an apple4 ,two children of five years old1 who had to walk two miles to school1 brought1 one of them bread and butter only1 the other cake4 ,three children1 who had to walk three and a half miles1 brought either cake or only bread4 7,the ,diet of ,elementary ,school ,children in ,country ,districts1 by ,dr4 ,george ,finch1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #bi47 ,in a ,bedfordshire school out of #fb children who brought their dinner to school with them1 one had an apple tart1 three had bread and cheese1 while #eh had bread with a thin layer of butter or lard on it1 or else bread and jam1 or bread and syrup4 ,this meal was washed down with water1 as nothing hot was obtainable4 7,how the ,family of the ,agricultural ,labourer ,lives1 by ,ronald ,t4 ,herdman1 reprinted in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 p4 #cda47 ,footnote #cfj3 ,thus at ,brynconin1 where #he children are supplied daily with cocoa for a weekly charge of #a;d41 the week's expenditure on cocoa1 sugar and milk amounts to #fs4 #f;d41 and the children's payments to #fs4 #aj;d4 7,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,pembrokeshire for #aiab1 p4 #ad47 ,see also ,reports of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,hampshire 7#aiaj71 p4 #be2 for the ,isle of ,ely 7#aiaj71 p4 #ah2 for ,gloucestershire 7#aiaj71 p4 #ec2 for ,east ,suffolk 7#aiaj71 p4 #ai2 for ,west ,sussex 7#aiaa71 p4 #aj4 ,sometimes the cocoa is provided free through the generosity of the teachers4 7,see ,report of ,monmouthshire ,education ,committee on the ,medical ,inspection ,department for #aiaj1 p4 #i47 ,footnote #cfa3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,hampshire for #aiaj1 p4 #be4 ,sometimes the teacher encourages the children to bring bottles of milk1 cocoa or coffee and sees that they are warmed over the fire before being partaken of4 ,occasionally a regular dinner is provided4 ,we have already mentioned the experiment made at ,rousdon by ,sir ,henry ,peek in #ahgf4 ,this has been continued to the present day4 ,a hot dinner is provided daily1 consisting of one course1 soup with bread and vegetables two days a week1 and some form of suet pudding the other three days4 ,about half the children stay for the dinner and pay one penny each1 these payments just about covering the cost of the food4 ,the meal is served in a dining-room in the school and the ex-headmaster and the present headmaster voluntarily undertake the supervision4 ,a somewhat similar plan has been tried at ,grassington1 in ,yorkshire4 ,when1 eighteen years ago1 the teaching of cookery was introduced1 it was resolved to combine with that instruction the provision of a hot midday meal4 ,the children not only cook the dinner themselves1 but they take it in turns to order and pay for the materials1 thus acquiring the valuable knowledge how to buy4 ,they are taught the value of the different foodstuffs and learn how to make a good substantial dinner at a little cost4 ,a two-course dinner1 ample and varied1 is provided daily at the school4#cfb ,each child is allowed to eat as much as it wants1 but no waste is allowed4 ,marvellous as it appears1 the payment of a #a;d4 per meal covers the cost of the food4#cfc ,the dinner appears to have been intended chiefly for the children who came from a distance1 but the parents of the children who live in the village have been glad to avail themselves of the provision1 since the school dinner is better than they can supply at home4#cfd ,nearly half the children stay4 ,all the arrangements are1 and have from the first been1 made by the headmaster's wife1 who takes the cookery lesson and serves the meal herself1 and the success of the experiment must be very largely attributed to her voluntary labours4 ,footnote #cfb3 ,for sample menus1 see ,appendix ,i41 p4 #bcf4 ,footnote #cfc3 ,for instance1 the cost of the food for the dinners for twelve weeks amounted to #g #is4 #h;d41 and the children's payments to #g #is4 #e;d4 ,on cold snowy mornings hot cocoa is provided before morning school for all the children4 ,the cost of this is1 we gather1 borne entirely by the headmaster and his wife4 ,footnote #cfd3 ,yorkshire ,post1 ,july #i1 #aijh4 ,in two schools in ,cheshire also1 ,siddington and ,nether ,alderley1 hot dinners are provided at a charge of #a-a_/b;d41 in the former during the winter months1 in the latter all the year round4 ,in both cases the children's payments cover1 or slightly more than cover1 the cost of the food1 the other expenses being borne by voluntary funds4 ,such provision is1 however1 quite exceptional4 ,as a rule no provision whatever is made4 ,i have only once seen any supervision of the meal on the part of the teachers1 writes a late ,assistant ,school ,medical ,officer for ,east ,sussex2 in fine weather the children generally eat their dinner out of doors2 in bad weather it is taken in the school or cloak-room in what are often very unhygienic surroundings4#cfe ,there is no doubt1 writes another ,school ,medical ,officer1 that at some of the schools the conditions in which the children get their midday meal are deplorable4#cff ,it is only too common a sight1 reports the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,derbyshire1 to see little children sitting in a corner of the class-room1 cloak-room or even the playground1 munching at thick slices of bread and butter4 ,under these circumstances1 he continues1 it cannot be wondered at that children below the normal development are to be found in our schools4#cfg ,in ,anglesey the ,school ,medical ,officer finds more children badly nourished in the rural areas than in the urban areas2 this he attributes mainly to the long walk to school every day1 the inadequacy of the midday meal and the hurried manner in which it is eaten4#cfh ,footnote #cfe3 ,the ,diet of ,elementary ,school ,children in ,country ,districts1 by ,dr4 ,george ,finch1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #aji4 ,footnote #cff3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,hampshire1 #aiaj1 p4 #bd4 ,footnote #cfg3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bhd4 ,footnote #cfh3 ,ibid41 pp4 #bhc-d4 ,it is indeed essential that in all country schools to which children come from a distance1 provision should be made for the serving of a midday meal under proper supervision4#cfi ,as ,dr4 ,george ,finch points out1 the authority which requires the child to spend its day away from home might not unreasonably be expected by the parents to make some provision that its midday meal might be taken under not unfavourable conditions4 ,the parent1 however conscientious1 cannot adequately deal with the problem1 and the provision of suitable cold food is not an easy matter1 even in the more well-to-do family4#cgj ,the meals should be served as part of the school curriculum and might well be combined with the teaching of cookery as is done at ,grassington4 ,footnote #cfi3 ,as we have seen1 the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding in #aije recommended that managers of country schools should arrange1 during the winter at any rate1 to provide either a hot dinner or soup or cocoa for children who lived too far away to go home at mid-day4 7,see ante1 p4 #ch47 ,footnote #cgj3 ,the ,diet of ,elementary ,school ,children in ,country ,districts1 by ,dr4 ,george ,finch1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #aji4 ,conclusions4 ,it may be useful now to sum up the main points which emerge from the foregoing description4 ,the proposal1 which we shall discuss in the final chapter1 to make the midday meal a part of the school curriculum1 to be attended by all children who wish to avail themselves of the provision1 would obviate many of the difficulties that arise under the present system4 ,meanwhile we may point out some ways in which improvements can be effected1 apart from this more drastic proposal4 #a4 ,since the ,provision of ,meals ,act is only permissive1 ,local ,education ,authorities are allowed to remain inactive in spite of the fact that children in their schools are underfed1 and that no adequate provision is made by voluntary agencies4 ,it should be made obligatory on the ,local ,authority to take action in such a case4 #b4 ,the limitation of the amount which may be spent on food by the ,local ,education ,authority to the sum yielded by a halfpenny rate restricts operations in some towns1 and prevents provision being made for all the necessitous children4 ,this limitation should be removed4 ,an alteration of the law in these two directions would merely assimilate the powers and duties of the ,english ,education ,authorities to those already conferred on the ,scottish ,school ,boards by the ,education 7,scotland7 ,act of #aijh4cga ,footnote #cga3 ,see post1 pp4 #bcg-h4 #c4 ,the selection of the children who are to receive school meals is based1 often solely and always primarily1 on the poverty test4 ,little attempt is made to link up the provision of meals with the school medical service4 ,the meals1 that is to say1 are regarded primarily as a means of relieving distress rather than as a remedy for malnutrition4 ,the numbers selected vary according to the policy of the ,local ,education ,authority and the views taken by the individual head teachers4 ,nowhere can the selection of the children be said to be satisfactory4 ,in towns such as ,bradford1 where the ,local ,authority is determined to search out all cases of children who are suffering from lack of food1 the great majority of underfed children are doubtless discovered1 but in other towns numbers of such children are overlooked and left unprovided for1 while everywhere little or no provision is made for the countless children who are improperly fed at home4 ,we shall discuss in the final chapter the best method to be pursued in this matter of selecting the children4 #d4 ,there is great diversity of practice in different towns with regard to the time at which the meal is given1 the manner in which it is prepared and served1 and the kind of food supplied4 ,where only one meal is provided1 it would appear that dinner is for many reasons preferable to breakfast4 ,the dietary should be varied and should be drawn up in consultation with the ,school ,medical ,officer2 it should be so planned as to contain a due proportion of the elements which are lacking in the child's home diet1 and special provision should be made for the infants4 ,the preparation of the meals should not be left to caterers but should be undertaken by the ,local ,authority1 so that adherence to the approved dietary and a high standard of quality can be assured4 ,the meal should be regarded as part of the school curriculum4 ,it should be served as far as possible on the school premises1 and should be attended only by children from that particular school4 ,the children should be taught to set the tables and wait on one another1 the tables being nicely laid1 with table-cloths and1 if possible1 flowers or plants4 ,clean hands and faces and orderly behaviour should be insisted on4 ,some of the teachers should supervise the meal and should receive some extra remuneration for this service4 #e4 ,the discontinuance of the school meals during the holidays has been shown to undo much of the benefit derived during term-time1 and it entails unnecessary suffering on the children4 ,the expenditure of the rates on holiday feeding must be legalised4 ,the limitation of the provision to the winter months1 as is the practice in some towns1 is even more absurd4 ,local ,authorities should be required to continue the school meals throughout the year1 if need exists4 #f4 ,the sums contributed by the parents towards the cost of their children's meals amount to only a trifling fraction of the total expenditure4 ,the power of providing meals as a matter of convenience for children whose parents are able and willing to pay has been very sparingly used by the ,local ,education ,authorities1 as far as the ordinary elementary schools are concerned4 ,in the special schools for defective children1 on the other hand1 where not infrequently a midday meal is provided for all the children1 a considerable proportion of the parents contribute towards the cost4 ,it is difficult to say whether the establishment of ,school ,restaurants in the ordinary schools would be successful4 ,one point1 however1 seems clear2 if the plan is to succeed1 the meals must be intended primarily for paying children2 if they are provided mainly for necessitous children1 parents who can afford to pay will not send their children to any great extent4 ,in the case of the parents who can afford to feed their children but neglect to do so1 the attempt to recover the cost of the meals supplied to the children results as a rule in almost total failure1 owing to the extreme difficulty of obtaining conclusive evidence of the parents' ability to pay4 ,an attempt to recover may be worse than useless1 for it frequently leads the parent to withdraw his children promptly from the school meals1 though their need of the meals continues as great as before4 #g4 ,owing to the inadequate relief usually given by the ,boards of ,guardians1 the ,local ,education ,authorities are in many cases forced to feed children whose parents are receiving poor relief4 ,in only a few towns is any systematic attempt made to prevent this overlapping between the two authorities4 ,so long as the ,guardians retain their present functions1 the plan adopted at ,bradford and a few other towns1 by which the out-relief granted by the ,guardians is given partly in the form of school meals1 the ,guardians paying the ,education ,authority for these meals1 might well be extended to other towns4 ,by this plan overlapping of relief is avoided1 while it ensures that the relief given to the mother on account of her children is in effect obtained by them4 #h4 ,in the rural districts the conditions under which the children eat their midday meal are frequently deplorable4 ,the long walk to school renders it even more important than it is in the towns that the meal should be a substantial one1 but the food which the children bring with them is as a rule entirely inadequate4 ,in the few schools where a hot dinner has been provided1 the plan has met with marked success1 and such provision should be made in all schools4 ,it might advantageously be combined with the teaching of cookery1 a plan which is more practicable in the country than in the towns1 since the numbers to be provided for are comparatively small4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,provision ,,of ,,meals ,,in ,,london ,we have reserved the treatment of ,london for a separate chapter since1 owing to its size and the diverse conditions prevailing in the different districts1 it presents problems of special difficulty4 ,we shall describe in this chapter the provision made in the early years of this century by voluntary agencies1 and the final assumption by the ,london ,county ,council of the whole responsibility of dealing with its underfed children2 we shall trace the gradual building up of a vast and complex organisation to deal not only with the question of school meals1 but also with other matters affecting the general welfare of the children2 and we shall discuss the actual methods of working at the present day4 7a7--,the ,organisation of the ,voluntary ,agencies4 ,we have already sketched the early history of the movement in ,london1 and described the attempts made by the ,london ,school ,board to organise the host of voluntary agencies4#cgb ,the proposal put forward by a ,committee of the ,school ,board in #ahii to make that body responsible for providing food for all its underfed children was1 as we have shown1 defeated by a large majority1 and a renewed attempt was made by the establishment of a central organisation1 the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 to organise the voluntary agencies4 ,footnote #cgb3 ,see ante1 pp4 #af-bg4 ,this attempt met with but little more success than the earlier endeavours4 ,the functions of the ,joint ,committee were limited to receiving reports from the ,relief ,committees1 pointing out defects in their methods of working1 and acting generally as a medium of communication between these committees and the collecting agencies4 ,if the ,relief ,committees failed to send reports1 the ,joint ,committee had no power to compel them to do so1 nor could the ,committee insist on the remedying of the defects which they pointed out4 ,by #aijg the ,committee were able to report that only one school had been discovered in which meals were provided but no report received4 ,we may hope1 therefore1 they continue1 that 444 the instructions of the ,council 444 have at last reached all head teachers and are being obeyed4 ,but in default of any executive and inspecting machinery1 it has taken the persistent efforts of the ,joint ,committee1 during six years1 to effect this result1 if indeed it has really been effected4#cgc ,the greatest difficulty was experienced in getting ,relief ,committees established in every school or group of schools in which underfed children were provided with meals4#cgd ,even when these committees were appointed1 the meetings of many of them were held infrequently and for formal business only1 the selection of the children and the enquiry into the parents' circumstances being left entirely to the teachers4#cge ,consequently the methods of selection differed widely1 even in the same school1 the different departments paying no attention to what the others were doing4#cgf ,the enquiry was generally totally inadequate1 and in some cases was not even attempted4#cgg ,the ,joint ,committee urged that1 when meals were given at all1 they should be given regularly at least four if not five days a week1 and should be continued throughout the year if necessary4#cgh ,but in #aijg we find that there are still a good many schools where meals are only provided on one or two days1 and more where they are only given on three days1 the average number throughout the schools being #b-c_/d meals per child per week4#cgi ,in only sixteen schools were the meals continued for more than twenty weeks during the year4#chj ,footnote #cgc3 ,report of the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 for #aijf-g1 p4 #b4 ,footnote #cgd3 ,fourth ,annual ,report of the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #aijd1 pp4 #a-b2 ,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,qs4 #afdi1 #afej 7evidence of ,mr4 ,t4 ,e4 ,harvey74 ,even in #aijh there were #gd schools at which feeding took place which had not a properly constituted committee4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,report by ,executive ,officer 7,education71 ,appendix ,a to agenda of ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children1 ,july #f1 #aijh47 ,footnote #cge3 ,there is supposed to be a committee in every school1 said one headmaster1 but the committees never meet in the vast majority of cases1 and if they do1 they never undertake personal investigation4 7,report of the ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,q4 #hdi1 evidence of ,mr4 ,marshall ,jackman47 ,there is a ,relief ,committee in accordance with the rules1 declared another headmaster1 but the ,committee acts really through the head teachers4444 ,the ,committee say that the teachers have their confidence1 and they could not do any good by attempting themselves to help as a committee1 and therefore they do not help4 7,report of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,q4 #eadi 7evidence of ,mr4 ,t4 ,p4 ,shovelier47 ,see also ,ibid41 ,qs4 #dggc ,a1 #dicg-dici1 #fbcc1 #fbfe4 ,footnote #cgf3 ,see1 for instance1 ,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,qs4 #ahe1 #eaed4 ,footnote #cgg3 ,the duty of making enquiries by the managers1 or by outsiders working for them1 into the home conditions of the children is1 with some remarkable exceptions1 seldom well done1 and often not done at all4 ,they are authorised to invite assistance from attendance officers1 444 from ,charity ,organisation ,society visitors1 district visitors1 country holiday fund visitors1 and similar persons1 but we have very seldom found that this class of person has been consulted4 7,report of the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children for #aijf-g1 p4 #bc47 ,footnote #cgh3 ,ibid4 for #aijd-e1 p4 #e4 ,footnote #cgi3 ,ibid4 for #aijf-g1 ,appendix ,g41 p4 #bc4 ,footnote #chj3 ,ibid41 p4 #b4 ,the ,joint ,committee strenuously opposed the theory1 which was now steadily gaining ground1 that the rates should be utilised for the supply of food4 ,in #aijd they report that1 in their opinion1 all real distress on any considerable scale has been effectually met4444 ,they have never been restricted in their efforts for want of funds1 and there is no reason to think that any organisations dealing with public money would be more efficient than these bodies dealing with charitable money4 ,on the other hand1 there is reason to believe that1 even as things are now1 relief is often given to children who are not really in want1 and there is no doubt that if the public purse were being drawn upon1 relief would be distributed more lavishly4#cha ,the ,county ,council could hardly1 however1 remain unmoved by the disquieting report of the ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration published in the same year4 ,dr4 ,eichholz1 in his evidence before the committee1 had indeed described the existing method of feeding in ,london as entirely in the nature of a temporary stop-gap4 ,there is1 he declared1 but little concentrated effort at building up enfeebled constitutions1 school feeding doing little beyond arresting further degeneracy4#chb ,in ,april1 #aije1 the ,council accordingly resolved that1 with a view to checking the physical deterioration among the ,london population and securing the best result from the expenditure on education1 it be referred to the ,education ,committee to consider and report as to the necessary ,parliamentary power being obtained for the provision of food where necessary for the children attending rate-supported schools in ,london4#chc ,the ,education ,committee1 however1 while admitting that there were numbers of underfed and ill-fed children attending the schools and that in the case of these children it was impossible to secure the best results from an educational standpoint1 were nevertheless of opinion that1 while the necessity for feeding children as the last resort out of public funds is a proposition endorsed by the whole spirit of the ,poor ,law1 there were strong arguments against seeking power to utilise the rates at present4 ,the provision of school meals out of public funds must tend to lessen parental responsibility1 and the expense entailed would be very serious1 since the numbers1 though small at first1 would inevitably tend to increase4#chd ,the ,committee recommended1 therefore1 that the experiment should be tried of utilising the food prepared at the cookery centres4 ,the advantages of this course would be twofold4 ,the experiment would prove whether there was a demand on the part of the better-off parents for the provision of cheap dinners at school1 while the training at the cookery centres would be improved by receiving a more practical trend4#che ,footnote #cha3 ,fourth ,annual ,report of the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #aijd1 p4 #b4 ,evidence was given before the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding in #aije1 which showed that difficulty was experienced in collecting sufficient funds4 ,the ,london ,schools ,dinner ,association found that people would contribute at ,christmas time1 but in the early spring1 when the work was heaviest1 the subscriptions ceased4 7,report of the ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,medical ,inspection and ,feeding1 #aije1 ,qs4 #bjgd1 #bjha-bjhc47 ,see also evidence of ,mr4 ,marshall ,jackman before the ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,qs4 #ghj1 #ghh-gij4 ,footnote #chb3 ,report of ,inter-,departmental ,committee on ,physical ,deterioration1 #aijd1 ,q4 #dgg4 ,footnote #chc3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,april #aa1 #aije1 p4 #acha4 ,footnote #chd3 ,ibid41 ,july #aa1 #aije1 p4 #big4 ,footnote #che3 ,ibid41 p4 #bih4 ,the experiment was accordingly tried at five#chf selected schools4 ,in three of these schools1 which were situated in poor districts1 dinners were supplied at #a-a_/b;d each4 ,in the other two schools1 situated in better-class neighbourhoods1 the cost was #b;d4 and #c;d41 the parents preferring the more expensive dinner4#chg ,the ,council having no power to spend the rates on the provision of food1 the meals had to be paid for by the parents or by charitable agencies4 ,the teachers were instructed not to choose only necessitous children1 but to distribute the tickets fairly between the children in the schools1 the object being to try the experiment of a common dinner4#chh ,from an educational point of view the dinners were very successful4 ,the children were taught to eat properly1#chi and the girls attending the cookery class benefited by the practical training4 ,it appeared1 too1 that there was a demand1 in certain districts at any rate1 for the provision of cheap dinners at school4#cij ,but the experiment was on too small a scale to have much practical bearing on the question of feeding necessitous children4 ,for large numbers the cookery centres were quite inadequate and any attempt to use them primarily for the object of providing children's meals would interfere with the instruction given4 ,footnote #chf3 ,the experiment was later extended to fifteen schools4 ,footnote #chg3 ,report of the ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills1 #aijf1 ,qs4 #dea1 #ejj1 evidence of ,mr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,shepheard4 ,footnote #chh3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #cbg4 ,footnote #chi3 ,the tables were nicely laid and with tablecloths1 with all the ordinary appliances and requirements of a table put there1 such as salt cellars1 knives and forks1 and everything of that kind4 ,the tables were laid out with flowers 444 ,i think ,i may quite certainly say that some of these children had never sat down to a meal of that description in their lives4 7,ibid41 ,q4 #cca47 ,footnote #cij3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,december #ai1 #aije1 p4 #bach4 ,about eighty per cent4 of the meals were paid for by the parents1 the remaining twenty per cent4 being paid for by friends or voluntary agencies4 7,report of the ,select ,committee on the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills1 #aijf1 ,q4 #cbf47 7b7--,the ,assumption of ,responsibility by the ,county ,council4 ,no further serious attempt was made for some years to place the provision of food upon the rates4 ,on the passing of the ,provision of ,meals ,act the ,county ,council took over the whole responsibility for the provision1 the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 which had been composed partly of representatives of voluntary organisations1#cia giving place to a ,sub-,committee of the ,education ,committee#cib2 but voluntary funds were still relied on4 ,in #aijh1 however1 the supply began to fail4 ,in ,july of that year a conference of the ,mayors of the ,london boroughs had declared that there was no reason to fear that voluntary contributions would be insufficient to defray the cost of food4#cic ,the appeal subsequently issued met1 however1 with a very meagre response1 only some #f1jjj being subscribed4#cid ,by the end of the year it became clear that recourse must be had to the rates1 and application was accordingly made to the ,board of ,education4 ,the new system was put in force early in #aiji4cie ,footnote #cia3 ,when1 in #aijd1 the ,london ,school ,board was superseded by the ,london ,county ,council1 the ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children had been continued by the latter body1 its constitution remaining practically unaltered4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,report of ,education ,committee1 #aijh-i1 ,part ,,ii41 p4 #c47 ,footnote #cib3 ,this ,sub-,committee was known at first as the ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children4 ,in ,december1 #aijh1 the name was altered to the ,children's ,care 7,central7 ,sub-,committee4 7,ibid41 p4 #d47 ,footnote #cic3 ,see ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,november #bd1 #aijh1 p4 #aabj4 ,footnote #cid3 ,state ,feeding of ,school ,children in ,london1 by ,sir ,charles ,elliott1 in ,nineteenth ,century1 ,may1 #aiji1 p4 #hff4 ,footnote #cie3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,report of the ,education ,committee for #aijh-i1 ,part ,,ii41 p4 #d4 ,meanwhile the constant complaints of the varying methods pursued by the different ,care ,committees#cif in the selection of the children1 and the rapid increase in the number of children fed1#cig led the ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children to call for a report on the circumstances of these children1 so that the cause of the distress might be ascertained and some light thrown on the question how far the provision of free meals was really an effective remedy for the evils which existed4#cih ,an investigation was accordingly conducted by the two officials who had been appointed by the ,council to organise the work of the local ,care ,committees4 ,twelve schools were selected in different districts1 and a careful enquiry made into the circumstances of all the children at these schools who were receiving free meals4 ,in all #a1bah families were dealt with1 containing #c1ccd children4 ,footnote #cif3 ,the local ,relief ,committees had been re-organised under the name of ,children's ,care ,committees in ,july1 #aijg4 7,ibid47 ,footnote #cig3 ,the numbers greatly increased during the winter of #aijg-h1 and reached a maximum of #di1jdc in ,march1 #aijh4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,report on the ,home ,circumstances of ,necessitous ,children in twelve selected schools1 #aijh1 p4 #b47 ,footnote #cih3 ,ibid4 ,in a small number of the cases1 #ci per cent41 the distress was found to be due to illness or some other temporary misfortune2 unemployment of the wage-earner accounted for #eg per cent41 and under-employment for #ai per cent41 of the cases2 in #ddg per cent4 the cause of the distress was attributed to the intemperance or wastefulness of the parents4#cii ,the necessity of providing school meals1 at any rate as a temporary expedient1 was clearly proved4 ,it was found that1 though #baab per cent4 of the children were not necessitous1 the remaining #ghhh per cent4 were necessitous in the sense of lacking sufficient food1 and that they would require school meals until effective ,care ,committees are able to check the diseases attendant on partial employment1 bad housing and other evils4#djj ,so far little attempt had been made to improve the conditions of the homes by systematic visiting4 ,with the majority of the ,care ,committees1 declared the organisers1 their only active members are the head teachers and their only visitors are the attendance officers4#dja ,the complaints as to want of uniformity in the selection of the children were corroborated4 ,in many schools each department has its own system of enquiry1 its own method of selection1 its own standard of necessity1 and the result is that it is seldom that all the school children of one family are on the necessitous list4#djb ,the extent of overlapping between the ,education ,authority and the ,boards of ,guardians was shown by the fact that out of the #a1bah families #ci were in receipt of out-relief while no fewer than #afe had been in receipt of relief recently4#djc ,footnote #cii3 ,ibid41 pp4 #g-h1 #bb4 ,footnote #djj3 ,ibid41 p4 #bd4 ,footnote #dja3 ,ibid41 p4 #be4 ,footnote #djb3 ,ibid41 p4 #be4 ,see also the description of the methods employed at typical schools4 7,ibid41 pp4 #ai1 #bj47 ,footnote #djc3 ,ibid41 p4 #bb4 ,to put an end to all this want of uniformity it was recommended that a responsible secretary visitor should be appointed for each school or group of schools1 who would organise bands of voluntary workers1 and co-operate with all existing local agencies for social improvement4 ,it was urged that the duties of the ,care ,committees should not be confined to the provision of meals1 but should include everything pertaining to the health and general well-being of the child4#djd ,this latter recommendation was carried out4 ,the ,care ,committees were re-organised and given additional duties1 the supervision of medical treatment and the work of after-care1#dje and it was resolved that a committee should be appointed for every elementary school1 not only for those which contained necessitous children4#djf ,the suggestion that a paid secretary should be appointed for every school or group of schools was not adopted4 ,the ,council decided merely to appoint twelve paid lady workers for the whole of ,london1 whose duties would be to strengthen the ,care ,committees4 ,at the same time1 as a further step towards uniformity1 local associations of ,care ,committees were formed4 ,several such associations had already come into existence voluntarily1 but they were now made uniform and permanent4 ,the functions of these associations1 which numbered #bg1 were to make all the arrangements in connection with the feeding centres1 and to collect voluntary contributions4 ,they were also to act as advisory bodies4 ,at their meetings would be discussed such questions as the selection of children to be fed1 after-care1 medical treatment1 and any other duties falling to the ,care ,committees to be performed4 ,they would thus1 it was hoped1 initiate a common policy and serve as a means of co-ordinating the work of the various ,care ,committees4 ,two-thirds of their members were to be representatives of ,care ,committees1 one-sixth were to be nominated by the ,teachers' ,local ,consultative ,committees1 and one-sixth appointed by the ,children's ,care 7,central7 ,sub-,committee4#djg ,footnote #djd3 ,ibid41 p4 #bg4 ,footnote #dje3 ,a few ,care ,committees were already carrying out these functions4 ,see1 for instance1 the description of the methods adopted at one school 7,ibid41 p4 #ai1 ,no4 ,c47 ,footnote #djf3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,april #f1 #aiji1 pp4 #hee-f4 ,footnote #djg3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,april #f1 #aiji1 pp4 #hef1 #heg2 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 pp4 #g-h1 #hh4 ,there are thus to-day three distinct1 though interdependent1 organisations--the ,children's ,care 7,central7 ,sub-,committee1 the ,local ,associations of ,care ,committees and the local ,care ,committees appointed for each school4 ,in considering the development in ,london of the movement for the provision of meals1 one is struck by the haphazard way in which the vast organisation has been built up4 ,the ,county ,council has from the first been reluctant to undertake the responsibility for its underfed children4 ,the whole question of deciding which children are underfed1 and of making special provision for such children1 declared the ,chairman of the ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children in #aijh1 should really be one for the ,poor ,law ,authority to decide1 and not the ,education ,authority4#djh ,the attempt to make the ,guardians carry out their duty having signally failed1 the ,london ,county ,council was forced to undertake the task1 but it has done so in a half-hearted fashion4 ,the results of this failure to grasp the problem in a statesmanlike manner are conspicuously evident in the conditions prevailing to-day4 ,footnote #djh3 ,report on the ,home ,circumstances of ,necessitous ,children in twelve selected schools1 #aijh1 p4 #c4 7c7--,the ,extent of the ,provision4 ,the total expenditure on the provision of meals in ,london amounted1 for the year #aiab-ac1 to #ii1hje4 ,of this by far the greater part1 #ih1aaa1 was derived from the rates1 voluntary contributions amounting to only #c4 ,apart from these voluntary contributions collected by the ,local ,associations1 however1 a few schools contract out and supply the meals from their own private sources4#dji ,moreover1 large sums were collected by voluntary organisations for the provision of meals during the holidays1 especially during the summer holiday of #aiab1 owing to the distress caused by the dock strike4 ,and besides this holiday feeding1 which1 since it cannot be met out of the rates1 must be paid for out of voluntary funds1 there are still a certain number of voluntary agencies which are providing meals quite independently of the ,county ,council4 ,footnote #dji3 ,thus at ,st4 ,giles'-in-the-,fields the expenditure on the provision of food is still met from voluntary funds4 ,at ,hampstead1 in all the schools except one or two1 the provision of food for necessitous children is paid for by the ,hampstead ,council of ,social ,welfare4 ,the ,care ,committee refers to the ,council of ,social ,welfare cases which are suitable for home relief1 i4e41 cases where the mother can be trusted to look after the children at home2 in these cases adequate relief for the whole family is given by the ,council4 ,if the mother cannot be trusted or if she goes out to work all day1 the children receive meals at the feeding centre1 the ,council paying for these meals4 ,amongst the most important of these is the ,london ,vegetarian ,association4 ,one of the chief objects of this ,association1 which has been in existence many years1 is the popularisation in the homes of the poor of a vegetable diet which is at once both cheap and wholesome4 ,dinners are provided consisting of a bowl of vegetable soup1 a slice of wholemeal bread and a slab of pudding4 ,as a rule the meals are given during the winter only1 being continued during the ,christmas holidays and1 if necessary1 during the ,easter holidays1 and on ,saturdays also4 ,the number of centres opened varies according to the state of the ,association's finances and the need that exists4 ,during the present winter some half-dozen have been established1 besides the central dept in ,whitechapel1 about #ijj children on an average being fed daily4 ,since the passing of the ,provision of ,meals ,act the activities of the ,association1 as far as the children are concerned1 have been confined theoretically to the supply of dinners to children under school age or to children who wish to pay for the meals4 ,but school children who prefer to be fed by the ,association rather than by the school are also given meals1 as in addition are those who are not considered necessitous by the ,school ,care ,committee4 ,any child can have a dinner on producing a halfpenny4 ,free dinners are only given to children for whom application is made by some charitable agency1 district visitors1 ,little ,sisters of the ,poor or other persons interested1 no enquiry being made by the ,association itself in these cases4 ,it is clear that there is much danger of overlapping--in fact it has been found that1 in some cases1 children have obtained a dinner at school first and have then gone on to the dept4 ,in other cases it seems that the ,association feeds some children of a family1 the ,care ,committee others4 ,the total number of individual children fed during the year #aiab-ac was #ajj1gga1daj the average weekly number being #da1ebi4 ,the numbers fed during the last thirteen years are seen in the following table3--#daa ,season4 ,average weekly number of children fed4 #aijj-ja 7,august to ,july inclusive7 #ah1heg #aija-jb #bj1jhe #aijb-jc #bb1bjf #aijc-jd #bc1hdb #aijd-je #bf1iea #aije-jf #bg1aei #aijf-jg #bi1ccd #aijg-jh #cg1igi #aijh-ji #ci1fcb #aiji-aj 7,august #a to ,march #ca7 #db1aec #aiaj-aa 7,april #a to ,march #ca7 #da1fgb #aiaa-ab #cf1hig #aiab-ac #da1ebi ,footnote #daj3 ,these are necessitous children only4 ,this number includes the necessitous children in the ,defective ,schools1 except the ,cripple ,schools1 where the meals are provided by the ,cripple ,children's ,dinners ,committee4 7,see post1 pp4 #aee-f47 ,footnote #daa3 ,annual ,report of ,london ,county ,council for #aiaa1 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #cc4 ,the figures for the earlier years are not reliable owing to the multiplicity of agencies providing food4 7d7--,the ,care ,committee4 ,in the selection of the children the ,county ,council has throughout pursued the policy of keeping the numbers fed as low as possible4 ,the ,school ,doctor may recommend for meals1 or more frequently for milk or codliver oil1 under-nourished children whom he discovers in the course of medical inspection1#dab but the number of such cases is comparatively small4 ,as a rule the children are selected by the teachers 7either on their own initiative or1 more frequently1 on the application of the parents7 on the ground of poverty4 ,footnote #dab3 ,the teachers are asked to point out to the school doctor any children about to be inspected whose names are on the necessitous register4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 p4 #ah47 ,the enquiry into the home circumstances of these children and the final decision as to which of them shall be fed1 devolve upon the ,care ,committees4 ,these ,care ,committees form the most striking feature of the administration of the ,provision of ,meals ,act in ,london4 ,in no other town have the services of the volunteer worker been utilised to such an extent4#dac ,as we have seen1 the ,county ,council decided in #aiji that a ,children's ,care ,committee should be formed for every elementary school1 and there is now practically no school for which a committee has not been appointed4#dad ,the committees consist of two or three of the ,school ,managers1 together with not less than four voluntary workers appointed by the ,children's ,care 7,central7 ,sub-,committee4#dae ,the head teachers1 though not members1#daf usually attend the meetings1 and in some cases undertake a considerable amount of clerical work4 ,the members of these committees number some #e1fjj1dag but of these many take little or no part in the work1 and the effective membership amounts perhaps to not more than two-thirds of this total4 ,footnote #dac3 ,for examples of ,care ,committees in provincial towns1 see ante1 pp4 #fe-ff4 ,in one or two ,scottish towns also ,care ,committees have been formed 7see post1 pp4 #bdj1 #bda1 #bdd-e47 ,footnote #dad3 ,in addition to the ordinary elementary schools1 ,care ,committees have been formed also for the ,special ,schools for ,defective ,children1 with the exception of the ,physically ,defective4 ,footnote #dae3 ,in a few cases the committees are composed entirely1 or almost entirely1 of working men4 ,footnote #daf3 ,in #aijh the ,care ,committees were very largely composed of teachers4 ,out of the total membership of #b1ici1 #a1bgh1 or about three-sevenths1 were teachers1 #a1cia were school managers1 and only #bgj were voluntary workers4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,agenda for ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children1 ,appendix ,a1 ,july #f1 #aijh47 ,footnote #dag3 ,london ,county ,council1 list of members of ,children's ,care 7,school7 ,committees1 #aiab4 ,the functions of the ,care ,committees are numerous and important4 ,they do not merely decide which children shall receive school meals4 ,they have also to follow up cases of children who are found by the ,school ,medical ,officer to need medical treatment1 and1 by visiting the homes1 induce the parents to obtain this treatment2 often they arrange for the supply of spectacles at reduced rates and collect payment from the parents by instalments4 ,further1 they have to advise parents in connection with the employment of their children1 referring suitable cases to the ,local ,juvenile ,advisory ,committee1 ,apprenticeship ,committee or other agency1 and generally befriending the children leaving school4 ,some committees undertake the work in connection with the ,children's ,country ,holidays ,fund4 ,frequently the ,care ,committee makes arrangements for the supply of boots1#dah and sometimes also clothing1 gratuitously or at reduced rates4 ,footnote #dah3 ,at the end of #aiaa1 organisations for the supply of boots were in existence in #a1jab schools4 ,these organisations were controlled by the ,care ,committees1 managers1 or head teachers4 7,report of the ,london ,county ,council for #aiaa1 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #ch47 ,the advantages of such a system of voluntary workers1 acting in connection with1 and under the guidance of1 the ,local ,authority are many4 ,the volunteer worker1 as has often been pointed out1 can bring to bear on individual cases a patience and an enthusiasm which the official has no time to bestow4 ,by getting into friendly relations with the mother1 the volunteer visitor will often be able to help the family in numberless ways4 ,the ,care ,committee system represents1 indeed1 one of the most hopeful movements of the time1 denoting1 as it does1 an awakening of the social conscience and a revolt against the old system of district visiting1 which meant too frequently merely the giving of a dole1 a system which encouraged a patronising attitude on the one hand1 and a cadging habit on the other4 ,from the ,care ,committee visitor little in the way of material gifts is to be expected4 ,instead1 some effort is demanded from the parent4 ,he1 or more usually she1 is asked to co-operate with the ,care ,committee in doing what is necessary for the child's welfare4 ,moreover1 the ,care ,committee is invaluable as a means of educating public opinion4 ,many will be found who1 though perhaps strongly opposed in theory to the whole system of the provision of free meals1 are yet willing to work for the children1 and by contact with the children and their homes will learn something of the life and struggles of the poor1 and a better mutual understanding will be brought about4 ,as the ,warden of a ,settlement in ,liverpool has pointed out1 it is a constant lament of administrators of education that the public care more for saving the rates than making citizens4 ,the complaint is justified4 ,we only care about what we understand2 the public understands the money it has to pay1 but it does not understand what happens to it4 ,as a matter of fact ninety per cent4 of the ratepaying public have never been at a feeding centre or seen a medical inspection2 and their own education was of such a scanty nature that one cannot expect their general imagination to supply the deficiency4 ,hence they grumble at paying for a service of which they are ignorant4 ,the remedy lies in making them understand4 ,from the young men and women of these families we can recruit ,care ,committee workers4 ,they will visit the homes of the people1 the feeding centres and the school2 their imagination will be stirred and their intellects quickened2 finally1 the time will come when an enlightened public opinion will be the critic of the education policy of our city4#dai ,splendid work is now being done in many parts of ,london by the ,care ,committees and it is greatly to be regretted that the system has not been more widely adopted in the provinces4 ,footnote #dai3 ,care ,committee ,work in ,liverpool1 by ,f4 ,j4 ,marquis1 in the ,school ,child1 ,september1 #aiac1 p4 #aa4 ,on the other hand1 the disadvantages of relying only on voluntary help must not be overlooked4 ,in the first place there is the difficulty of securing enough workers4 ,remarkable as has been the response to the appeal of the ,county ,council for helpers1 yet many more are needed4 ,in the residential parts of ,london this difficulty is not so much felt1 but in the poorer districts1 where the need is greatest1 it is impossible to find enough people with leisure to devote to the work4 ,from every ,care ,committee that we have visited comes the cry for more helpers4 ,if the friendly relations with the parents are to be established1 which are essential if the maximum amount of good is to be derived from the various activities which are undertaken by the school authorities1 it is of the greatest importance that the homes should be visited2 but it is rare to find a sufficient supply of workers forthcoming for this visiting to be undertaken regularly4 ,it is true that some committees visit the homes once a month or sometimes even1 in doubtful cases1 once a fortnight1 but more frequently visits are paid at long intervals1 and in some districts many of the homes are never visited at all4 ,at a school in ,east ,london1 for instance 7and this is typical of many others71 we were told that it is found in practice quite impossible for every case to be visited1 since there are only two members of the ,care ,committee to undertake this work4 ,a committee in another district reports1 visits in doubtful cases are made twice a year1 supplemented by quarterly visits1 while another committee in the same district reports that1 owing to the lack of sufficient help1 it is often necessary to receive parents instead of visiting homes4 ,still more difficult is it to obtain honorary secretaries4 ,the functions of a ,care ,committee are1 as we have seen1 many and varied1 and involve an enormous amount of work1 if they are to be performed efficiently1 especially in districts where few volunteers can be obtained and where1 in consequence1 a disproportionate amount of visiting falls to the lot of the secretary4 ,the secretary of a ,care ,committee in ,stepney found that it was necessary to give three quarters of her time to the work1 and even so1 outside help had to be called in to keep the clerical work even approximately up to date4#dbj ,the secretary of another school in ,east ,london informed us that he had to give four full days a week1 besides some hours devoted to clerical work in the evening2 while another secretary1 in ,central ,london1 gives about four hours' work on an average five days a week4 ,obviously it is impossible to secure enough volunteers4 ,many who undertake the work of secretary find after a few months that they are obliged to give it up4 ,the history of too many ,care ,committees is a record of ever-changing secretaries1 interspersed with more or less prolonged interregna4 ,in one district--and this appears to be typical of ,london as a whole--we were told that1 out of #ia schools1 some #aj or #ae were at the time without secretaries1 and the duties had to be undertaken by the ,assistant ,organisers4 ,these officials are already overburdened1 and the result is that all but the most urgent work is left undone4 ,nothing is more disheartening for an energetic secretary who has laboured hard to effect some improvement in the condition of the children than to find1 when forced by stress of circumstances to give up the work1 that no one can be found to undertake the secretaryship and that1 consequently1 much of the devoted labour of months1 perhaps of years1 is undone4 ,footnote #dbj3 ,care ,committees1 by ,a4 ,s41 in the ,school ,child1 ,march #aiac1 pp4 #d-e4 ,the need for the appointment of paid secretaries for each school or group of schools was1 as we have seen1 pointed out as long ago as #aijh4dba ,since that date the activities of the ,care ,committees have been enormously extended1 and1 in certain districts at any rate1 if the work is to be done with any degree of efficiency1 the necessity for such paid secretaries is becoming absolutely imperative4 ,footnote #dba3 ,see ante1 pp4 #aci-adj4 ,but apart from the difficulty of securing enough voluntary workers1 there are inherent disadvantages in the present system4 ,the enquiry into the circumstances of the parents is not a duty for which the ordinary volunteer worker is fitted4 ,and the necessity of making these enquiries may endanger those friendly relations which it is of such importance to establish between the visitor and the parent4 ,the enquiry is generally totally inadequate4 ,in the majority of cases the visitor is not trained for the purpose1 and frequently finds this work distasteful4 ,each visitor has a different standard4 ,no enquiry is made from the employer#dbb2 indeed1 in the large number of cases where the father is casually employed such enquiry would be impracticable4 ,in many cases there is little or no knowledge of what other help is being given to the family4 ,many committees insist on the parents appearing before them to answer enquiries as to their circumstances4 ,this is sometimes1 as we have seen1 rendered necessary by the lack of workers and the consequent impossibility of visiting the homes4 ,but even if the homes are visited some committees consider that the obligation on the part of the parents to apply in person furnishes a test of the genuineness of their need4 ,the attendance of the father1 where it can be secured1 is useful as it proves a means of bringing home to him his responsibility4 ,it is not infrequently found that the mother has applied for meals without the husband's knowledge4 ,on the other hand1 as we have already shown1 the insistence on the parents' attendance may result in considerable hardship to them1 entailing perhaps the loss of half a day's work4 ,they are often kept waiting for a considerable time4 ,moreover1 the assembling of numbers together1 all for the purpose of making application for meals1 tends to diminish the sense of self-respect4 ,for this reason many committees consider it undesirable to summon the parents1 or they only summon them in special cases4 ,when the parent is summoned and does not attend1 the ,council lays down that1 if no immediate home visit is possible1 a notice shall be sent to the parent that if he or she fails to attend before the committee or to show some good reason for not attending1 the committee will be obliged to charge for the meals supplied to the children4#dbc ,as far as we can discover1 this is very rarely done4 ,the far more usual course is for the committee to send a notice to the effect that the meals will be discontinued unless the parent appeals4 ,footnote #dbb3 ,enquiries from the employers may not be made by the ,care ,committee without the consent of the parent or guardian4 ,where the committee is doubtful of the accuracy of the parents' statements1 the case can be referred to the ,divisional ,superintendent1 who may make such enquiries4 ,footnote #dbc3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 pp4 #ah-ai4 ,another disadvantage arising from the utilisation of the service of voluntary workers alone1 is that no sufficient control can be exercised by the ,central ,authority to enforce a common policy4 ,a certain amount of latitude is desirable so as to allow scope for individual initiative and experiment4 ,but in the matter of selection of the children to be fed want of uniformity is wholly to be condemned4 ,the diversity in methods that prevails is in effect amazing4 ,in two schools situated almost side by side1 and drawing their children from the same streets1 the percentage fed may be1 in the one case1 two1 in the other ten1 fifteen or even more4#dbd ,we have found this lack of uniformity in other towns1 since the numbers fed depend very largely on the views taken by individual teachers1 but in ,london there is superadded the diversity produced by the divergence of views of the different ,care ,committees4 ,in one ,care ,committee the socialist element will be predominant4 ,in another the work may be done on strictly ,c4,o4,s4 lines2 the meals are regarded simply as a form of relief1 and the feeding-list is cut down to the lowest limit4#dbe ,footnote #dbd3 ,thus in three schools in ,south ,london1 attended by children whose home circumstances were very similar1 the majority of the parents being casual labourers1 the percentages of children who were receiving free meals in ,march1 #aiac1 were #a4h1 #b4i and #g4e4 ,in another neighbouring school1 where the children were very little poorer1 nineteen per cent4 were being fed4 ,footnote #dbe3 ,the most extreme example of the strict type is the committee which deals with a group of schools in ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east4 ,it is held that1 the provision of meals being merely a form of relief1 the work should be as far as possible dissociated from the school2 the parents do not make application to the teachers but to a central office4 ,the ,county ,council has not found it possible to lay down any uniform rule for the guidance of the committees4#dbf ,though1 in a small number of cases1 the committee professes to have a scale1 usually that laid down by ,rowntree1#dbg in practice this is a very rough criterion1 frequently departed from1 and the cases are all virtually decided on their merits4 ,moreover1 the policy of the same ,care ,committee even will not always be a consistent one4 ,the decision as to any particular case will vary with the presence or absence of particular members of the ,committee4 ,footnote #dbf3 ,having regard to the varying circumstances and conditions of families1 it is considered undesirable to fix a minimum wage which would justify children being provided with school meals1 and each case should therefore be considered upon its own merits4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 p4 #bb47 ,footnote #dbg3 ,that is1 #cs4 for an adult and #bs4 #c;d4 for a child4 7,poverty1 by ,b4 ,seebohm ,rowntree1 #aija1 p4 #aaj47 ,where children from the same family attend different schools--a frequent occurrence in ,london--meals may be granted at one school and refused at another4 ,the ,county ,council have issued elaborate regulations for ensuring that in such cases each ,care ,committee concerned shall know what the others are doing4#dbh ,but though many ,care ,committees do communicate with one another1 or notify cases to a ,mutual ,registration ,committee1 the ,county ,council's instructions are frequently disregarded4 ,the secretary of one committee informed us that during the whole time of her secretaryship--a period of over a year--she never once received any notification from another committee4 ,even where the cases are notified1 it by no means follows that the several committees concerned adopt the same plan of action2 often we have found that the one committee did not know in any particular case what the result of their notification had been4 ,one secretary even told us that though all the committees in her district mutually notified cases to each other1 this was solely for information2 they pursued their own policy1 merely noting that some of the children of the family were receiving meals at another school4#dbi ,footnote #dbh3 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 p4 #bj4 ,footnote #dbi3 ,the ,county ,council1 a few months ago1 drew attention to the lack of uniformity prevailing4 ,in a number of cases it has been found that the form has not been issued1 with the result that ,care ,committees dealing with part of a family are unacquainted with the relief afforded by another ,care ,committee4 7,london ,county ,council ,gazette1 ,march #c1 #aiac1 p4 #baj47 ,to the parents this diversity of treatment of similar cases can only appear as capricious4 ,successive visits by the ,care ,committee visitors from different schools1 all making the same enquiries1 are a needless source of irritation to the parent1 while being at the same time unnecessary expenditure of time and energy for the visitors4 ,attempts have been made in some districts to put an end to this waste of energy and overlapping4 ,in ,camberwell1 two or three years ago1 it was decided that the ,care ,committee visiting should be organised by streets instead of by schools4 ,the ,care ,committees of the different schools all sent on their cases to the secretary of the organisation1 who referred them to the visitor for the particular street4#dcj ,this scheme worked very well for about eighteen months1 but was then given up chiefly because the secretary could not continue the work4 ,now three ,care ,committees in this district have been amalgamated1 so as to secure some measure of uniformity4#dca ,in a few other districts also1 the ,care ,committees for groups of schools1 though nominally separately appointed for each school1 are in effect composed of the same people4 ,quite recently an attempt to prevent overlapping has been made by the ,county ,council on a larger scale4 ,in ,whitechapel the ,council have provided a ,central ,office where case papers will be kept1 and paid assistants have been appointed who will notify to each ,care ,committee any assistance which is being given to the brothers and sisters of the children with whom they are dealing4 ,footnote #dcj3 ,school ,care ,committees1 by ,maude ,f4 ,davies1 in ,progress1 ,july1 #aiaj1 p4 #agg4 ,footnote #dca3 ,at ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east five committees have been amalgamated and then re-divided into two1 one dealing with all the ,jewish1 one with all the ,christian1 children of the group4 ,overlapping is thus almost completely avoided4 7e7--,the ,provision for ,paying ,children4 ,the ,county ,council from the first has not looked with approval on the proposal that meals should be provided as a matter of convenience to parents who are willing to pay for them4 ,only cases of exceptional hardship1 declared the ,education ,committee1 e4g41 children of widowers or of widows who are compelled1 owing to their work1 to be away from home all day--should be so dealt with4#dcb ,in such cases payment must be made in advance and a week's notice be given1 the full cost of the meals being charged4#dcc ,consequently1 in most schools we find that no parents or only an insignificant number are voluntarily paying for the meals4#dcd ,but that there is a certain demand for such provision is shown by the number of applications received where the ,care ,committee encourages such a plan4 ,in one school1 for instance1 we were informed that a number of parents paid2 sometimes when the children had been receiving free meals the parents wished the children to continue having them when the home circumstances improved1 and were quite willing to pay the cost4 ,in such cases they preferred the children to go to the ,cookery ,centre1 this being looked on as superior to the feeding-centre4 ,in another district we were told that1 though there was a demand on the part of the parents1 this was not encouraged1 partly because the staff of supervisors was inadequate to cope with larger numbers4 ,there is frequently an unfortunate difference in the treatment of the paying and the non-paying children4 ,at one centre1 for instance1 the necessitous children are placed at one table1 and are supplied with food provided by the ,alexandra ,trust2 the paying children are placed at another and are given food cooked at the ,cookery ,centre4 ,at another school we were told that the paying children were fed at one end of the room1 the necessitous children at the other2 incidentally the paying children had to stand1 since there were no chairs available1 while the necessitous children sat on forms4 ,in several schools the parents pay for milk or codliver oil when this is recommended by the doctor4 ,in at least one school1 however1 we were told that though some of the parents would be willing to pay for this milk1 it was too much trouble to collect the money1 so no payment was asked4 ,in one or two schools milk is provided for any child who likes to pay a halfpenny1 and this provision is very largely taken advantage of4 ,footnote #dcb3 ,london ,county ,council ,minutes1 ,november #b1 #aiji1 p4 #hda4 ,footnote #dcc3 ,the charge includes the cost of preparation and service of the meals1 and is calculated to the nearest farthing4 7,london ,county ,council1 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 pp4 #bg-bh47 ,footnote #dcd3 ,in #aiab-ac the number of individual children who paid the full cost of the meals was #b1eba1 that is1 only one-fortieth of the number of necessitous children who were fed4 ,the amount so received was #hfc4 ,in the special schools for mentally defective children1 where the provision of meals is carried on on the same lines as in the ordinary elementary schools1 the proportion of children who pay for the meals is greater1 since1 owing to the distance from school of many of the children's homes1 provision has to be made for non-necessitous as well as necessitous4 ,in the ,cripple ,schools special provision has for many years been made by the ,cripple ,children's ,dinners ,committee4 ,this body provides the food1 the ,county ,council supplying the apparatus and attendance4 ,dinners are supplied for all the children at a charge of #b;d4 each4 ,the parents appear thoroughly to appreciate the provision made1 and the great majority of them pay the full cost1 only a few of the children receiving the dinner free or at a reduced price4#dce ,footnote #dce3 ,in #aiaa-ab the expenditure on food materials amounted to #d1bgc #bs4 #j;d41 and the payments for dinners to #d1bjf #aes4 #i;d4 ,out of a total of #ebc1bff dinners supplied1 only #cc1jdc1 or #fc per cent41 were given free4 ,the average cost of the dinner1 for food materials only1 was #aif;d4 7,report of ,cripple ,children's ,dinners ,committee for #aiaa-ab1 pp4 #aj1 #aa47 7f7--,the ,service of the ,meals4 ,the results of the half-hearted fashion in which ,london undertook the responsibility for its underfed children are seen nowhere more clearly than in the arrangements made for serving the meals4 ,the ,county ,council seems to have been actuated throughout rather by the desire to keep the expense down to the minimum than to supply the children with the most suitable food and to see that the meals were served under civilising conditions4 ,in the early years after the ,council took over the provision1 the ,local ,committees were left to make the best arrangements that they could4 ,little encouragement was given them in any endeavour to provide wholesome and varied meals under conditions likely to exercise an educational influence over the children4 ,still less was any attempt made to enforce such a policy4 ,the reports are almost silent on this aspect of the question1 though the scanty references which are to be found show a far from satisfactory state of affairs4 ,in #aijh1 for instance1 it was reported that at thirty schools1 where #c1jij children were fed1 plates and mugs were not provided4 ,this has meant generally1 reports the ,executive ,officer1 that the children brought their own mugs and ate the food out of their hands4 ,in twenty other schools insufficient provision was made for washing up the utensils used and1 as food was served to the children in successive relays1 two or more children used each drinking vessel or plate before it had been washed4 ,the usual meal has been a dinner of soup 7sometimes containing meat71 with1 in certain cases1 a form of pudding as an alternative4 ,in the great majority of cases this was the daily meal for months without variety4#dcf ,the ,care ,committee organisers1 in their ,report on the ,home ,circumstances of ,necessitous ,children in the same year1 remark that1 considering the poor accommodation and the inferior quality of the meals often provided for the children1 together with the fact that the highest average number of meals per child was #dd per week1 it could not be expected that there would be much noticeable improvement in the physical condition of the children4#dcg ,footnote #dcf3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,agenda for ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children1 ,appendix ,a41 ,july #f1 #aijh4 ,footnote #dcg3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,report on the ,home ,circumstances of ,necessitous ,children in twelve selected schools1 #aijh1 p4 #be4 ,since the formation of the ,local ,associations of ,care ,committees in #aiji conditions have improved1 but they are still far from satisfactory4 ,as we have already mentioned1 these ,associations were formed in order to introduce some measure of uniformity into the work of feeding the necessitous children of the metropolis4 ,they were from henceforth to be responsible for the arrangements made for the actual serving of the meals4 ,the selection of a suitable centre rests with them1 and it is their duty to arrange for the requisite supply of food and for the proper service of the meals and supervision of the children during the meal time4 ,the food may be supplied by the ,alexandra ,trust1 a local caterer1 a cookery centre or a kitchen managed by the ,local ,association4 ,the quality of the food varies according to the arrangements made by each ,local ,association4 ,the food specially prepared for the ,jewish children appears to be generally good4 ,at the cookery centres again1 though complaints are occasionally heard that the dinners are badly cooked1 they are as a rule appetising1 and the menu is varied4 ,the great majority of the meals are1 however1 supplied by the ,alexandra ,trust4 ,ten different dinner menus have been drawn up by this ,trust1 with a slight variation for summer1#dch but in practice there is very little variety1 practically the same dietary being repeated week after week2 usually there is a deficiency of proteids and fats4 ,the quantity supplied for each child varies considerably in different centres4 ,in one that we visited1 for instance1 each child was given a large helping of suet pudding with minced meat1 followed by a large plateful of rice1 and second helpings were given if required2 at another1 where the dinner consisted of only one course1 with a piece of bread1 the portions were very small2 the cook admitted that some of the children could eat more1 but if any were allowed a second helping all would ask for it1 whether they wanted it or not1 and the food would then be left uneaten4 ,footnote #dch3 ,for menus1 see ,appendix ,i4 ,how far the infants' needs are specially catered for depends on each ,local ,association4 ,sometimes they are fed by themselves at the ,cookery ,centre1 where it is easier to provide suitable food and to pay individual attention to their wants4 ,more often they go with the elder children to the feeding-centres4 ,the ,alexandra ,trust has drawn up a special menu for infants1 and in centres where the food is supplied otherwise than by the ,trust the ,council have instructed the ,local ,association to make special provision4#dci ,but it is rare to find any such provision made4 ,as a rule the infants have the same food as the elder children1 though in centres where there is careful supervision1 and where the infants are placed at a separate table1#ddj the size of the helping is suited to their appetites4 ,in many centres the number of infants is so few as to make the preparation of a separate diet hardly worth while1 and the provision of special food has been known to give rise to jealousy on the part of the elder children4 ,footnote #dci3 ,minutes of ,london ,county ,council1 ,december #bj1 #aiaj1 p4 #adia4 ,footnote #ddj3 ,frequently the infants are placed with the older children at the ordinary tables1 which are too high for them to reach up to with any comfort2 it is sometimes impossible for them to eat without spilling their food4 7,see the description of a feeding centre1 post1 p4 #afg47 ,ordinarily one meal a day is provided1 this meal being almost invariably dinner1 but in cases of special necessity or delicacy an additional meal may be given4 ,this meal may be either breakfast1 milk or codliver oil4 ,the practice varies in each school4 ,in some schools breakfast is never given1 or given only in very rare cases4 ,in others breakfasts as well as dinners are given to the most necessitous children4 ,at ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east formerly only breakfasts were given1 but now dinners are given in addition to all the children on the feeding-list2 the breakfast is used as a test1 the theory being that if the child does not come for breakfast it shall not receive dinner1 but in practice this plan is not strictly carried out4 ,milk and codliver oil are given in most schools1 when recommended by the ,school ,doctor2 in some schools milk is also given on economic grounds1 as an additional meal to specially necessitous children1 instead of breakfast4 ,in a few schools a quantity of milk is supplied in the middle of the morning1 and any child who pays a halfpenny can have it1 the children1 especially the infants1 being encouraged to spend their halfpence on milk instead of on sweets4 ,where no other suitable accommodation is available1 the meals may be served in the ,school ,hall1 but this method is not encouraged by the ,council1 and is frequently objected to by the teachers1 and it is only occasionally utilised4 ,often1 as we have already mentioned1 the meals are served in the cookery centres1 but the number of children that can be thus accommodated is necessarily limited1 and the centre may be closed during the summer4 ,till recently some ,local ,associations arranged for their children to be sent to small eating-houses4 ,we have already pointed out the disadvantages--the impossibility of making the meal in any sense educational1 and the lack of control over the dietary--inherent1 even under the most favourable conditions1 in this system4 ,but in ,london1 in many of these cookshops1 the conditions were the reverse of favourable2 they could1 indeed1 only be described as deplorable4 ,for instance1 at one eating-house1 where the children were sent for their dinners up to the spring of #aiab1 the room used was hardly larger than a cupboard1 and only six or eight children could be fed at a time2 the children had to go in relays and1 when the numbers were very large1 had to sit on the stairs eating their food4 ,in others the conditions were equally bad4 ,the plan of utilising restaurants is1 we are glad to say1 falling into disfavour1 but it is not yet entirely abandoned4 ,the most usual method is for the children to be sent to centres4 ,these centres are frequently basement rooms1 dark and cheerless4 ,occasionally plants or flowers are provided1 but it is very rare to find any attempt at table decoration4 ,since the average cost of serving the meals is much less proportionately if the number of children is large1 the ,county ,council has1 for the sake of economy1 decided that1 where possible1 schools shall be grouped1 and the children from them fed at one centre4#dda ,as we have already pointed out1 the herding together of large numbers of children from different schools deprives the meal of much of its educational value4 ,the children from the different schools will come in at different times4 ,often the centre is not large enough for them all to be accommodated at once1 and they have to be served in relays1 with the consequence that the meal must be hurried through4 ,they are usually seated at long tables1 and are often crowded together1 so that adequate supervision is rendered very difficult4 ,footnote #dda3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,handbook containing general information with reference to ,children's ,care1 #aiab1 p4 #ca4 ,the supervision is occasionally undertaken voluntarily by teachers1 and in many centres by other voluntary workers4 ,where their regular attendance can be secured the good results are soon apparent4 ,but the visits of voluntary supervisors are too often irregular1 and it may happen that no one is present to supervise the meal1 except the women who serve the food4 ,in many districts it is impossible to obtain the services of volunteers at all1 and paid supervisors are appointed4#ddb ,these may be assistant teachers1 retired teachers or other suitable persons4 ,one supervisor may be appointed for every hundred children1 but frequently the number to be looked after by one supervisor far exceeds a hundred4 ,thus1 in three centres we visited1 there were #adj to #afj children present1 whilst in two others the numbers were well over two hundred2 in all these there was only one supervisor4 ,footnote #ddb3 ,the payment is #gs4 #f;d4 a week4 7,ibid41 p4 #cd47 ,the ,county ,council has drawn up regulations for the management of the centres1#ddc but these regulations are largely disregarded4 ,the ,council1 for instance1 has laid it down that boys and girls are to be appointed to act as monitors1 to assist in laying the tables and serving the meals4 ,in many centres this is not even attempted1 and occasionally where their services are utilised1 owing to the large number of children present1 the supervisor is unable to devote much attention to the training of the monitors1 and their presence rather adds to the prevailing confusion than conduces to the orderly and quiet service of the meal4 ,another of the ,council's regulations directs that a separate mug shall be provided for each child4#ddd ,but it appears to be the exception rather than the rule for this instruction to be observed4 ,though a sufficient supply of mugs is1 or can on application be1 supplied for every centre1 the women who serve the meals1 being only employed and paid for a fixed time1 object to the extra labour involved in washing up4 ,frequently no mugs are placed on the table at all1 though we were told that the children could have water if they asked for it2 when mugs are provided there is often only one to every two or three children1 perhaps to every five or six6 ,at one centre that we visited1 though the girls were allowed mugs1 the boys were not trusted1 and mugs of water were placed on a side table for their indiscriminate use after the meal4 ,footnote #ddc3 ,ibid41 pp4 #bi-cj4 ,footnote #ddd3 ,ibid41 pp4 #cb-cc4 ,the actual management of each centre varies1 of course1 very largely according to the personality of the supervisor4 ,we have visited some two or three centres where all the arrangements were admirable2 the children were quiet and well-behaved1 there was little or no waste of food1 and attention was paid to individual wants4 ,but these cases are unfortunately exceptional4 ,out of twenty centres in different parts of ,london that we have seen1#dde in at least half the educational advantages to be derived from the common meal are imperfectly realised4#ddf ,in a few cases the supervisors appear to consider this aspect as but of secondary importance4 ,so long as the children are fed and some sort of rough order preserved1 they are satisfied4 ,the meal may be eaten in a babel of noise4 ,food which the children do not fancy they will throw on the floor1 little attempt being made to prevent waste4 ,but in any case1 in many centres1 owing to the large number of children to be attended to1 the task of inculcating table manners is an almost impossible one4 ,though the supervisors do their utmost1 for instance1 to teach the children to use spoons and forks1 it is not uncommon to observe children eating with their fingers--even occasionally licking their plates6 ,it is impossible for the supervisor to give that individual attention which is absolutely essential if the meal is to be in any sense educational4 ,footnote #dde3 ,these centres were all visited in the spring1 summer or autumn of #aiac4 ,we describe some typical examples in the ,appendix to this chapter4 ,footnote #ddf3 ,in #aiaa1 as the result of an inspection of all the feeding centres by the school doctors1 it was reported that in one-fifth 444 the conditions required material improvement1 to make the giving of these meals an educational function1 and to impress the hygiene of proper eating and cleanliness on the children4 7,annual ,report of the ,london ,county ,council for #aiaa1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #agj47 7g7--,overlapping with the ,poor ,law ,authority4 ,we have already described the extent to which1 in the provinces1 the provision of meals by the ,local ,education ,authority overlaps the granting of relief by the ,poor ,law ,authorities4 ,london is no exception to the general rule4 ,in #aijh it was found that out of #a1bah families investigated1 #cb per cent4 were at the time in receipt of out-relief1 while #aced per cent4 had recently been receiving such relief4#ddg ,in ,february1 #aiaj1 it was reported that1 of the children who were being fed all over ,london1 #df per cent4 were from families to whom ,poor ,law relief was being granted4#ddh ,the confusion was the greater since the practice of the ,guardians varied in each ,union4 ,there is no uniformity of policy or action amongst the ,boards1 reports the ,education ,committee of the ,county ,council in #aiaj4 ,for example1 there could hardly be a wider divergence of principle and practice between public bodies than that which exists between such ,boards as ,paddington1 ,fulham1 and ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east on the one hand1 and ,islington and ,poplar on the other4 ,in the case of ,fulham1 the ,guardians1 when assessing the relief to be granted1 take into account the extent to which school meals are already being supplied to children of the family 444 but in the case of ,poplar1 the ,guardians have informed the various school ,care ,committees that 'the fact that a family is in receipt of poor law relief should not be considered as a reason for the children not being supplied with meals4'#ddi ,to put an end to all this overlapping and diversity of practice1 the ,council proposed that the ,guardians should purchase school meals for the children of families who were in receipt of relief4 ,the ,local ,government ,board1 however1 declined to agree to this course4 ,in practice1 they thought1 it was hardly possible to avoid all difficulty of overlapping1 though it should be feasible1 with careful administration1 to restrict it within reasonable limits2 the only suggestion they offered towards the solution of the difficulty was that1 if it appeared to the ,education ,authority that a child whose parents were receiving out-relief required supervision by the ,guardians1 the ,education ,authority should communicate with the ,guardians with a view to an investigation of the circumstances4#dej ,this suggestion was acted upon1 and the ,care ,committees were instructed in future to notify to the ,guardians all cases in which1 to their knowledge1 necessitous children belonged to families in receipt of poor law relief4#dea ,but such notification had little practical result4 ,the ,guardians continued to grant inadequate relief1 and the ,council felt compelled to continue to provide these children with food4 ,how necessary school meals were was1 indeed1 clearly shown by a resolution of the ,hammersmith ,guardians1 who themselves actually declared that1 when school children's parents are in receipt of outdoor relief1 that fact should in general be taken as an indication that such children would be benefited by school meals1 and not as an indication that they are adequately fed1 since1 as a matter of fact1 outdoor relief is seldom or never adequate6#deb ,footnote #ddg3 ,london ,county ,council1 ,report on the ,home ,circumstances of ,necessitous ,children in twelve selected schools1 #aijh1 p4 #bb4 ,footnote #ddh3 ,annual ,report of ,london ,county ,council for #aiaj1 ,chapter ,,xli41 p4 #g4 ,footnote #ddi3 ,minutes of the ,london ,county ,council1 ,february #ae1 #aiaj1 p4 #age4 ,footnote #dej3 ,ibid41 ,july #bf-bg1 #aiaj1 p4 #cai4 ,footnote #dea3 ,london ,county ,council ,gazette1 ,may #bi1 #aiaa1 p4 #cgj4 ,footnote #deb3 ,school ,child1 ,february1 #aiab1 p4 #d4 ,though the ,council's proposal that the ,boards of ,guardians should repay the cost of the meals was rejected by the ,local ,government ,board1 as far as ,london generally was concerned1 individual ,boards have agreed to the plan4 ,in ,lambeth and ,chelsea the ,guardians have consented to pay the cost of meals supplied to the children of parents who are receiving out-relief1 if they consider that school meals are necessary4#dec ,at ,hampstead1 where the funds for the provision of school meals are supplied by the ,council of ,social ,welfare1#ded an informal arrangement has been made with the ,guardians4 ,where the mother can stay at home and can be trusted to expend the relief given in food for the children1 the ,guardians have agreed to give ample relief4 ,where the mother goes out to work or cannot be trusted to feed the children properly1 or where it is undesirable for the children to go home1 the ,council of ,social ,welfare pays for school dinners4 ,footnote #dec3 ,minutes of ,london ,county ,council1 ,november #e1 #aiab1 p4 #ajic2 ,london ,county ,council ,gazette1 ,january #bj1 #aiac1 p4 #fe4 ,footnote #ded3 ,see ante1 p4 #ada n4 ,but as a rule no definite arrangement is made4 ,a few ,care ,committees refuse to feed children whose parents are receiving relief1 but in the great majority of schools cases are to be found where children are being fed by the ,care ,committee1 while their parents are being relieved by the ,guardians4#dee ,frequently no official communication passes between the two authorities concerned4 ,the ,guardians may learn indirectly through the ,relieving ,officer1 or perhaps through some member of their ,board who happens also to be a member of the ,care ,committee1 that the latter are feeding the children4 ,where a system of mutual registration has been established1 each authority will1 theoretically1 be informed of what the other is doing4 ,how far all cases are actually notified will depend on the secretary of each individual ,care ,committee4 ,and this system of mutual registration does not prevent overlapping in many cases where the children are on the feeding-list for a short time only1 since cases are often notified only once a month1 by which time the necessity for feeding may have ceased4 ,occasionally the ,guardians ask the ,care ,committee to inform them if they discover any cases where the relief appears inadequate1 so that they may increase it1 if necessary4 ,in other ,unions the ,guardians deliberately count on the provision of school meals to supplement the relief given2 they tell the parents to apply for dinners and grant less relief in consequence1 thereafter priding themselves on keeping down the rates4 ,footnote #dee3 ,most of the cases of overlapping are1 of course1 cases in which the ,guardians are granting out-relief4 ,there are also the cases where the ,guardians are relieving a widow by maintaining some of her children in ,poor ,law schools1 but the mother has not sufficient income adequately to maintain the remaining child or children4 ,,appendix ,,examples ,,of ,,feeding ,,centres ,,in ,,london 7a7--,school1 visited ,october1 #aiac4 ,here the dinner is served in the ,infants' ,school in a room at the top of the building4 ,some sixty infants1 all attending the school1 were being fed4 ,they entered the room two by two and sat down together at low tables on specially small chairs4 ,two teachers were present throughout the meal2 they served the food1 and four of the children handed it round4 ,perfect order was kept1 and at the end of the meal all the children rose together1 and1 after saying grace1 marched out quietly4 ,the food is cooked on the premises1 the menu being drawn up by one of the teachers and varied every day4 ,the whole meal was served in as attractive a manner as possible1 and testified eloquently to the care and thought which must have been spent on its organisation4 7b7--,school1 visited ,june1 #aiac4 ,here the meal is served in the school hall4 ,the ,headmistress much objects to this plan1 since it leaves the atmosphere close and stuffy all the afternoon4 ,moreover1 the bringing in of the tables and forms1 an operation which has to be begun twenty minutes before the end of morning school1 causes a considerable commotion4 ,on the day of our visit #afj children1 boys1 girls and infants1 were receiving dinner4 ,for this number there were only one supervisor and two servers1 assisted by five or six monitresses chosen from among the elder children4 ,as a result of this inadequate supervision the meal was served in a perfect babel of noise2 the children shouted and screamed and banged their spoons on the table4 ,a bell was rung at intervals throughout the meal to obtain silence1 but no attention was paid to it4 ,the fact that there was a deficiency of seating accommodation heightened the confusion4 ,at the end of each table a child had to stand1 and those sitting down were crowded much too closely together4 ,separate tables were reserved for the infants1 of whom there were a large number1 some of them tiny mites of three years old4 ,the tables1 however1 were not specially adapted for them1 being of the ordinary height4 ,in consequence many of the little ones had considerable difficulty in feeding themselves1 their heads only just appearing above the table1 and1 of course1 nobody had time to attend to their wants4 ,it is only fair to add that we saw the centre at a particularly unfortunate time1 since the supervisor had only taken over the work a few days prior to our visit1 and therefore had not yet obtained a firm hold over the children4 ,the noise1 we were told1 was usually not so great4 7c7--,centre1 visited ,may1 #aiac4 ,this centre1 attended by children from two neighbouring schools1 is a striking illustration of what can be effected by patient and careful supervision4 ,at the time of our visit this work was being performed by an assistant teacher1 but before her appointment the secretary or some other member of the ,care ,committee daily supervised the meal for two years4 ,the meal was served in a large1 cheerful room4 ,no tablecloths were supplied2 at one time flowers were provided1 much to the joy of the children1 but it was found impossible to continue this practice4 ,the children were seated at small tables1 some eight or ten at each1 an arrangement which renders the work of supervision very much easier4 ,there were no infants present1 as these are sent to the ,cookery ,centre4 ,a boy or girl was responsible for each table2 they handed round the food1 paying attention to the individual appetites of the children4 ,no waste of food was permitted1 the children being kept till they had finished4 ,the whole scene1 the quiet and orderly behaviour of the children and their consideration for one another's wants1 left a most pleasing impression upon the mind4 ,at the date of our visit the numbers were small1 only some #ej children being present1 but we were told that their behaviour was quite as orderly even in winter1 when the numbers were much larger4 7d7--,centre1 visited ,march1 #aiac4 ,this centre is a large basement room in a ,mission ,hall1 dark and unattractive1 accommodating between #bjj and #cjj children4 ,it serves several neighbouring schools1 and the numbers on the day of our visit were too large to admit of all the children sitting down together4 ,as each child came in and gave up its ticket1 it seized a spoon and fork from a pile on a table near the door1 and rushed to its place4 ,when about half the children were seated1 grace was sung or rather shouted1 and then the food was brought in and literally flung on to the table by the server and one or two of the elder boys4 ,though the numbers were so large there was only one supervisor1 though we were told that occasionally one of the sisters from the neighbouring settlement came to help4 ,with such inadequate supervision it was1 of course1 impossible to teach table manners4 ,the children1 the boys especially1 gobbled down their dinner1 amid a hubbub of noise1 and hurried out as soon as they had finished1 other boys rushing in to take their places4 ,no special provision was made for the infants2 they were placed with the other children and were given the same food4 ,no attention was paid to individual appetites and much of the food1 we were told1 was wasted4 7e7--,centre1 visited ,june1 #aiac4 ,this is a centre for ,jewish children1 serving three or four neighbouring schools4 ,the room not being large enough to accommodate all the children at once1 two relays are necessary1 even in summer4 ,over #bjj children were present1 but there was only one supervisor1 assisted by four or five women4 ,the children entered in an orderly fashion and seated themselves at the table1 none being allowed to begin the meal till all were seated4 ,the infants were placed at a separate table2 they are given special food when the dietary provided for the other children is not suitable for them4 ,some of the elder girls acted as monitresses and helped to serve the food and clear up afterwards4 ,unfortunately1 owing to the fact that other children were waiting to come in1 the meal was necessarily hurried1 the second course being placed on the table while the children were still eating the first course4 ,though the order maintained was wonderful1 considering the large numbers present1 it was impossible to attend adequately to the children's manners2 many of them were using their fingers1 and there appeared to be considerable waste of food4 7f7--,centre1 visited ,october1 #aiac4 ,this is another centre for ,jewish children4 ,the dinner was served in a large1 dreary parish hall1 to some #bjj or #cjj children4 ,there was one supervisor and four servers1 while tickets were taken by the caretaker4 ,order was well preserved1 but only by means of the frequent ringing of a bell1 and by the enforcement of absolute silence4 ,the supervisor said that if the children were allowed to talk the noise would be unbearable4 ,before being given their food1 the children were told to hold up their hands if they were big eaters1 the margin of waste being minimised in this way4 ,although the manners and behaviour of the children could not be said to be bad1 the whole effect was singularly unattractive--the bare room1 the large numbers1 and the frequent shouted commands and rebukes of the supervisor leaving no scope for humanising and educational influences4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,the ,,extent ,,and ,,causes ,,of ,,malnutrition ,defective nutrition1 ,sir ,george ,newman points out1 stands in the forefront as the most important of all physical defects from which school children suffer4#def ,malnutrition1 'debility' and other physical defects in childhood are the ancestry of tuberculosis in the adult4 ,they predispose to disease1 and are1 in a sense1 both its seed and its soil4#deg ,footnote #def3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 p4 #bf4 ,footnote #deg3 ,ibid41 p4 #a4 ,it is impossible to give any figures as to the extent of this defect1 since nutrition is not a condition which can be measured by any definite standards4 ,the weight of the child is1 of course1 a most important matter to be noted1 but there are other points--the ratio of stature to weight2 the general appearance1 carriage and 'substance' of the child2 the firmness of the tissues2 the presence of subcutaneous fat2 the development of the muscular system2 the condition of the skin and redness of the mucous membranes2 the expression of listlessness or alertness1 apathy or keenness2 the condition of the various systems of the body2 and1 speaking generally1 the relative balance and co-ordination of the functions and powers of digestion1 absorption and assimilation of food4#deh ,each observer adopts a different standard of what constitutes good nutrition1 and hence the statistics given in the reports of the ,school ,medical ,officers cannot be used for comparative purposes4 ,according to the latest figures1 as quoted by the ,president of the ,board of ,education1 #aj per cent4 of the elementary school children of ,england and ,wales suffer from defective nutrition4#dei ,many of the ,school ,medical ,officers1 however1 have obviously adopted a low standard and ,mr4 ,arthur ,greenwood1 who has made a careful enquiry into this subject1 is of opinion that1 taking the country as a whole1 not merely #aj per cent41 but probably a number approaching #bj per cent41 show perceptible signs of malnutrition4#dfj ,footnote #deh3 ,ibid41 p4 #bf4 ,footnote #dei3 ,hansard1 ,april #aj1 #aiac1 ,vol4 #ea1 p4 #acha2 ,the ,health and ,physique of ,school ,children1 by ,arthur ,greenwood1 #aiac1 p4 #dh4 ,footnote #dfj3 ,ibid41 p4 #ej4 ,unfortunately1 there is reason to believe that the degeneration is progressive4 ,in an enquiry conducted by ,dr4 ,arkle at ,liverpool1 #b1aaa children from three elementary schools were compared1 as to height and weight1 with #cff children from secondary schools4 ,the results 7see accompanying table7 showed that at practically every age the heights and weights of the children varied directly with the class from which they were drawn1 and the deficit increased out of proportion to the rate of growth4 ,these figures1 he points out1 are rendered all the more striking when one considers that one is talking of children and not of full-grown men4 ,a difference of a stone in the weight of two men may not be a very great matter1 but when the investigation shows such a discrepancy between two groups of boys of eleven1 it means that one of the groups is deficient to the extent of one-fifth of the whole body weight1 and the decadence is so progressive that the deficiency has by fourteen years of age almost reached a quarter of the whole body weight4#dfa ,footnote #dfa3 ,the ,medical ,examination of ,school ,children1 by ,dr4 ,a4 ,s4 ,arkle1 a paper read at the ,north of ,england ,education ,conference1 ,january1 #aijg 7reprinted in ,school ,government ,chronicle1 ,supplement1 ,january #ab1 #aijg1 pp4 #gg1 #hi74 ,as we have already said1 the nutrition cannot be determined solely by weight4 ,in fact1 as a ,school ,medical ,officer points out1 an ill-nourished child may be above the average weight1 or1 on the other hand1 a healthy child may be much under the average and yet not be ill-nourished4 7,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,leeds for #aiaj1 p4 #bg47 ,but when dealing with large numbers of children1 the average weight furnishes a reliable index of nutrition4 ,this malnutrition is to be attributed to many causes besides actual lack of food4 ,improper food and hurried methods of eating account for much malnutrition4 ,so much has been written on the subject of the wrong feeding of children that it seems unnecessary to labour this point4 ,one can1 indeed1 hardly open a report of a ,school ,medical ,officer without finding this evil deplored4 ,in the poorest homes there are frequently no fixed meal times2 the children are given a piece when they are hungry1 and this is often eaten in the street or on the doorstep4 ,bread and tea figure largely in the dietary4 ,supper is frequently the principal meal of the day1 with resulting indigestion for the children4 ,employment out of school hours and want of sleep are again important factors4 ,indeed1 in the eyes of some ,school ,medical ,officers1 malnutrition is due more to want of sleep than to lack of food4 ,the children are almost invariably kept up till late at night1 it being a rare exception to find a child being sent to bed at anything approaching a reasonable hour4 ,a still more potent cause1 perhaps1 is to be found in bad housing conditions4 ,striking testimony as to the relation between the physique of school children and housing was adduced by ,dr4 ,leslie ,mackenzie and ,captain ,foster1 as a result of an enquiry into the condition of #gb1heg school children in ,glasgow4 ,if we take all the children of ages from #e to #ah1 they report1 we find that the average weight of the one-roomed boy is #ebf lbs42 of the two-roomed1 #efa lbs42 of the three-roomed1 #fjf lbs42 of the four-roomed and over1 #fdc lbs4 ,the respective heights are #dff inches2 #dha inches2 #ejj inches and #eac inches4 ,for girls the corresponding figures are3--,weights1 #eae lbs42 #edh lbs42 #eid lbs42 #fee lbs4 ,the heights are #dfc inches2 #dgh inches2 #dif inches2 #egf inches4#dfb ,footnote #dfb3 ,report by ,dr4 ,leslie ,mackenzie and ,captain ,a4 ,foster1 on the ,physical ,condition of ,children attending the ,public ,schools of the ,school ,board of ,glasgow1 #aijg1 p4 v4 ,at ,east ,ham also the nutrition of the children was found to vary in accordance with the number of rooms3--#dfc ,number of ,rooms4 ,number of ,percentage with ,children ,nutritional ,examined4 ,defects4 ,children from #b and #c-roomed #bee #agb houses #d-roomed houses #dhf #afg #e-roomed houses #feg #acb #f-roomed houses #a1dhf #ace ,number of ,persons per ,room4 ,less than one #hgg #ib ,one #egf #aed ,between one and two #a1cgi #aeb ,two and more #aha #agg ,footnote #dfc3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,east ,ham for #aiaa1 p4 #ef4 ,the interpretation of these tables1 as the ,school ,medical ,officer points out1 must be guarded4 ,but1 he continues1 ,i think it is safe to assume that nutrition 444 suffered the more confined the individual4#dfd ,footnote #dfd3 ,ibid41 p4 #eg4 ,actual physical defects1 such as decayed teeth1#dfe adenoids or enlarged tonsils1 or definite diseases1 such as phthisis1 may account for malnutrition in many cases4 ,want of cleanliness again may be a cause4#dff ,footnote #dfe3 ,the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,cumberland found that whilst1 at the age of #c to #d1 #bhd per cent4 of the boys and #chg per cent4 of the girls were classified as good1 the percentages diminish gradually till at the age of #g to #h they are only #abh and #aei1 but from #bjd and #big at the age of #ab to #ac they gradually rise to #cfj and #cdf at the age of #ad to #ae4 ,probably in most cases the condition of the teeth is responsible for this falling off in condition4 ,in the early years of life1 before the teeth begin to go bad1 the nutrition is good1 but gradually gets worse as time goes on and more teeth decay1 but nutrition again improves after the eruption of the permanent teeth1 which1 of course1 are in the majority of cases sound for some little time4 7,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,cumberland for #aiaa1 p4 #bj47 ,footnote #dff3 ,the cleanliness of the houses and especially of the bedrooms 444 has an important bearing on nutrition4 7,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,congleton for #aiaa1 p4 #d47 ,a ,school ,medical ,officer in ,london told us that if a child improved in the point of cleanliness there was a marked improvement also in nutrition4 ,the precise effect to be attributed to each cause is difficult to estimate4 ,often1 of course1 two or more factors will be present1 concurrently and interdependently4 ,in an enquiry made in #aiaj by ,dr4 ,chate1 into the condition of #egj children 7#cjg boys and #bfc girls7 in a rural or semi-rural district of ,middlesex who were suffering from malnutrition1 it was found that poverty was the principal cause in #bie per cent4 of the cases among the boys1 and #bfa per cent4 among the girls4 ,adenoids1 worms1 rickets1 carious teeth and oral sepsis accounted for #cbg per cent4 among the boys1 and #ccc per cent4 among the girls4 ,improper diet was the main cause in #bc per cent4 of the cases4 ,in #fi cases malnutrition was due to some disease such as tuberculosis1 chronic bronchitis1 etc41 while in #ac cases it was attributed to overcrowding1 and in #aj cases to overwork with insufficient sleep4#dfg ,in the following year a similar enquiry was made by ,dr4 ,tate in a suburban residential area of the same county4 ,out of #afg cases1 defective nutrition was found to be due to poverty and neglect in #bcc per cent42 to rickets1 adenoids1 worms or digestive disorder in #bhe per cent42 to lung affection in #ed per cent42 in #gb per cent4 malnutrition appeared to be associated with some previous or present condition of ill-health1 to account for which no organic mischief could be found at the time of inspection2 while in #cc instances no obvious cause could be assigned4#dfh ,footnote #dfg3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 pp4 #bi-cj4 ,footnote #dfh3 ,ibid41 for #aiaa1 p4 #cj4 ,at ,bootle the ,school ,medical ,officer reports that out of #bhi cases of sub-normal nutrition1 the cause is to be sought in #gh per cent4 in some definite disease or physical defect 7including disturbances of digestion due to improper feeding72 in #ag per cent4 there are no definite signs of organic disease2 while in #e per cent4 malnutrition is due to neglect4#dfi ,footnote #dfi3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,bootle for #aiab1 p4 #ag4 ,at ,wolverhampton ,dr4 ,badger reports that1 out of #aca cases1 malnutrition is due to the influence or reaction of disease1 convalescence from recent disease1 or defective heredity in #fd2 to pampering in #d2 to excessive growth in #a2 to overwork and insufficient sleep in #aa2 to ignorance and poverty in #be2 while in #bf cases there was strong evidence of neglect1 dirt or drink4#dgj ,in his opinion1 an opinion based upon a comparison of the clothing and footgear of the malnourished and normal children1 the malnutrition of the scholars examined was not primarily due to poverty4#dga ,this1 as ,sir ,george ,newman points out1 may well have been the case1 but the fact that the examinations were 'routine' in character1 when the children are apt to be specially dressed and boots even borrowed for the occasion1 makes this particular item1 unless subjected to further analysis1 of little or no value as a criterion in forming a judgment as to the relation of poverty to the malnutrition4#dgb ,footnote #dgj3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,wolverhampton for #aiaa1 p4 #bh4 ,footnote #dga3 ,ibid41 p4 #cb4 ,footnote #dgb3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #be4 ,other ,school ,medical ,officers are of the same opinion as ,dr4 ,badger4 ,at ,congleton the ,school ,medical ,officer visited the homes of a considerable number of children whose nutrition was defective1 with a view to ascertaining the cause of their condition4 ,he found that actual poverty of the parents and inability to provide food was comparatively rare1 that neglect was common1 and unsuitable food probably the most frequent cause4#dgc ,at ,hornsey in the majority of cases some definite ailment was apparent to explain1 at least partially1 the condition4 ,there were very few instances in which it could be certainly stated that insufficiency of food was the sole cause4#dgd ,at ,manchester the vast majority of children whose nutrition was medium and many of those who were poorly nourished were not in this condition through want of food4444 ,each year's work adds to the evidence that poverty is not responsible for more than about #ej per cent4 of the cases4#dge ,on the other hand1 the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,kidderminster reports1 ,i find that the better condition of trade and employment in the town was reflected in the improved nutrition of the children4444 ,this also tends to show that the majority of cases of defective nutrition arise1 not from carelessness and inattention on the part of the parents1 but from inability on their part to provide the children with sufficient nourishment owing to want of means4#dgf ,footnote #dgc3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,congleton for #aiaa1 p4 #d4 ,footnote #dgd3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,hornsey for #aiaa1 p4 #ad4 ,footnote #dge3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for #aiaa1 in ,report of the ,manchester ,education ,committee1 #aiaj-aa1 p4 #bdb4 ,footnote #dgf3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,kidderminster for #aiaa1 p4 #b4 ,it is indeed impossible to say how much malnutrition is due to poverty4 ,though the immediate cause may be disease1 overwork1 or overcrowding1 these evils are themselves largely the result of insufficient means4 ,the relation between the malnutrition of the children and the amount of the family income is strikingly illustrated by the results of an enquiry recently made into the diet of the labouring classes in ,glasgow4 ,a careful study was made of the family diet of certain selected families during a week1 or in some cases a fortnight1 and the energy value of each diet expressed in terms of the requirements of a man per day1 a woman or a boy of #ad to #af being reckoned as equivalent to #h of a man1 a girl of #ad to #af as #g1 and children of #aj to #ac1 #f to #i1 #b to #e1 and under #b respectively as #f1 #e1 #d1 #c4 ,if a family diet expressed in this way gives a yield of energy of less than #c1ejj calories per man per day1 it is insufficient for active work1 and if less than #c1jjj calories1 it is quite inadequate for the proper maintenance of growth and of normal activity4#dgg ,footnote #dgg3 ,report upon a ,study of the ,diet of the ,labouring ,classes in the ,city of ,glasgow carried out during #aiaa-ab1 by ,dorothy ,e4 ,lindsay1 ,b4,sc41 #aiac1 pp4 #e-f4 ,taking the average intake of energy and of protein in the various groups comprising #eb families1 the results are as follows3-- ,energy4 ,protein4 ,group ,a4 ,income regular1 average #cis4 #c1ahd #aach 7excluding ,,lix4 abnormal7 ,group ,b4 ,income regular1 lodgers kept1 #c1caf #aaag average #dcs4 ,group ,c4 ,income regular1 between #bgs4 #c1dfg #aah #cas4 ,group ,d4 #bjs4 #c1def #aagg #bes4 ,group ,e4 under #bjs4 #b1fij #igh ,group ,f4 ,income irregular1 over #bjs4 #b1iid #ajh 7excluding ,,xliv4 abnormal7 #b1ghd #ajad ,group ,g4 ,income irregular1 under #bjs4 #b1gig #iff ,group ,h4 father #c1aee #ajci drinks or1 excluding ,,xxvii4 abnormal #b1iba #ief ,these figures show conclusively that1 while the labouring classes with a regular income of over #bjs4 a week generally manage to secure a diet approaching the proper standard for active life1 those with a smaller income and those with an irregular income entirely fail to get a supply of food sufficient for the proper development and growth of the body or for the maintenance of a capacity for active work4#dgh ,an interesting point in connection with these studies is the influence of the diet on the physical condition of the children4 ,the weights of a number of children which were obtained show very markedly the relationship between the physique and the food4 ,when the weight is much below the average for that age1 almost without exception the diet is inadequate4#dgi ,footnote #dgh3 ,ibid41 p4 #bg4 ,the numbers in each group are so small that the average does not furnish a reliable index1 but that the conclusion drawn from the figures is warranted is shown by the fact that of the #bg families in the first four groups 7excluding one case where the circumstances are abnormal71 #h have a dietary yielding over #c1ejj calories of energy and only #f fall below the minimum of #c1jjj1 while of the #bb families in the remaining groups 7excluding two abnormal cases71 only one has a dietary yielding over #c1ejj calories1 while no less than #af fall below the minimum4 7,ibid41 pp4 #ab-bc47 ,here1 of course1 again we have the question of wrong feeding4 ,in many cases the income could have been laid out to better advantage4 ,where one family gets nearly their minimum adequate diet on an expenditure of #ea pence per man per diem 444 others on an expenditure of nearly #i;d4 fail to secure it4 7,ibid41 p4 #bi47 ,footnote #dgi3 ,ibid41 p4 #cj4 ,dr4 ,larkins1 late assistant ,school ,medical ,officer for ,surrey1 also came to the conclusion that a steady wage of #bjs4 a week is required to produce and properly maintain average strong well-nourished children2 that below this figure1 the danger zone is reached4 ,this conclusion was based on an enquiry he made into the wages of the parents of all children aged #ac that he examined during a considerable period4#dhj ,the results are seen in the following table3-- ,footnote #dhj3 ,the actual number of children examined is not stated4 ,average ,average ,weight ,general ,condition of ,average number of ,weekly in lbs4 of the children children in family4 ,wages4 children aged 7,percent ,very ,good _/ 7,total1 ,under #ad1 between #ac and ,average _/ ,poor7 ,over #ad7 #ad4 ,over #bes4 #iif #ej _/ #df _/ #d #ee #cd #ba #bjs4 to #hda #ae _/ #gc _/ #aa #eg #bh #bi #bes4 #ahs4 to #ggj _/ #ef _/ #dd #fc #ch #be #bjs4 #afs4 to #gbf _/ #dbe _/ #ege #ff #db #bd #ahs4 #ads4 to #gdc _/ #bb _/ #gh #gf #bi #dg #afs4 #abs4 to #gjh _/ #bj _/ #hj #cf #bb #ad #ads4 ,the wages are the total weekly income out of which everything has to be paid1 including rent1 which varies from #ds4 to #gs4 #f;d4 7,the ,influence of ,wages on the ,child's ,nutrition1 by ,f4 ,e4 ,larkins1 ,m4,d4 ,edin41 ,d4,p4,h41 late ,assistant ,school ,medical ,officer for ,surrey1 in ,the ,medical ,officer1 ,december #ag1 #aiaj1 p4 #cdg47 ,the effect of education is1 as was recognised thirty years ago1 to intensify the evil of malnutrition4 ,to educate underfed children1 says ,dr4 ,leslie ,mackenzie1 is to promote deterioration of physique by exhausting the nervous system4 ,education of the underfed is a positive evil4#dha ,defective nutrition1 says the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,blackburn1 to a far greater extent than any other single cause1 and probably more than all other causes combined1 renders children incapable of education4 ,in a growing child the demands of muscle and bone must be satisfied before those of nervous tissue1 and consequently when there is deficiency1 or what comes to the same thing1 unsuitability of food or inability to assimilate it1 the nervous system is the first to suffer1 the brain is starved and anmic1 and the extra strain involved in school work can have only a harmful1 and in some cases a disastrous result4#dhb ,there is probably no disease of children1 says another ,school ,medical ,officer1 which needs combating more than bad nutrition4444 ,it is quite impossible for any child thus affected to compete mentally with normal children of similar age2 in fact1 mental defect is frequently found in association with malnutrition4#dhc ,footnote #dha3 ,the ,medical ,inspection of ,school ,children1 by ,dr4 ,w4 ,leslie ,mackenzie1 assisted by ,dr4 ,e4 ,matthew1 #aijd1 p4 #aif4 ,footnote #dhb3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,blackburn for #aiaa1 p4 #aij4 ,footnote #dhc3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,leeds for #aiab1 p4 #cj4 ,this relation of mental capacity to nutrition was exemplified in the figures quoted by ,dr4 ,ralph ,crowley at the ,education ,conference in #aijg4 ,he examined #a1hdj children in elementary schools at ,bradford1 and classified them according to their nutrition and intelligence4 ,of the children of exceptional intelligence1 #fbg per cent4 were of good nutrition1 #cef per cent4 were below normal1 and #ag per cent4 were of poor or very poor nutrition4 ,of the children who were exceptionally dull1 only #bdi per cent4 were of good nutrition1 #cie were below normal1 and no less than #cef poor or very poor4#dhd ,footnote #dhd3 ,the ,physical ,conditions of ,school ,children1 by ,dr4 ,ralph ,h4 ,crowley1 ,north of ,england ,education ,conference1 ,january1 #aijg 7reprinted in the ,school ,government ,chronicle1 ,supplement1 ,january #ab1 #aijg1 pp4 #hj-ha74 ,in an enquiry made at ,manchester by the ,school ,medical ,officer a few years ago1 it was found on examining #adf poorly nourished and #afc markedly badly nourished children1 that #efa per cent4 of the former were below par in mental capacity1 and #dh per cent4 were classed as bad2 of the latter #fcb per cent4 were below normal1 and #abi per cent4 bad4 ,but the most remarkable results are recorded by ,dr4 ,arkle1 of ,liverpool1 in the enquiry to which we have already referred4 ,he asked the teachers to give evidence as to the intelligence of the #b1aaa elementary school children whom he examined4 ,the teachers in ',a' and ',b' both return about #fj per cent4 of the children as normal in intelligence1 but whereas the former returns #be per cent4 as above and #ae per cent4 below normal1 the latter only returns #e per cent4 above and #ce per cent4 as below the normal4 ,but it is in the return from the poorest school that we get the most curious result4 ,in ',c' the master only feels justified in calling #bb per cent4 of the boys normal1 while he puts #cc per cent4 above and #de per cent4 below normal4 ,these figures1 it seems to me1 writes ,dr4 ,arkle1 can only be explained on one hypothesis4 ,i believe1 and my personal notes tend to confirm this view1 that almost all the abnormal intelligences in the poorest school are due to the one factor--starvation4444 ,over and over again ,i noted such cases of children without an ounce of superfluous flesh upon them1 with skins harsh and rough1 a rapid pulse and nerves ever on the strain1 and yet with the expression of the most lively intelligence4 ,but it is the eager intelligence of the hunting animal4444 ,i fear it is from this class that the ranks of pilferers and sneak thieves come1 and their cleverness is not of any real intellectual value4 ,on the other hand1 with children of a more lymphatic temperament1 starvation seems to produce creatures more like automata4444 ,if ,i told one of these children to open its mouth1 it would take no notice till the request became a command1 which had to be accompanied by a slight shake to draw the child's attention4 ,then the mouth would be slowly opened widely1 but no effort would be made to close it again until the child was told to do so4444 ,i believe both these types of children are suffering from what ,i would call starvation of the nervous system1 in one case causing irritation and in the other torpor4 ,and1 further1 these cases are always associated with the clearest signs of bodily starvation1 stunted growth1 emaciation1 rough and cold skin and the mouth full of viscid saliva due to hunger4#dhe ,footnote #dhe3 ,the ,medical ,examination of ,school ,children1 by ,dr4 ,a4 ,s4 ,arkle1 in ,school ,government ,chronicle1 ,supplement1 ,january #ab1 #aijg1 p4 #gh4 ,somewhat similar results were observed by ,dr4 ,badger1 the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,wolverhampton4 ,in comparing #a1bii normal children of thirteen years of age with #ajj mal-nourished children1 he found that1 while of the normal scholars #aff per cent4 were of good intelligence1 #fh per cent4 of average intelligence and #aee per cent4 dull1 among the mal-nourished children the percentages were respectively #af1 #ei and #be4dhf ,this record in respect of intelligence1 points out ,sir ,george ,newman1 shows1 what has been noted by other observers1 that though the proportion of children considered as 'dull' by the teachers is considerably larger among mal-nourished children than among children generally1 nevertheless there are children who suffer serious defects in nutrition whose mental powers are well above the average4 ,it is naturally quick and keen children such as these who require care in order that their physical health may not be further injured by excessive mental application4#dhg ,footnote #dhf3 ,report of the ,school ,medical ,officer for ,wolverhampton for #aiaa1 p4 #bd4 7,quoted in ,report of ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bd47 ,footnote #dhg3 ,report of ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bd4 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,effect ,,of ,,school ,,meals ,,on ,,the ,,children ,since the causes of malnutrition are so many and diverse it is obvious that this defect cannot be remedied or prevented solely by the provision of school meals4 ,but that the provision of wholesome food at regular hours has a marked effect in the improvement of the physique of the children1 there is abundant evidence4 ,unfortunately1 though the periodic weighing of children who are receiving school meals1 in order to ascertain the effect produced1 has been strongly advocated by the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education1#dhh this advice has rarely been acted upon4 ,it is true that a few--a very few--,education ,authorities profess to have a system of weighing children who are receiving meals1 before they are put on1 and after they are taken off1 the feeding-list1 but for the most part this weighing is only done spasmodically1 and the records are not accessible4 ,footnote #dhh3 ,report of the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaa1 p4 #bhf4 ,several such enquiries have1 however1 been made in the past1 the best known being that made by ,dr4 ,ralph ,crowley at ,bradford in #aijg4dhi ,the results of this experiment have been often quoted1 but they are so important that they will bear repetition4 ,forty children were selected from two of the poorest schools in the city1 the children being mainly those who appeared to be most in need of food1 though a few were included primarily on the ground of their particularly poor home circumstances4#dij ,to these children from ,april #ag to ,july #bd two meals a day were given--breakfast1 consisting of oatmeal porridge with milk and treacle followed by bread and margarine or dripping1 with hot or cold milk to drink2 and a dinner comprising in rotation one of seventeen different menus specially drawn up so as to contain the amounts of fat and proteid necessary for a child's nourishment4#dia ,every effort was made to render the meals of as much educational value as possible1 and special attention was given to such matters as the provision of table-cloths and flowers and the inculcation of good manners4 ,footnote #dhi3 ,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,report on a ,course of ,meals given to necessitous children from ,april to ,july1 #aijg4 ,footnote #dij3 ,ibid41 p4 #c4 ,footnote #dia3 ,ibid41 pp4 #d1 #e4 ,the children experimented on were weighed three times during the five weeks preceding the starting of the meals1 and every week while they were receiving them4 ,for the purpose of making comparative observations #fi children were selected who were being fed at home1 and who in other respects were as comparable as possible with those who were receiving the breakfasts and dinners4 ,these control children were also weighed weekly4 ,during the four weeks1 ,march #ab to ,april #i1 before the feeding began1 the forty children gained on an average #ag kilos1 and during the week previous to feeding #jjh kilos4 ,at the end of the first week of feeding the average increase was found to be #eh kilos 7#a lb4 #d oz474#dib ,during the next week1 there was a slight loss of #jja kilos1 followed by a gain during the next two weeks of #ae and #ac kilos respectively4 ,during the ensuing eleven days1 the ,whitsuntide holiday1 no meals were given4 ,at the end of this period it was found that the control children who1 during the three weeks preceding the holiday1 had lost #jjc kilos on the average1 had during these eleven days gained an average of #bc kilos2 in the case1 however1 of the children fed at school1 not only had the lack of food neutralised the benefits of fresh air and exercise1 but they had actually lost an average of #dh kilos1 a loss which it took them nearly a fortnight to make up1 after the meals had been started again4 ,during the eleven days after the holiday the control children only gained #jb kilos4 ,a group of control children from another school similarly gained #ba kilos during the holiday1 and only #jd kilos during the subsequent fortnight4 ,the same result was observed during the five weeks' summer holiday2 the control children gained on an average #cg kilos 7i4e41 at the rate of #jgd kilos per week71 while the children fed at school lost #df kilos4#dic ,the accompanying chart illustrates the rate of increase of the two groups of children4 ,apart from the increase in weight1 the improvement in the general appearance and carriage of the children who received the meals was more or less apparent in all1 and very obvious in some of the children1 who visibly filled out and brightened up4#did ,the reverse process was equally apparent after the summer holidays4 ,footnote #dib3 ,the average gain per year of children of this class and size1 ,dr4 ,crowley points out1 is not more than two kilos 7#d lbs4 #f oz47 for the whole year4 7,ibid41 p4 #i47 ,footnote #dic3 ,ibid41 pp4 #i-aa4 ,as ,dr4 ,crowley points out1 several points have to be considered in interpreting the effect on weight4 ,the increase in the weight of children normally varies greatly at different seasons of the year1 and at any given season fluctuates much1 sometimes1 comparatively1 even from week to week4 ,the proportional increase in weight varies with the age of the child1 or rather with the weight to which the child has already attained4 7,ibid41 p4 #h47 ,footnote #did3 ,ibid41 p4 #h4 ,illustration3 ,chart illustrating the average gain or loss in weight--during the intervals shown--of the children who were fed at ,bradford4 ,the broken line shows the average increase in weight--during the same time--of the ,control ,children4 ,at ,northampton1 in #aiji1 a similar experiment was conducted under the supervision of the ,medical ,officer of ,health4 ,forty-four children were given breakfast and dinner for fourteen weeks1 and weighed weekly1 together with forty children of the same social class who were not receiving meals4 ,at the beginning of the experiment the average weight of the fed children was #aga kilos less than that of the controls2 in the second week their average gain was much greater1 and by the end of the fourteenth week the difference in weight was reduced to #ajb kilos4 ,during the ,easter holidays of ten days in which no meals were given1 the children who had previously been fed lost in weight while the controls gained4#die ,footnote #die3 ,report on the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act up to ,march #ca1 #aiji1 pp4 #ad-ae4 ,another interesting experiment was conducted by ,dr4 ,haden ,guest in a poor school in ,lambeth in the early part of #aijh4dif ,a large number of children were selected--#bdd--;but the attendance of many of these was irregular and continuous records were obtained in the case of only #hi children4 ,from ,january #bd to ,april #aa a midday meal was given six days a week4 ,the meal consisted of two courses1 a normal portion of which was calculated to be sufficient to supply the amounts of proteids1 carbohydrates1 fats and salts1 physiologically necessary for children4 ,the same meal was never given twice in succession1 a variation of six menus being repeated over twelve consecutive days4 ,the room in which the meals were served was bright and airy1 the surroundings having1 in ,dr4 ,guest's estimation1 an important physiological bearing on good digestion4 ,all the children in the school were weighed before and after the experiment and again in the first week of ,july1 the children who were receiving dinners being also weighed regularly during the experiment4 ,taking first the case of the elder children1 we read that the results showed a very decided and positive improvement both from the general standpoint and from that of increase in weight1 the fed children increasing at a more rapid rate than the other children in the school with whom they were compared4#dig ,starting a good deal below the normal of their own school mates1 they tended1 under the influence of one good meal a day1 rapidly to approach that normal4 ,and again1 the increase in the healthy appearance of the children and in their general alertness was marked4 ,children with sores1 small abscesses1 colds and blepharitis recovered from these ailments4444 ,the amount of absence from school due to illness was considerably less during the course of the experiment4 ,this testimony was fully borne out by the headmaster4 ,the effect of the feeding of the children1 he declared1 is a marked improvement judging from the general appearance of the boys1 who are almost all brighter4 ,the improvement is particularly noticeable in their play4 ,they are more vigorous and enter more heartily into the rougher games of boys and bear the knocks without coming to the teacher to complain4 ,they certainly enjoy their play more and show less fatigue4 ,there are few lads shivering against the walls with hands in pockets1 sloping shoulders and pale faces4 ,in school1 the effect during the first few weeks was drowsiness4 ,this was succeeded by improved tone and greater independence of character1 and generally a greater individuality4 ,the difference in mental condition is not so marked1 and is certainly more difficult to measure4 ,there is less fatigue in lessons1 and the lads are capable of more continuous exertion4 ,the teachers' reports on the girls were of the same character1 though not so decided in tone1 except on one point--that those who were fed were more troublesome1 that is to say1 more full of spirits1 a factor which appeared also in their play4 ,turning to the effect of the meals on the infants a most disquieting state of affairs was disclosed4 ,it was found that1 while the weight of the infants who were fed was less than that of the other infants of their own school1 the difference was much less than in the case of the bigger children1 the increase in weight in each case correspondingly slow1 and the amount by which both groups fell below the normal greater4 ,during the first week there was a remarkable fall in weight among the infants who received meals1 ascribable partly to the fact that they did not receive the necessary attention which was afterwards given them1 partly to the fact that they were unfamiliar with good nourishing food 7a factor operating in the case of the elder children also1 though to a far less degree#dih72 largely1 however1 it was due to their being actually unable to digest and assimilate this food4 ,this slow progress on the part of the infants ,dr4 ,guest attributed to improper feeding at home4 ,in most ,lambeth homes the younger children received the same diet 7the staple articles being tea and bread and butter7 as the older ones1 but whereas the latter could manage on this diet1 and1 with a good midday meal in addition1 even flourish1 the former could not thrive4 ,dr4 ,guest therefore advocated that necessitous infants should be fed at least twice a day1 on a diet different from that given to the elder children1 and that more individual care should be devoted to each child1 since in most cases they required coaxing before they would eat the wholesome food provided4 ,footnote #dif3 ,,ms4 ,report on ,lambeth ,school ,children ,feeding ,experiment1 by ,dr4 ,l4 ,haden ,guest1 #aijh4 ,footnote #dig3 ,we have1 unfortunately1 not been able to obtain a copy of the figures on which ,dr4 ,haden ,guest's report is based4 ,footnote #dih3 ,in the case of the boys1 their weights1 during this week1 only increased a little2 those of the girls remained stationary4 ,on the cessation of the meals we find the same result ensuing as we have already noticed at ,bradford and ,northampton4 ,for when1 in ,july1 #aijh1 three months after the meals had been discontinued1 all the children were again weighed and measured1 it was found that there was a general decline in weight2 the decline was so general that it was obviously due partly to a diminution in clothing1 but the necessitous children1 who after the conclusion of the experiment were only fed spasmodically1 show a greater decrease than the other children1 pointing to either a stationary weight during the twelve weeks from ,april to ,july or a loss of weight4 ,interesting figures as to the effects of different dietaries were obtained at ,sheffield in #aiaj4 ,before this date the meals provided for necessitous children had taken the form of cocoa breakfasts4 ,as an experiment at one school some of the boys were given porridge for several weeks4 ,their weights were compared with those of a group of other boys who were receiving cocoa breakfasts at school1 and also with a group of boys who were being fed at home4 ,the two groups of boys who were fed at school were drawn from equally poor districts1 those who were fed at home being somewhat better off4 ,it was found that the boys who were receiving cocoa breakfasts only gained on an average #jdea kilos or #aeh oz4 per week2 the boys who were being fed at home gained #jeid kilos 7#bji oz472 while the boys who were receiving porridge breakfasts gained as much as #jidb kilos 7#ccag oz474 ,as a result of this proof of the superiority of porridge diet1 porridge breakfasts were substituted for cocoa breakfasts in all the schools4#dii ,footnote #dii3 ,report of ,chief ,school ,medical ,officer for ,sheffield for #aiaj1 pp4 #bf-bg4 ,we may quote here striking results observed in the improved physique of the children at a special school for cripple children in ,london consequent on an improved dietary4 ,a two-course dinner of meat1 potatoes and pudding had been previously given1 but in the summer of #aija it was decided to provide a more liberal and varied dietary1 e4g41 more hot meat1 eggs1 milk1 cream1 vegetables and fruit4 ,the results were soon apparent4 ,partially paralysed children1 writes ,mrs4 ,humphry ,ward a few months after the change1 have been recovering strength in hands and limbs with greater rapidity than before4 ,a child who1 last year1 often could not walk at all from rickets and extreme delicacy and seemed to be fading away1 and who in ,may was still languid and feeble1 is now racing about in the garden on his crutches2 a boy who last year could only crawl on his hands and feet is now rapidly and steadily learning to walk1 and so on4444 ,hardly any child now wants to lie down during school time1 whereas applications to lie down used to be common1 and the children both learn and remember better4 7,letter from ,mrs4 ,humphry ,ward1 ,the ,times1 ,september #bf1 #aija47 ,at ,brighton it has for the last few years been the practice to weigh before and after the course of meals the children who have been recommended for feeding on medical grounds4 ,at the end of the last session1 #aiab-ac1 #bfi children who had received meals for nine weeks or more were thus re-examined4 ,it was found that #acc of these1 or #ej per cent41 no longer needed meals on medical grounds1 that is1 they had been brought over the average weight for a given height4#ejj ,footnote #ejj3 ,brighton ,education ,committee1 ,report on the re-examination of children receiving free meals during the winter session1 #aiab-ac4 ,where only milk or codliver oil is given a remarkable improvement is often effected4 ,indeed1 several teachers told us that in their opinion the provision of milk was more beneficial than either breakfasts or dinners4 ,at a ,bethnal ,green school1 during the winter of #aiji-aj1 it was found that out of #eg boys and #aji girls examined at the medical inspection1 #bd of the boys and #fa of the girls were underfed4 ,these children were given a tea-spoonful of codliver oil in a cupful of warm milk every day during the morning interval4 ,at the end of the year the nutrition was re-assessed1 with the following results3--#eja ,footnote #eja3 ,annual ,report of ,london ,county ,council for #aiaj1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #acj4 ,good4 ,average4 ,bad4 #eg boys ,before #d #ai #cd ,after #bf #bh #c #aji girls ,before #c #di #eg ,after #db #fa #f ,the results of these experiments are sufficient in themselves to establish conclusively the benefit to be derived from regular feeding even when no other factor in the child's environment is changed4 ,no doubt1 says ,dr4 ,haden ,guest1 irregular and late hours1 disturbed sleep1 overcrowding1 improper clothing and employment of children after and before school hours1 do each and all exercise a very detrimental effect on the children of poor parents4 ,but that the greatest influence for evil is exerted by improper and insufficient food is a matter over which it appears impossible to have great controversy4#ejb ,footnote #ejb3 ,,ms4 ,report by ,dr4 ,l4 ,haden ,guest on ,lambeth ,school ,children ,feeding ,experiment1 #aijh4 ,and these results are corroborated by abundant testimony from ,school ,medical ,officers1 teachers1 ,care ,committee workers and others1 of the benefit derived by the children where the ,provision of ,meals ,act has been put in force4 ,the children derived an enormous amount of benefit from the meals4#ejc ,the physical appearance of the children speaks in pronounced terms of the value of feeding4#ejd ,those who have any practical experience 444 are all agreed that such meals free breakfasts are of the greatest value1 not only from a humanitarian point of view but also as a necessary adjunct for successful education4#eje ,there is continuous evidence of the immense benefit conferred upon the children by the administration of this ,act--both from the inspection of the scholars at the dining-centres and from the reports of the teachers4#ejf ,these are a few typical opinions culled from reports of ,school ,medical ,officers4 ,at ,manchester the operation of the provision of free meals acts very largely 444 not so much in the way of improving the physical condition of children already emaciated and debilitated1 but of preventing their ever reaching that condition by stepping in when the home income fails4 ,it is certain that since the organisation of the supply of free meals at centres covering practically all parts of the city where they are required1 the number of underfed children--i4e41 the number showing signs of underfeeding--has decreased markedly4 ,it is also certain that the type of child at the feeding centres is gradually improving--i4e41 there are fewer children found in the centres with signs of the result of bad nourishment1 and there are fewer such children in the schools4#ejg ,at ,bradford1 where the ,local ,education ,authority has systematically endeavoured to effect an improvement in the condition of the children both by the school medical service and the provision of meals1 there has been in the last few years a very marked improvement in nutrition and a fairly regular increase in weight amongst ,bradford children as a whole4 ,they are approaching nearer each year to the national average4#ejh ,footnote #ejc3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,macclesfield for #aiaa1 p4 #ah4 ,footnote #ejd3 ,ibid4 for ,workington for #aiaa1 p4 viii4 ,footnote #eje3 ,ibid4 for ,hastings for #aiaa1 p4 #ad4 ,footnote #ejf3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,newcastle-on-,tyne for #aiaj1 p4 #di4 ,footnote #ejg3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,manchester for #aiaa1 pp4 #bef-g4 ,in the following year he reports that out of over four hundred children attending eight feeding centres1 only ten cases of markedly bad nourishment were recorded4 7,ibid4 for #aiab1 p4 #ca47 ,footnote #ejh3 ,the ,health and ,physique of ,school ,children1 by ,arthur ,greenwood1 #aiac1 pp4 #fe1 #ff4 ,it may perhaps be urged1 he continues1 that this progress is purely accidental2 but a close examination of a large number of school medical officers' reports does not show any general increase during the few years for which records are available4 ,there are variations from year to year1 of course1 but no apparent regular improvement1 except in isolated instances1 of which ,bradford is one4 7,ibid41 p4 #fe47 ,the witness of the teachers is no less favourable4 ,in ,london1 for instance1 the ,education ,committee in #aiaj made enquiries among the head teachers of some of the schools where a considerable number of meals were provided2 the majority of the teachers were enthusiastic as to the benefit derived4 ,physical progress is most marked1 said one headmistress4 ,the disappearance of chronic headaches1 sores on faces1 gatherings on fingers1 pains in chest 444 point to a more 'fit' condition1 which the children can only express for me by saying that they 'feel better now1' for they 'are not hungry all the afternoons now4'#eji ,and a headmaster writes1 ,the change in the children after a month's provision of suitable and nourishing diet for breakfast and dinner has been distinctly beneficial4 ,they have been more inclined to take part in the school sports1 into which they have entered with considerable zest4 ,their appearance1 too1 has greatly improved4 ,their eyes have become brighter1 their cheeks rounded4 ,if1 for any reason1 such as temporary absence1 they have lost the advantage of regular feeding1 they have almost immediately shown signs of deterioration4 ,when the period of feeding has been prolonged to three or six months1 their health has permanently improved1 and their capacity for work and play has still further developed4#eaj ,the children on the necessitous register1 says another headmaster1 now fully participate in these activities games and sports and supply rather above their proportionate number of prominent performers2 this is equally true of swimming4 ,it is indisputable that in the past lack of nourishment1 where it did not entirely exclude1 greatly limited the part taken by many children in this the most attractive side of school life4#eaa ,footnote #eji3 ,annual ,report of the ,london ,county ,council for #aiaj1 ,chapter ,,xli41 p4 #h4 ,footnote #eaj3 ,ibid41 pp4 #h1 #i4 ,footnote #eaa3 ,ibid41 p4 #i4 ,we have ourselves questioned numbers of teachers1 both in ,london and the provinces1 on this point4 ,here and there are found1 it is true1 teachers who declare that no improvement is to be observed1 perhaps because1 being with the children day by day they do not notice any change4 ,but the verdict as to the beneficial results of school meals is almost unanimous4 ,at ,bradford we were told that it used to be not uncommon for a child to faint in school from want of food2 such an occurrence is now unknown4 ,often children who are dull and listless are found1 after a course of regular meals1 to become full of life and spirits4 ,it is indeed frequently remarked that the children become naughtier after the meals1 a sign1 of course1 of increased vitality4 ,we find that1 as a result of the regular feeding1 the resisting power of the children is increased and they are less susceptible to the contraction of infectious and other diseases4#eab ,the attendance at school is thus improved4 ,at a school in the ,potteries1 the headmaster informed us that during the coal strike in #aiab1 when three meals a day were given in the schools1 there was far less non-attendance than usual through biliousness1 headaches or other minor ailments4#eac ,at ,liverpool we were told that there has been a considerable improvement in the regularity of the children's attendance1 as a result of the dinners4#ead ,non-attendance may be due1 of course1 not only to illness1 but also to lack of food4 ,when the parents have nothing to give the children for breakfast they will encourage them to sleep through the morning4 ,the headmaster of a very poor school in ,liverpool told us that some years ago1 before the ,education ,committee had undertaken the provision of meals1 the attendance was very bad4 ,he raised a voluntary fund and provided breakfasts himself4 ,as a result the attendance improved to such an extent that the increased grant amounted to #gd1 which more than covered the cost of the food 7#fc74 ,footnote #eab3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,bootle for #aiab1 p4 #ef2 ,ibid4 for ,worcester for #aiaa1 p4 #ad4 ,footnote #eac3 ,as we have seen1 this result was noticed during the feeding experiment at ,lambeth 7see ante1 p4 #ahh47 ,footnote #ead3 ,at ,bootle1 on the other hand1 where it was anticipated that the movement would have a beneficial effect upon the regularity of the attendance 444 there is no evidence to show that such has been the case1 and it is very doubtful whether the attendance has been appreciably affected4 7,report of the ,bootle ,school ,canteen ,committee for #aiaj-aa1 p4 #h47 ,it would be interesting to compare the nutrition of the children in the ,day ,industrial ,schools1 where three meals a day are given4 ,since the children in these schools1 who1 it must be remembered1 are drawn very largely from the poorest and most neglected class1 return home in the evening1 the only condition altered is the supply of food4 ,we have1 unfortunately1 not been able to obtain any statistics as to the weights of these children1 but we have received ample evidence from teachers and others as to the very marked physical improvement which is to be observed after they have been in the schools but a very short time4 ,at ,liverpool some time ago it was found that the children attending the ,day ,industrial ,schools suffered much from sores and gatherings4 ,on the diet being altered very considerably1 these ailments entirely disappeared1 and the children1 we were told1 are now in perfect health4 ,at ,leeds the ,school ,medical ,officer found that1 while of #aa1gfc children from the ordinary elementary schools1 #ef per cent4 were of sub-normal nutrition1 the percentage in the same condition among the ,day ,industrial ,school children 7of whom #ia were examined7 was only #aa4eae ,footnote #eae3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,leeds for #aiaj1 p4 #da4 ,the chairman of the ,leeds ,education ,committee1 in giving evidence before the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 stated1 the supply of three good meals a day has been of great benefit to the children in attendance1 who compare favourably with the children attending the ordinary public elementary schools4444 ,they take a good position in school competitions for swimming1 etc41 and are particularly smart in school drills and exercises4 7,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 ,vol4 ,,iv4 of ,evidence1 ,appendix ,,lxxxii4 7#ab747 ,let us turn now to the effect of the meals on the mental capabilities of the children4 ,this effect is1 from the nature of the case1 less easy to assess1 and the evidence is not so unanimous as on the question of the physical effect4 ,a minority of teachers assert that no improvement is to be observed4 ,at ,hull1 for instance1 out of #afe head-teachers who were asked for their opinions on this point1 #gf declared that there had been a considerable or distinct improvement1 #ec that there had been a slight improvement1 and #cf that there was no visible difference4#eaf ,at ,bradford1 #acd teachers were of opinion that there had been a considerable or distinct improvement1 #ce that the improvement had been slight1 #ce that no visible difference was to be noticed4#eag ,i cannot say1 said the headmaster of a ,london school1 that the improvement in mentality has been in any way commensurate with the physical improvement4#eah ,on the other hand1 a headmistress declared1 there is undoubted improvement physically and educationally in the necessitous children supplied with meals at this school4 ,but ,i confess the fact only came home to me vividly at our last terminal examination1 when ,i found three of them headed the class in ,standard ,,iii4 7including all subjects74#eai ,another wrote1 the girls receiving regular meals have become more alert1 less apathetic1 and consequently far more ready to respond to the teachers' efforts to gain their undivided attention4 ,the interest thus aroused has led the girls to look upon all branches of their work with more favour than heretofore4 ,the taste for knowledge once established1 homework has followed with the inevitable results produced by voluntary effort rather than compulsory work4#ebj ,in ,north ,kensington the children who are supplied with milk at school or who are given breakfast and dinner respond at once to the better feeding1 and show distinct improvement in their class work4#eba ,at ,darlington it was reported that1 generally speaking1 the replies from the teachers were very definite to the effect that the provision of dinners had assisted the educational progress of the children4#ebb ,and a striking illustration of the benefit derived from a regular course of feeding is given us by a medical member of an ,education ,committee who writes1 ,i find the condition of the children much improved by feeding4 ,some children who1 eighteen months ago1 were considered half-witted are now monitors and monitresses1 taking an intelligent interest in their work4 ,footnote #eaf3 ,hull ,education ,committee1 ,appendix to ,minutes of the ,provision of ,meals ,sub-,committee1 ,october #bj1 #aiaa4 ,footnote #eag3 ,report of ,bradford ,education ,committee for the #af months ended ,july #ca1 #aiab1 p4 #aj4 ,footnote #eah3 ,annual ,report of the ,london ,county ,council for #aiaj1 ,chapter ,,xli41 p4 #i4 ,footnote #eai3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #ebj3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #eba3 ,annual ,report of the ,london ,county ,council for #aiaj1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #abi4 ,footnote #ebb3 ,report of ,darlington ,education ,committee1 #aijh-aj1 p4 xii4 ,we have already noticed the improvement in attendance consequent on the provision of meals4 ,this1 of course1 assists in the educational progress1 not only of those children who before attended irregularly1 but of the whole class1 since the others are no longer kept back by the irregular attenders4 ,too much importance cannot be attached to the training of the children in habits of self-control and thoughtfulness for one another4 ,for this training the common meal furnishes an excellent opportunity4 ,as we have seen1 far too little attention is paid to this aspect of the question4 ,it is true that1 even where the meal is served in a somewhat rough-and-ready fashion1 leaving1 in the eyes of the educationalist1 much to be desired1 we have generally been informed that there has been an improvement in manners4 ,at first the children1 many of whom1 probably1 had rarely sat down to a meal before1 would throw the food at each other or on the floor1 and the scene was often a pandemonium4 ,some sort of order has been evolved out of this chaos4 ,but how far this falls short of what might be effected is seen when one compares the great majority of feeding-centres all over ,england1 not necessarily the worst1 with a small minority1 such as some of the ,bradford centres1 or one or two ,london centres1 where the meal is truly educational4 ,it is interesting to hear that1 when recently a party of children were sent to the ,cinderella ,holiday ,home from one of the ,bradford schools and the supervisor was particularly requested to notice those who had been receiving meals1 it was found that they alone knew how to behave at table1 and that the others learnt from them4 ,in another direction the school meal may have an educational result of the highest importance4 ,children in all ranks of life are notoriously conservative in the matter of food and shy of venturing on unknown dishes1 but with the poorest class of children it is not only faddiness which has to be contended with2 the unaccustomed food1 however wholesome for the normal child1 actually does not agree with these chronically underfed children4 ,as was pointed out at the time of the passing of the ,provision of ,meals ,act1 one great merit of this ,act 444 will be the teaching and training of a child in the matter of taste4 ,at present it is a well known physiological fact that the slum stomach cannot accommodate itself in a moment to good1 wholesome food4 ,the child has been accustomed to tea and jam and pickles1 and to food that is often more tasty than nourishing4 ,it will now eat under public and medical superintendence and gradually a pure and simple taste will be cultivated4#ebc ,that this prophecy is in process of being fulfilled may1 we think1 with justice be claimed4 ,there still exists a certain amount of difficulty in inducing the children to take food to which they are unaccustomed1 but that this difficulty can be surmounted by the exercise of tact and attention to individual needs has been practically demonstrated again and again4 ,over and over again we have been told the same tale1 at first the children would not eat this or that dish1 but now they have learned to like it4 ,especially is this the case with porridge4 ,at first1 wherever this was given1 it was found that many refused to eat it1 but this antipathy was gradually overcome1 and the children finally ate it with relish4#ebd ,it is amusing to find that at ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east1 where a porridge breakfast was devised as a test of need1 it being thought that no child would come who was not really hungry1 the children now like the porridge so much that this diet no longer furnishes a test4 ,where the children do not learn to eat what is provided1 it always turns out1 on further enquiry1 that the supervisors have failed1 either because of the large numbers whom they have to look after or1 perhaps1 through lack of enthusiasm1 to devote that careful and detailed attention to the children without which it is quite impossible to bring about any change4 ,footnote #ebc3 ,child ,life and ,labour1 by ,margaret ,alden1 ,m4,d41 #aijh1 p4 #ajh4 ,footnote #ebd3 ,thus1 to quote one of many instances1 at ,bradford1 when porridge breakfasts were given in the experiment of #aijg1 it was found that the first morning thirteen refused to eat it2 the next morning only two refused1 and after that all ate and enjoyed it4 7,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,report on a ,course of ,meals given to ,necessitous ,children from ,april to ,july1 #aijg1 p4 #d47 ,moreover1 it is encouraging to notice that this education of the children in the matter of taste is not without its effect on the home diet4 ,this was observed as long ago as #ahie4 ,in giving evidence before the ,committee of the ,london ,school ,board1 ,mrs4 ,burgwin declared that1 as a result of the porridge breakfasts given to the school children1 there was an increasing demand upon the local shop-keepers by the poor families themselves4#ebe ,at first1 said ,miss ,honnor ,morten1 the children did not care for porridge1 but the result of the breakfasts has been that many now persuade their parents to make it for them4#ebf ,the children1 says ,lady ,meyer1 who has started penny dinners in connection with the ,health ,centre at ,newport1 act as missionaries to their mothers1 comparing the meals at the ,health ,centre with those at their homes1 much to the disparagement of the latter1 which quickly brought the more intelligent mothers to the centre to 'see how it was done4'#ebg ,footnote #ebe3 ,report of the ,special ,committee of the ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children1 #ahie1 ,appendix ,i41 p4 #g4 ,footnote #ebf3 ,report of the ,general ,purposes ,committee of the ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children1 #ahii1 ,appendix ,i41 p4 #ab4 ,footnote #ebg3 ,a ,health ,centre and ,dental ,clinic in a ,rural ,district1 ,newport1 ,essex1 #aiaa1 p4 #f4 ,as far as the children are concerned1 indeed1 whether we consider the improvement in physique1 mental capacity or manners1 there is no doubt that the provision of school meals has proved of the greatest benefit4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,effect ,,on ,,the ,,parents ,the evidence which has been presented in the preceding chapter as to the benefits resulting from the feeding of school children would have evoked1 fifty1 or even twenty years ago1 a simple and decisive retort4 ,granted1 it would have been argued1 that the health and educational capacity of the children is deteriorated by lack of nourishment1 that irreparable and preventible damage is inflicted1 and that the provision of meals by a public authority averts this evil for many and mitigates it for all2 yet no plea of immediate expediency can stand against the ultimate loss involved in any public assumption of the cost of providing maintenance for children4 ,if a local authority supplies part1 even a small part1 of their food1 parental responsibility is1 pro tanto1 diminished1 with results disastrous not only to the character of the parents but to the prospects of the children themselves4 ,for if parents receive assistance in one direction from a public authority1 they will soon clamour to receive assistance in other directions as well4 ,in order to qualify for it1 they will neglect their children1 who will thus benefit in one way only to be victimized in others4 ,the children themselves1 having been fed from public funds1 will be trained in habits of dependence1 and1 when they grow up1 will insist on still further provision being made for their children in their turn4 ,thus one tiny breach in the walls of the family will insensibly be widened till it admits a flood in which domestic affections and the integrity of the home1 relations dear1 and all the charities of father1 son1 and brother are submerged4 ,if such anticipations seem exaggerated1 they have nevertheless played an important part in determining the policy pursued in ,england towards more than one question1 and lie behind many of the criticisms which are passed on certain recent forms of social intervention4 ,the idea that relief given to the child must be regarded as relief given to the parent1 and that1 if given at all1 it must be accompanied by severe restrictions1 was enunciated emphatically in the ,poor ,law ,report of #ahcd--;indeed that famous document scarcely mentions children except in so far as the treatment of adults is influenced by these appendages--and has since become a settled part of ,poor ,law policy4 ,the fear that parental responsibility might be weakened was a criticism brought against the ,education ,act of #ahgj1 against the abolition of school fees in #ahid1 and against the provision of medical treatment for school children under the ,education 7,administrative ,provisions7 ,act of #aijg4 ,naturally1 therefore1 the public provision of meals for school children has not escaped the criticism that it would weaken the bond between parent and child and ultimately result in the breaking up of the home4 ,to remove the spur to exertion and self-restraint1 reported a special committee of the ,charity ,organisation ,society in #ahhg1 which the spectacle of his children's hunger must be to any man in whom the feelings of natural kindness are not altogether dead1 is to assume a very grave responsibility1 and perhaps to take away the last chance of re-establishing the character and fortunes of the breadwinner1 and1 with him1 the fortunes of the whole household4 ,it is true1 no doubt1 that there are parents who are past redemption by influences of this kind1 but the majority of the committee are of opinion that it is better in the interests of the community to allow1 in such cases1 the sins of the parents to be visited on the children than to impair the principle of the solidarity of the family and run the risk of permanently demoralising large numbers of the population by the offer of free meals to their children4#ebh ,footnote #ebh3 ,charity and ,food1 report of a ,special ,committee of the ,charity ,organisation ,society1 #ahhg1 p4 #af4 ,for later expressions of the same line of criticism1 see1 for instance1 ,the ,relief of ,school ,children1 by ,m4 ,clutton and ,e4 ,neville 7,c4,o4,s4 ,occasional ,paper71 ,march1 #aija1 pp4 #d1 #f2 ,underfed ,school ,children1 by ,arthur ,clay 7,c4,o4,s4 ,occasional ,paper71 ,may1 #aije1 p4 #c2 ,the ,feeding of ,school ,children1 by ,miss ,mc,knight1 in ,charity ,organisation ,review1 ,july1 #aijf1 p4 #cg2 ,a ,new ,poor ,law for ,children1 by ,rev4 ,h4 ,iselin1 in ,charity ,organisation ,review1 ,march1 #aiji1 p4 #agj4 ,now it is obvious that an economic policy which was determined primarily by a consideration for the solidarity of the family would lead to far-reaching measures of industrial reorganisation4 ,if the ideal is a society in which the bread-winner is by his exertion and self-restraint to guarantee the fortunes of his whole household1 the immediate object of attack must be those industrial evils which effectually prevent him from doing so at present1 and of which the principal are low wages1 casual labour1 recurrent periods of unemployment and bad housing4 ,that a crusade conducted in the interests of the family against these regular features of modern industry is entirely desirable need not be questioned4 ,but in its absence it is obvious that1 so far from allowing the sins of the parents to be visited on the children1 what we are really doing is to allow the sins of the employer to be visited on the employed or the sins of the community to be visited upon future generations of unborn children1 and it seems almost frivolous to ascribe the results of this constant and vicarious sacrifice to the measures which1 like the provision of school meals1 are directed merely to the partial mitigation of some of its worst effects4 ,the truth is1 to put the matter bluntly1 that what breaks up the family is not the presence of food but its absence1 and that1 if the public conscience is unperturbed by the spectacle of numerous homes in which economic circumstances have deprived the parents of the means of providing meals for their children themselves1 its sudden sensitiveness at the thought of meals being provided by some external authority would be ludicrous if it did not lead to such tragic consequences4 ,the reader who reflects on the thousands of dock-labourers in ,london1 ,liverpool and ,glasgow who1 through no fault of their own1 can obtain only three days' work a week1 or on the #be to #cj per cent4 of the working-class population of ,reading who have been shown by ,professor ,bowley to be receiving a total family income below the low standard fixed by ,mr4 ,rowntree1#ebi and to be receiving it1 in #di per cent4 of the cases1 because they are in regular work but at low wages1#ecj will scarcely argue that the mere provision of meals1 however injudicious he may regard it1 is likely to contribute seriously to the weakening of family relationships which have been already strained or broken by industrial anarchy or industrial tyranny4 ,sublata causa tollitur effectus4 ,but does any one seriously believe that a cessation of school meals would restore the desired solidarity of the family to the casual or sweated labourer8 ,footnote #ebi3 ,working-,class ,households in ,reading1 by ,professor ,a4 ,l4 ,bowley1 in ,the ,journal of the ,royal ,statistical ,society1 ,june1 #aiac1 p4 #fhf4 ,the minimum standard for food was computed by ,mr4 ,rowntree1 in #aija1 as #cs4 for an adult1 and #bs4 #c;d4 for a child4 ,this standard has been raised by ,professor ,bowley to #cs4 #f;d4 and #bs4 #g;d4 respectively1 since prices in ,reading in #aiab were about sixteen per cent4 higher than at ,york in #aija4 ,the diet on which ,mr4 ,rowntree based his computations was mainly vegetarian1 and his minimum standard assumed a knowledge of food values and perfectly scientific expenditure4 7,ibid41 p4 #fhd47 ,taking a slightly different standard1 ,professor ,bowley computes that more than half the working-class children of ,reading1 during some part of their first fourteen years1 live in households where the standard of life in question is not attained4 7,ibid41 p4 #fib47 ,footnote #ecj3 ,ibid41 p4 #fic4 ,if the suggestion that the provision of meals is a principal cause undermining parental responsibility is fantastic1 is the suggestion that it must necessarily exercise some influence in that direction better founded8 ,we shall deal later with such facts as can be used to throw light on this question4 ,but we may point out here that the idea underlying it usually derives part of its cogency in the minds of many of its supporters less from any concrete evidence than from an implicit assumption that there is a natural division of duties between public authorities and the individual citizen1 and that any redistribution of them between these two parties1 which removes one function from the latter to the former1 must necessarily result in the undermining of character1 the weakening of the incentive to self-maintenance1 the decay of parental responsibility1 in short1 in all the phenomena of the process known as pauperisation4 ,now we need scarcely point out that1 stated in this crude form1 the theory that every assumption of fresh responsibilities by public authorities results in the undermining of character has no foundation in the experience of mankind4 ,it is1 of course1 quite true that any sudden removal from an individual of duties which he has hitherto been accustomed to discharge may result in weakening the springs of effort4 ,it is also quite true that any sudden addition to his responsibilities may result in crushing them1 and that1 as far as the more poorly paid ranks of labour are concerned1 energies are far more often worn out in a hopeless struggle than sapped by an insidious ease4 ,but by themselves these facts prove nothing as to the manner in which burdens1 duties1 responsibilities1 should be distributed between the community and its individual members4 ,what experience shows is that there is no natural allocation of functions1 but that there has been throughout history at once a constant addition to1 and a constant re-arrangement of them1 and that the former process is quite compatible with the latter4 ,nor is there any ground for the idea that the extension of the activities of public bodies must necessarily result in accelerating the approach of the state of economic and moral inertia described by those who anticipate it as ,pauperism4 ,if that were the case1 all civilised communities would1 indeed1 have been hastening to destruction from a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary4 ,for our fathers had no elementary education1 our grandfathers no municipal water1 and few lamp-posts2 while our great-grandfathers enjoyed the independence derived from the possession of relatively few roads1 and those of a character sufficiently bad to offer the most powerful incentives to the energy and self-reliance of the pedestrian4 ,on this theory the citizen of ,manchester would be more pauperised than the citizen of ,london2 both would be seriously pauperised compared with the peasant of ,connemara2 while the wretched inhabitants of ,german municipalities would be wallowing in a perfect quagmire of perpetual pauperism4 ,why indeed should one stop here8 ,there have been periods in history in which not only these functions1 but the organisation of justice and the equipment of military forces have been left to the bracing activities of private individuals2 and an enquiry into the decline and fall of individual independence would1 if logically pursued1 lead us into dim regions of history far anterior to the ,norman ,conquest4 ,the origins of modern pauperism1 like the origins of modern liberty1 are to be sought among the primeval forests of ,germany6 ,while1 however1 there is no foundation for the doctrine that every extension of public provision results in a slackening of energy on the part of the individual1 it is1 none the less1 possible that this may be the result of the particular kind of provision which consists in the supplying of meals to school children4 ,in the event of that being proved to be the case1 it is by no means easy to say what policy should be pursued4 ,public authorities1 it may be argued1 should cease to provide school meals4 ,to this answer1 which is at first sight plausible1 there are two objections which are together almost insuperable4 ,the first is that ,education ,authorities are under a legal obligation to provide education for the children in their charge and to carry out medical inspection with a view to discovering their ailments2 while they may1 if they think fit1 provide medical treatment for them4 ,they owe it to their constituents to spend their money in the most effective and economical manner4 ,education given to children who are suffering from want of nourishment not only is ineffective1 but may be positively deleterious4 ,when the extent of malnutrition is known1 is it reasonable to expect the ,authorities deliberately to shut their eyes to the fact that so far from benefiting the children who suffer from it they may be positively aggravating their misfortunes8 ,if it be replied1 ruat coelum fiat justitia1 let the children suffer in order to improve the moral character of their parents1 an ,education ,committee may not unfairly retort that it is elected primarily to attend to the welfare of the children1 and that the wisdom of elevating parents1 who ex hypothesi are demoralised1 at the cost of the rising generation is1 at any rate1 too problematical to justify it in neglecting its own special duties4 ,moreover1 even assuming that public bodies were willing to apply to the education of children the principles recommended in #ahcd for the treatment of improvidence and vice1 there is no reason to suppose that they would succeed in averting the pauperisation which is dreaded4 ,no fact is more clearly established by the history of all kinds of relief administration since #ahcd than that the effect of refusing to make public provision for persons in distress is merely to lead to the provision of assistance in a rather more haphazard1 uncoordinated and indiscriminate manner by private agencies4 ,a purely negative policy is systematically blacklegged by private philanthropists4 ,rightly or wrongly the plain man finds his stomach turned by the full gospel of deterrence2 with the result that1 while the ,english ,poor ,law is nominally deterrent1 enormous sums are spent every year in private charity in ,london alone2 that in #ahhf the ,local ,government ,board recommended local authorities to provide relief for certain classes of workers apart from the ,poor ,law1 on the ground that the ,poor ,law1 for whose administration the ,local ,government ,board is responsible1 is necessarily degrading2 and that1 finally1 a special ,act had to be passed in #aije creating authorities to administer assistance for unemployed workmen whom public opinion would no longer allow to be left to the tender mercies of a deterrent policy of ,poor ,relief4 ,that the same result would follow with even greater certainty were public bodies to decline to provide for necessitous school children is obvious1 inasmuch as to the foolish sentimentality of the ordinary person the sufferings of childhood make a special appeal4 ,indeed it has followed already4 ,in the days when ,education ,authorities had no power to spend public money on the provision of meals for school children1 what happened was that the provision of meals was begun by private persons1 and in the towns which have not put the ,act of #aijf into force such private provision obtains at the present day4 ,such extra-legal intervention has all the disadvantages ascribed to the public provision of meals1 for one can scarcely accept the extravagant contention that while soup supplied by an ,education ,authority pauperises1 soup tickets supplied by a philanthropic society do not4 ,and it has few of its advantages4 ,for private philanthropy tends to be more irregular and arbitrary in its administration than most public authorities4 ,since it cannot cover the whole area of distress1 its selection of children to be fed is more capricious2 since its funds are raised by appeals ad misericordiam they often fail when they are needed most2 and when1 as often happens1 more than one agency enters the field1 the result is overlapping and duplication4 ,nor will it seem a minor evil to those who care for the civic spirit that even the best-intentioned charity can never escape from the taint of patronage1 can never be anything but a sop with which the rich relieve their consciences by ministering to the poor4 ,the statement that the feeding of school children weakens parental responsibility presumably means that the provision of meals at school induces parents to neglect to provide meals themselves4 ,when one turns from these general considerations to examine how far this result has actually occurred1 one is faced with the task of sifting a few grains of fact from a multitude of impressions4 ,the first and most essential preliminary to the formation of any reasonable judgment is to determine the circumstances of those families one or more of whose members are receiving meals at school2 and in order to throw some light on this point we give1 in the following table1 such particulars from six areas as are available3--#eca ,footnote #eca3 ,the figures for ,birmingham are taken from ,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,phyllis ,d4 ,winder1 #aiac1 pp4 #dg-ee2 those for ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east1 from ,the ,story of a ,children's ,care ,committee1 by ,rev4 ,h4 ,iselin1 in ,economic ,review1 ,january1 #aiab1 p4 #dg2 those for ,stoke1 ,bradford1 ,st4 ,pancras and ,bermondsey from case papers that we have analysed4 ,these figures must not be taken as more than a somewhat rough indication of the state of affairs1 for it is not always easy to determine precisely into which category a particular case should be put4 ,probably the proportion of casually employed is somewhat understated2 of the twenty-six1 for instance1 who are classed as unemployed at ,birmingham1 roughly one-third belonged to the class of permanent casuals1 but were totally unemployed at the date of the enquiry4 7,the ,public ,feeding of ,elementary ,school ,children1 p4 #dh47 ,causes of ,stoke4 ,bradford4 ,birmingham4 ,school ,school in distress in ,st4 ,bermondsey ,pancras4 ,unemployment #af #aa #bf #i #ac ,casual #c #bf #ed #h #ah employment ,short time #e #c #h -- -- ,regular work -- #af #f #a #b but low wages ,illness or #ae #ai #dg #e #i disablement of father ,widows #af #da #dj #aj #i ,desertion or #c #cb #ai #b #b absence of father ,it will be seen that the four largest classes of families consist of those in which the father is casually employed1 is disabled by illness or accident1 is dead or is unemployed4 ,if one adds to these #fje families the #da in which the father is paid low wages or is working short time1 there is a total of #fdf out of #gah families in which distress is due either to industrial causes or to a misfortune4 ,since men do not usually contract illness or die in order that their children may be fed at school1 there is no question of the responsibility of the father being weakened in the #bhe cases in which death or ill-health was the cause which led to the provision of school meals4 ,it is often argued1 however1 that the public provision of assistance is itself one cause of the distress which it is designed to relieve1 because it must necessarily exercise a deteriorating influence over industrial conditions4 ,the knowledge that his children will be fed is likely1 it is said1 to lead a man to relax the demands which he makes on his employer4 ,the knowledge that he need not offer a subsistence wage for a family leads the employer to offer worse terms to his employees1 more irregular employment or lower rates of wages1 with the result that the ratepayer relieves the employer of part of his wage bill4 ,cut off all public assistance1 and economic conditions will adjust themselves to the change4 ,now it is perfectly true that the need which prompts the provision of school meals does normally arise from bad industrial conditions1 and that to allow those conditions to continue while merely mitigating their effects is an offence against morality and an outrage on commonsense4 ,whether school meals are desirable or not for their own sake1 it is the right of the worker that industry should be organised in such a way that he should be able to provide for his children in the manner which he thinks best1 and that he should not be compelled 7as he often is at present7 to choose between seeing them fed at school and seeing them half-starved at home4 ,but the theory which we have stated goes much further than this4 ,it holds that public provision is a cause of bad industrial conditions1 and that the mere abolition of public provision would in itself result in those conditions being improved4 ,it is obvious that1 as far as certain economic evils are concerned1 this doctrine does not hold good4 ,many children are underfed because their parents are suffering from sickness or accident incurred in the course of their employment4 ,clearly an employer will not be induced to render his processes safe merely by the fact that his employees' children will suffer if they are unsafe4 ,many children are underfed because their parents are casually employed or altogether unemployed4 ,equally clearly there is no reason whatever to suppose that casual labour would cease because of their starvation2 for if that were the case it would have ceased long ago4 ,nor again does the more specious doctrine that the wages of men are lowered by the provision of food for their children rest upon a securer foundation4 ,in the nature of things it can neither be verified nor disproved by an appeal to facts2 for the controversy is not concerning facts but concerning their interpretation4 ,if we point out that in ,bradford1 when the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act was first adopted in #aijg1 the majority of children fed were children of woolcombers1 dyers' labourers1 carters and builders' labourers1 and that since #aijg the first three classes of workers have all received advances of wages1 it may1 of course1 be answered that the advance would have been still greater if the children had not been fed4#ecb ,in reality1 however1 the more this theory that the feeding of school children acts as a subsidy to wages is examined1 the weaker does it appear4 ,historically it is traceable to the popular rendering of ,ricardo introduced by ,senior into the ,poor ,law ,report of #ahcd1 and it still contains marks of its origin4 ,it assumes1 in the first place1 that wages are never above subsistence level4 ,for1 clearly1 if they are above it1 there is no reason why they should be lowered if the cost of keeping a family is somewhat reduced4 ,it assumes1 in the second place1 that they are never below the subsistence level of a family2 for clearly1 if they are1 that in itself proves that the absence of public provision has not been able to maintain them4 ,it assumes1 in the third place1 that the ability of workers to resist a reduction or to insist on an advance depends not upon the profitableness of the industry1 nor upon the strength of their organisation1 but solely upon their necessities4 ,of these assumptions the first two are untrue1 and the last is not only untrue1 but the exact opposite of the truth4 ,in reality1 as every trade unionist knows1 the necessities of the non-wage earning members of a family do not keep wages up2 they keep them down4 ,a man who knows that a stoppage of work will plunge his family in starvation has little resisting power1 and acquiesces in oppression to which he would otherwise refuse to submit4 ,it is the strikers' wives and children who really break many strikes1 and if the pressure of immediate necessity is removed the worker is not less likely1 he is more likely1 to hold out for better terms4 ,footnote #ecb3 ,we may note that there are very few cases where the fathers of the children who are receiving school meals are1 at the time1 in regular work4 7,see table on page #baa47 ,many authorities refuse to consider such cases1 while1 where they are not necessarily barred1 they amount as a rule1 so far as we have found1 except at ,bradford1 to a very small proportion of the total number of cases dealt with4 ,in ,london a few committees have several such cases on their feeding-lists--a member of one committee1 indeed1 informed us that the fact that a man had a large family and low wages was1 till recently1 taken as a reason for granting meals to his children--but the great majority of committees either refuse to feed such children at all1 or only do so in infrequent and exceptional circumstances4 ,one or two instances were quoted to us where1 as it was alleged1 the provision of meals for the children had induced the father to acquiesce in the acceptance of a low wage without demanding an increase or seeking more remunerative employment4 ,thus we were told of a man who was formerly in charge of two furnaces at a wage of #bds4 a week2 one furnace was shut down1 and he was offered the charge of the remaining one at #aes4 ,this he accepted and the ,care ,committee had been feeding his children for a whole year4 ,in another case1 a man who was out of work1 and was having all his children fed at school1 took a job at #aes4 a week1 a wage which1 it was asserted1 he would not otherwise have agreed to4 ,but in such instances1 infrequent and isolated as they are in any case1 it is often found on analysis that the father1 through some physical or mental infirmity1 is incapable of performing a man's work1 and unable1 therefore1 to earn more wages4 ,nor is there much more substance in the theory that the provision of meals by a public authority weakens family life by undermining parental responsibility4 ,we are not1 of course1 concerned to deny that in the working classes as well as in the propertied classes there are a certain number of persons who are anxious to get something for nothing4 ,cases1 no doubt1 do arise in which a parent who knows that the needs of his children will partially be met by the food supplied by an ,education ,authority may for that reason contemplate their fate when abandoned by him with less apprehension4 ,at most1 however1 such cases constitute only #aj per cent4 of those on the table1 and the wisdom of withholding assistance from the remaining #ij per cent4 merely in order to bring pressure upon this small fraction of all the families concerned is1 to put the matter at the lowest1 highly questionable4 ,moreover1 even assuming that children who are neglected by their parents should be made to suffer in order to teach the latter a moral lesson1 what probability is there that the lesson will be appreciated8 ,in those families where a father is contemplating the desertion of his home1 family relationships must obviously be weak and unstable4 ,is it seriously suggested that the mere fact that a public body is known to provide meals for children in attendance at school is sufficient to tilt the scale2 that a man who is willing1 ex hypothesi1 to contemplate relinquishing his wife and younger children to the ,poor ,law will be deterred from leaving them merely by anxiety as to how the children of school age will obtain their midday meal2 and that1 when his apprehensions upon this point are removed1 he will hasten to avail himself of his freedom in order to abandon them to much more serious evils than the loss of one meal per day8 ,such a suggestion carries its refutation on its face4 ,when family life has been so disintegrated that a man is contemplating the desertion of his wife and children1 he is not likely either to be encouraged to do so by the mere fact that meals for school children are provided by a public body1 or deterred from doing so by the fact that they are not4 ,and a similar answer may be made to those who argue that the result of feeding children at school is merely to encourage their parents to spend more upon drink4 ,no one1 of course1 would deny that1 if a man has already formed the habit of indulging his tastes without regard to the consequences1 an increase in his means will enable him to spend more upon such indulgence4 ,but that is a very different thing from accepting the implication that every accession in the income of a class merely leads it to fresh extravagance4 ,the evidence1 indeed1 points in the opposite direction4 ,during the last forty years there has been a great extension of public provision and a rise in money wages4 ,yet it is a matter of common knowledge that the consumption of alcoholic liquor per head of population has diminished and is still diminishing4 ,in reality1 however1 the idea that any large number of parents misuse the public provision of meals appears to be quite without any solid foundation1 and to be a hasty generalisation from exceptional cases1 which1 because they are exceptional1 are recorded by charitable persons with pious horror1 and are given an undeserved and misleading notoriety4 ,almost all the actual evidence available points in the opposite direction4 ,again and again has it been stated to us that parents withdraw their children from the school meals as soon as an improvement in their circumstances enables them to provide food at home4#ecc ,indeed1 it is often said that they withdraw them before they can properly afford to do so1 and before the ,canteen ,committee thinks it wise for the school meals to be stopped1 while many refrain from applying for meals until they are driven to do so by actual necessity4 ,the truth is that behind the talk on parental responsibility which finds favour in certain sections of society--especially those where it is customary for parents to pay for their children to be fed at school during #cj to #dj weeks of the year--there is a considerable amount not only of ignorance but of hypocrisy4 ,these critics are apt entirely to overlook the fact that during the last hundred years parental responsibilities1 so far from being diminished1 have been multiplied by the ,state4 ,middle-class parliaments have insisted that working-class parents should send their children to school1 should dispense with the help of their earnings1 should provide them with food1 clothing and medical aid4 ,more important1 they forget that to insist on responsibility is meaningless unless the means of discharging it are available2 for one cannot blame a man for failing to do what he wishes to do1 but which he is prevented from doing by force majeure4 ,now this is precisely the position of the majority of such parents as are aided by school meals4 ,they did not fix the wages of adult men at #ahs4 a week2 they did not ordain that employment at the ports of ,london and ,liverpool and ,glasgow1 and in a score of other trades1 should be a gamble4 ,they did not decree that those who direct industry should at intervals of five to seven years find it convenient to curtail production and turn their employees on to the streets4 ,they are born into a world where this is the established social order1 an order which1 as individuals1 they are impotent to alter4 ,if some of them occasionally give up a struggle which must often seem hopeless1 at whose door does the blood of these men and their children lie8 ,if it is desired that every man should regularly provide the whole maintenance of his family1 then industry must be organised in such a way as to make it possible4 ,till that is done1 to blame working people for acquiescing in circumstances which they did not create and which they detest is not only cruel but absurd4 ,when every competent worker is secured regular employment and a living wage1 it may be desirable that forms of public provision which exist at present should cease--though1 even so1 it is possible that the educational value of school meals will lead to their being continued4 ,till that happy condition is brought about they must be not only continued1 but extended and improved4 ,footnote #ecc3 ,at ,bradford a few years ago an enquiry was made with the object of discovering how far parents were obtaining the meals under false pretences4 ,two criteria were taken1 firstly1 whether the parents' statements as to the income earned were corroborated by their employers2 secondly1 how far the parents voluntarily withdrew their children from the school meals when their circumstances improved4 ,as a result of this enquiry it appeared that not more than #b-a_/b per cent4 were unduly taking advantage of the meals4 ,in many cases1 where the parents' statements as to income did not tally with the employers' statements1 it was found that the parents1 in giving their average earnings1 had overstated instead of understating them4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,conclusions ,the provision of meals for school children is1 as we have pointed out1 merely an attempt to mitigate some of the evil effects of industrial disorganisation4 ,the principal end at which ,society should aim is the removal of the causes1 low wages1 casual employment1 recurrent periods of unemployment1 and bad housing1 which make them necessary4 ,but meanwhile1 as long as economic conditions remain as they are1 some provision must be made for the present generation of school children4 ,and the provision of school meals is not merely a question of relief1 it is also a preventive measure4 ,every step 444 in the direction of making and keeping the children healthy is a step towards diminishing the prevalence and lightening the burden of disease for the adult1 and a relatively small rise in the standard of child health may represent a proportionately large gain in the physical health1 capacity1 and energy of the people as a whole4#ecd ,footnote #ecd3 ,report of ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education for #aiaj1 p4 #a4 ,granted1 therefore1 that the school meal is1 for the present at any rate1 a necessity1 the question remains1 for what children shall this meal be provided4 ,we have described the methods of selection at present in force4 ,we have seen that1 though a few children are given school meals because they are found by the ,school ,doctor to be ill-nourished1 the great majority are selected by the teachers on the ground of poverty1 a method which involves an enquiry into the parents' circumstances4 ,we have shown some of the disadvantages inherent in this method of selection4 ,the enquiries deter parents from applying4 ,it is impossible for the teachers to discover all cases of underfed children4 ,if the child is told by its parents to say that it has plenty to eat at home1 how is the teacher to know that it is underfed8 ,it is difficult1 and in many cases quite impossible1 to ascertain the amount of income coming in4 ,even if this could always be accurately ascertained1 it would be difficult to discriminate with justice since other circumstances vary so widely4 ,the enquiry is demoralising for the parents1 putting a premium on deception and creating a sense of injustice4 ,so unsatisfactory1 indeed1 has this system of investigation into income proved to be that there is a general consensus of opinion among adherents of the most opposing schools of thought that it must be given up4 ,as a ,guardian of the poor and a member of the ,charity ,organisation ,society1 and in many other ways1 says the late ,canon ,barnett1 ,i have come to see that no enquiry is adequate4 ,i would not trust myself to enquire into any one's condition and be just4 ,enquiry is never satisfactory and is always irritating4444 ,i believe it is enquiry and investigation and suspicion which undermine parental responsibility4#ece ,even so firm a supporter of ,charity ,organisation ,society principles as the ,rev4 ,henry ,iselin would1 we gather1 prefer to the present inadequate system of investigation the provision of a meal for all children who like to come1 without enquiry1 though he would1 of course1 make the conditions of the meal in some way deterrent4#ecf ,in discussing what is the best method to be adopted we must1 therefore1 rule out any plan which involves an enquiry into the family income4 ,footnote #ece3 ,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,qs4 #bbij1 #bcab4 7,the italics are mine47 ,footnote #ecf3 ,see post1 p4 #bbb4 7i7 ,we may consider first the proposal that the selection should be made by the ,school ,doctor1 school meals being ordered for all children whom he finds to be suffering from mal-nutrition4 ,this method1 which is strongly recommended by the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education1 has been adopted in a few towns1 but only to a very limited extent and always in subordination to the system of selection based on the poverty test4 ,the selection by the physical test would obviate all the disadvantages arising from the demoralising enquiry into the parents' circumstances4 ,on the other hand1 the practical difficulties would be very great4 ,at present a child is normally examined by the doctor only two or three times during the whole of its school career4 ,under the system proposed frequent examinations would be necessary1 which would entail an enormous increase in the school medical staff4 ,but1 however frequent the examinations1 the discovery of all underfed children would not be assured4 ,it is not always possible for the doctor to determine the cause of malnutrition in any particular case2 hence many children would be included who get plenty of food at home1 but yet1 from some other cause1 do not thrive4 ,more important1 numbers of children would be excluded who fail to get sufficient food but who yet appear healthy4 ,as a ,school ,medical ,officer points out1 temporary lack of food does not stamp the child in such a way that it is possible to detect past privations by ordinary inspection4#ecg ,the underfeeding might be prolonged for a considerable time before its effects were apparent4 ,but it is essential that underfeeding should be discovered before the child shows definite signs of malnutrition1 since the object to be aimed at is to prevent its ever getting into this state4 ,the physical test1 therefore1 forms too narrow a basis to be satisfactorily employed1 at any rate as the sole test1 in the selection of children to be provided for4 ,footnote #ecg3 ,report of ,school ,medical ,officer for ,leicester for #aiab1 p4 #cd4 7ii7 ,we will consider next the plan to which we have already alluded1 the provision of meals1 free and without enquiry1 for all children who like to come1 it being understood that the meals are intended only for necessitous children1 i4e41 those children who through poverty are unable to obtain an adequate supply of food at home4 ,those who aim at making this provision in some way deterrent suggest a breakfast of porridge1 the time of the meal and the nature of the food providing a test of need4 ,as the man inside the workhouse must not have better1 but a decidedly worse1 treatment than the man outside1 so if the food be nourishing but not too palatable it may chance that only the truly necessitous may apply4#ech ,children who can obtain food at home will prefer to do so4 ,but it is found in practice that it is not only the children who can get sufficient food at home who are deterred by such a device1 but that the truly necessitous also refuse to come4 ,such a system1 in fact1 defeats its own ends4 ,it is futile to provide meals for all underfed children and at the same time to make that provision so deterrent that those for whom it is intended decline to avail themselves of it4 ,even if there is no intention of making the provision deterrent1 the idea that the meals are meant only for necessitous children will1 in fact1 make it so2 many parents will prefer to feed their children at home on a totally inadequate diet rather than disclose their poverty by sending them to the school meals4 ,the poverty test in fact1 in whatever form it may be applied1 will exclude numbers of children whom it is desirable to provide for4 ,footnote #ech3 ,a ,new ,poor ,law for ,children1 by ,rev4 ,henry ,iselin1 in ,charity ,organisation ,review1 ,march1 #aiji1 p4 #agj4 7iii7 ,the two methods that we have described would each leave a large class of children without provision4 ,the first would fail to discover numbers of children who are underfed1 but who do not show obvious signs of malnutrition4 ,the second would not touch those cases where the children cannot get sufficient food at home1 but where the parents are too proud to accept school meals for them4 ,a combination of the two methods would remove both these objections4 ,the provision of meals1 free and without enquiry1 for all necessitous children1 would secure the feeding of the majority of those who are underfed1 while the ,school ,doctor would generally discover those cases where the parents try to conceal the fact that they cannot give their children sufficient food at home4 ,for these children the doctor would1 of course1 order school meals4 ,this method would not obviate the necessity of a great increase in the school medical service4 ,moreover1 by any of the methods discussed1 provision would be made only for underfed children4 ,there would remain the hosts who are unsuitably fed2 the worst of these cases would1 of course1 be discovered by the doctor1 but only the worst cases4 ,and1 again1 no provision would be made for the children whose mothers are at work all day and consequently unable to provide a midday meal1 and for whom the school dinner would be a great convenience1 for which the parents would1 in many cases1 be willing to pay4 7iv7 ,there remains the only logical conclusion1 the provision of a meal for all school children1 as part of the school curriculum4 ,such a provision need not necessarily be compulsory1 though it should be so in all cases where the ,school ,doctor recommends it4 ,from every point of view1 the psychological1 the medical and the educational1 the advantages to be gained from such a course would be enormous4 ,general provision for all would do away with all pauperising discrimination between the necessitous and the non-necessitous4 ,on the medical side it would be difficult to over-estimate the benefits to be secured4 ,on this point the ,chief ,medical ,officer of the ,board of ,education has recently pronounced in no measured terms4 ,from a purely scientific point of view1 he declared1 if there was one thing he was allowed to do for the six million children1 if he wanted to rear an imperial race1 it would be to feed them4444 ,the great1 urgent1 pressing need was nutrition4 ,with that they could get better brains and a better race4#eci ,the beneficial results already observed in the case of children who have received a regular course of school meals would be extended to all4 ,then1 again1 the common meal would serve as an opportunity for the exercise of many little acts of consideration for one another4 ,the teachers would be brought into more intimate relations with the children1 for they get to know the children better at meal time than in any other way4 ,the school meal would serve as an object lesson2 taken in conjunction with the teaching of housewifery and cookery in the schools1 it would speedily raise the standard in the homes4 ,there would be another advantage4 ,adequate rest after the meal could be insisted on1 followed by healthy play in the open air in the playground instead of in stuffy rooms and backyards4 ,in the rural districts1 as we have already shown1 it is imperative that dinner should be provided for all who want to stay4 ,numbers of children are unable to return home1 and it is almost impossible for the parents to provide suitable cold food for them to take with them2 even when they can go home to dinner they frequently have a long walk1 with the consequence that the meal must be eaten hastily and the children hurry back to school immediately afterwards4 ,footnote #eci3 ,report of ,proceedings of ,university ,extension ,oxford ,summer ,meeting1 #aiac1 p4 #ag4 ,if general provision is made1 ought the parents to be required to pay or should the meal be free to all8 ,the first plan has much to recommend it and has been advocated in many quarters4 ,at the recent conference at the ,guildhall on ,school ,feeding1 for instance1 there appeared to be a general agreement in favour of this course4 ,the experience of the ,special ,schools for ,defective ,children1 and some of the rural schools1 where a midday meal or hot cocoa is provided1 shows that numbers of parents are able to pay1 and there does not appear to be much difficulty in collecting the payment4#edj ,and in the ordinary elementary schools1 where little provision is made for paying cases1 it would appear that there does exist a certain demand for such provision4#eda ,on the other hand1 it must be admitted that it is a question whether any large number of parents would voluntarily pay for their children's meals when it was known that provision was made for all and that other children were receiving the meal free4 ,the payment would have to be left to the parent's conscience1 for any attempt to try to decide in which cases payment should be insisted on and in which it should be remitted would introduce again the evils of the present system1 with its demoralising enquiry into the parents' circumstances--though in a somewhat mitigated form1 since no distinction would be made between the paying and the non-paying children1 and the latter would not be marked off as a separate class as at present4 ,another difficulty1 though a minor one1 would arise in the fixing of the price to be charged4 ,in the more prosperous districts the dinner might be self-supporting1 but in the poorest localities it would hardly be possible to charge an amount sufficient to cover the cost of the food4 ,footnote #edj3 ,see ante1 pp4 #abj1 #abc-e1 #aee-f4 ,footnote #eda3 ,in the ordinary elementary schools in some of the ,scottish towns1 large numbers of children pay for the dinners4 7,see ,appendix ,,ii41 pp4 #bdb1 #bde1 #bdf47 ,the provision of a free meal for all would obviate these difficulties4 ,it will be objected at once that such a plan will undermine parental responsibility1 but1 as we have shown in the previous chapter1 communal provision of other services has not had this result4 ,and against this lightening of parental burdens must be set the continual increase of duties which are being placed upon them4 ,a more serious objection lies in the expense4 ,taking the cost of a school dinner at #b-a_/d;d4 per head1#edb the provision of one meal a day for five days a week during term time for all the six million school children in ,england1 ,wales and ,scotland would cost about #ab1ejj1jjj4 ,this is1 of course1 an outside estimate1 for it would probably be found that a considerable number of parents would prefer to have their children at home to dinner rather than send them to the school meal2 and the provision might be confined to schools in poor districts4 ,to the actual cost of supplying the meals there must be added the initial outlay incurred in providing dining-rooms and appliances4#edc ,on the other hand1 there would be a great saving of time and energy which is now consumed in making enquiries4 ,and the provision of school meals would tend to diminish the amount which will otherwise have to be spent in the near future on medical treatment4 ,food1 as ,sir ,george ,newman has pointed out1 is of more importance than drugs and surgical treatment1 and if regular meals were provided there would be much less need for school clinics4#edd ,the expenditure on the provision of school meals would1 indeed1 be nationally a most profitable investment2 it would be amply justified by the improved physique of the rising generation and by the consequent increase in their efficiency4 ,it would be far more productive1 in fact1 than much of the money which is now spent on education1 than the outlay1 for instance1 on the erection of huge school buildings1 an outlay the necessity of which is becoming more and more questionable in the light of the proved superiority of open-air education4 ,footnote #edb3 ,the cost depends1 of course1 on the kind of food provided4 ,at ,bradford1 where a two-course dinner is given1 the total cost per meal1 for administrative charges 7the upkeep of the ,cooking ,depot1 the rent of the dining-rooms1 the wages of the staff1 payment for supervision1 the carriage of the food1 sinking fund1 etc471 amounted in #aiab-ac to #ab;d41 and for food to #abf;d41 making a total of #bdf;d4 ,about one-third of the meals supplied were breakfasts1 which are usually rather cheaper than dinners1 so that the cost per dinner would be slightly more4 7,bradford ,education ,committee1 ,return as to the ,working of the ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act for the year ending ,march #ca1 #aiac74 ,at ,edinburgh1 where a one-course dinner is given1 the cost is #i;d4 for food and #a;d4 for administrative charges4 7,report of the ,edinburgh ,school ,board for #aiab-ac1 p4 #ce47 ,footnote #edc3 ,we must add one other item of expenditure1 which will be necessary whatever course be adopted with regard to the provision of meals1 namely1 the appointment of salaried organisers for each group of schools1 to supervise the work of medical treatment1 after-care1 and all other activities directed to the physical well-being of the child4 ,footnote #edd3 ,report of ,proceedings of ,university ,extension ,oxford ,summer ,meeting1 #aiac1 p4 #ag4 ,unfortunately the general provision of a school dinner will not be a complete solution of the problem4 ,there will remain the children for whom one meal a day will not be sufficient1 while the discontinuance of the meals during the holidays will cause them serious suffering4 ,experience has amply shown the necessity of the meals being continued during the holidays and power must be given to the ,local ,education ,authorities to make this provision when it is required4 ,they must also be allowed to provide an additional meal for those children for whom dinner alone is not sufficient4 ,any proposal to limit the provision to one meal could not1 indeed1 be seriously entertained1 for numbers of ,local ,authorities are already supplying this extra food and would resist any curtailment of their powers in this respect4 ,but when we come to consider for what children this additional provision shall be made1 we are face to face with all the old difficulties of selection4 ,obviously it cannot be made for all4 ,perhaps the best method would be to provide for all children who liked to come1 whilst attendance should be obligatory on those for whom the ,school ,doctor ordered extra nourishment4 ,such a prospect would be viewed with alarm by many1 but the numbers to be provided for would probably not be excessive1 if it was understood that this extra provision was intended only for necessitous or delicate children4 ,it is found that the attendance drops off considerably during the holidays1 and that it is always less for a breakfast than for a dinner2 it requires more exertion to come in time for breakfast1 while the fare provided is not so popular4 ,probably the danger would be rather on the side of too few children being provided for than too many4 ,no plan that can be proposed is free from disadvantages4 ,and this brings us back to the point at which we started in this chapter4 ,from the nature of the case1 no attempt to deal with effects only1 while causes remain untouched1 can be wholly satisfactory4 ,provision must be made for the present generation of school children2 their necessities must be relieved and future inefficiency due to underfeeding in childhood must be prevented4 ,but at the same time1 and above all1 a determined attack must be made on the evils which lie at the root of the children's malnutrition4 ,industrial conditions must be so organised that it is possible for every man himself to provide for his children at least the requisite minimum of food1 clothing and other necessaries4 ,summary of ,conclusions #a4 ,that1 so long as economic conditions remain as they are1 the provision of school meals is a necessity4 #b4 ,that no method of selection of the children who are to receive the meals can be satisfactory1 and that all attempts at picking and choosing should1 therefore1 be abandoned4 ,the meal should be provided for all children who like to come1 without any enquiry into their parents' circumstances4 ,attendance should be compulsory if recommended by the ,school ,medical ,officer4 #c4 ,that the meal should be regarded as part of the school curriculum and should be educational4 ,it should be served1 as far as practicable1 on the school premises1 in rooms which are not used as class-rooms2 the plan of sending the children to eating-houses or to large centres should be discontinued4 ,some of the teachers should be present to supervise the children1 who should be taught to set the tables and to wait on one another4 ,the meal should be served as attractively as possible4 #d4 ,the dietary should be drawn up in consultation with the ,school ,medical ,officer1 with a view to the physiological requirements of the children1 special attention being paid to the infants4 #e4 ,the preparation of the food should not be entrusted to caterers1 but should be undertaken by the ,local ,education ,authority4 #f4 ,the meals should be continued throughout the school year1 and1 if necessary1 during the holidays4 ,,appendix ,i ,,examples ,,of ,,menus 7#a7 ,bradford ,,spring ,,dietary1 #aiac ,dinners to be repeated every four weeks #ast week3 ,monday4 ,brown vegetable soup4 ,rice pudding4 ,tuesday4 ,cottage pie2 green peas4 ,stewed fruit4 ,wednesday4 ,potato and onion soup4 ,plum cake 7,cocoanut cake alternate months74 ,thursday4 ,meat and potato hash2 beans4 ,rice pudding4 ,friday4 ,fish and potato pie2 parsley sauce2 peas4 ,ground rice4 #bnd week3 ,monday4 ,potato and onion soup4 ,rice pudding4 ,tuesday4 ,shepherd's pie4 ,stewed fruit4 ,wednesday4 ,yorkshire pudding2 gravy2 peas4 ,sago pudding4 ,thursday4 ,scotch barley broth4 ,currant pastry4 ,friday4 ,fish and potato pie2 parsley sauce2 peas4 ,rice and sultanas4 #crd week3 ,monday4 ,brown vegetable soup4 ,rice pudding4 ,tuesday4 ,meat and potato hash2 beans4 ,stewed fruit4 ,wednesday4 ,potato and onion soup4 ,ginger pudding and sweet sauce4 ,thursday4 ,stewed beef and gravy2 mashed potatoes4 ,baked jam roll4 ,friday4 ,fish and potato pie2 parsley sauce2 peas4 ,semolina pudding4 #dth week3 ,monday4 ,potato and onion soup4 ,wholemeal cake4 ,tuesday4 ,hashed beef and savoury balls4 ,rice pudding4 ,wednesday4 ,yorkshire cheese pudding2 peas and gravy4 ,stewed fruit4 ,thursday4 ,shepherd's pie2 green peas4 ,sago pudding4 ,friday4 ,fish and potato pie2 parsley sauce4 ,rice and sultanas4 7#b7 ,leeds ,,winter ,,dietary ,repeated week after week4 ,monday4 ,pea soup2 brown and white bread4 ,parkin4 ,tuesday4 ,shepherd's pie2 brown and white bread4 ,buns or cake4 ,wednesday 7except during ,advent and ,lent7--,irish stew2 brown and white bread4 ,parkin4 ,wednesday 7during ,advent and ,lent7--,lentil and tomato soup 7alternately with fish pie72 brown and white bread4 ,parkin4 ,thursday4 ,crust pie2 brown or white bread4 ,buns or cake4 ,friday4 ,lentil and tomato soup 7alternately with fish pie72 brown and white bread4 ,parkin4 7,some other kind of cake or bun is now sometimes substituted for parkin47 ,,summer ,,dietary ,monday4 ,rice pudding2 stewed fruit4 ,currant cake4 ,tuesday4 ,shepherd's pie2 brown and white bread4 ,seed cake4 ,wednesday4 ,crust pie2 brown and white bread4 ,currant cake4 ,thursday4 ,potted meat sandwiches4 ,rice pudding4 ,friday4 ,lentil and tomato soup2 white and brown bread4 ,buns4 7#c7 ,west ,ham4 ,,winter ,,dietary4 ,monday4 ,irish stew4 ,brown bread and jam4 ,tuesday4 ,lentil soup4 ,baked currant pudding4 ,wednesday4 ,roast mutton2 potatoes2 haricot beans2 bread4 ,thursday4 ,mince4 ,suet pudding2 jam or stewed fruit4 ,friday4 ,soup4 ,rice with jam or treacle4 7,during summer lighter food is substituted47 7#d7 ,acton4 ,monday4 ,soup and bread4 ,currant roll4 ,tuesday4 ,stewed meat2 cabbage2 potatoes4 ,wednesday4 ,soup and bread4 ,plain suet pudding with syrup4 ,thursday4 ,irish stew and potatoes4 ,plain pudding4 ,friday4 ,soup and bread4 ,rice pudding4 ,saturday4 ,stewed meat and two vegetables4 ,this menu is theoretically repeated week after week throughout the year1 but in practice it is not always strictly adhered to4 7#e7 ,london4 ,dinners which may be supplied by the ,alexandra ,trust4 7,see ,minutes of the ,l4,c4,c41 ,dec4 #ag1 #ah1 #aiab47 ,,winter ,,menu4 #a4 ,haricot bean soup2 bread4 ,treacle pudding4 #b4 ,fish and potato pie2 bread4 ,baked raisin pudding4 #c4 ,pea soup2 bread baked in dripping4 ,fig pudding4 #d4 ,stewed beef or mutton2 dumplings2 steamed potatoes2 bread4 #e4 ,beef stewed with peas2 dumplings2 potatoes2 bread4 #f4 ,mutton stewed with haricot beans2 steamed potatoes2 bread4 ,suet pudding4 #g4 ,meat and potato pie2 bread4 #h4 ,meat pudding4 #i4 ,toad-in-the-hole2 potatoes2 bread4 #aj4 ,rice pudding2 two slices of bread and butter4 ,,summer ,,menu4 #a4 ,rice pudding2 two slices of bread and butter4 #b4 ,toad-in-the-hole2 potatoes2 bread4 #c4 ,meat pies2 potatoes2 bread4 #d4 ,meat pudding2 potatoes2 bread4 #e4 ,cold meat pie2 fruit roll4 #f4 ,meat sandwich2 piece of cake4 #g4 7,for ,infants7 ,hot milk and bread2 fruit roll4 ,,dinners ,,for ,,infants #a ,liquid part of winter dinner menus1 ,nos4 #d1 #e1 #f4 #b ,rice1 tapioca1 macaroni or barley pudding1 with two slices of sultana bread and butter4 #c ,stew--very fine mince4 #d ,baked custard1 with bread and butter4 #e ,savory custard1 with bread and butter4 7#f7 ,grassington 7,yorkshire7 ,,sample ,,menus#ede ,footnote #ede3 ,there appears to be no fixed dietary1 the dinners being varied each week4 ,monday4 ,haricot bean soup2 bread4 ,steamed suet pudding and treacle4 ,tuesday4 ,meat and potato pies with crusts on4 ,rice pudding4 ,wednesday4 ,onion soup2 bread4 ,steamed ginger pudding2 sweet sauce4 ,thursday4 ,meat and potato pie with crusts on4 ,sago pudding4 ,friday4 ,yorkshire pudding2 gravy2 mashed potato4 ,marmalade pudding2 sweet sauce4 ,monday4 ,potato soup2 bread4 ,steamed ginger pudding2 sweet sauce4 ,tuesday4 ,meat and potato pies with crusts on4 ,cornflour pudding4 ,wednesday4 ,pea soup4 ,plain plum puddings2 sweet sauce4 ,thursday4 ,meat and potato pies with crusts on4 ,rice pudding4 ,friday4 ,shepherd's pie 7minced meat1 mashed potato74 ,sago pudding4 ,,appendix ,,ii ,,the ,,provision ,,of ,,meals ,,in ,,scotland ,the ,provision of ,meals ,act of #aijf applied only to ,england and ,wales4 ,as we have seen1 the attempt of the ,house of ,commons to extend its operations to ,scotland was defeated in the ,house of ,lords1 and it was not till #aijh that the ,scottish ,school ,boards were granted power to utilise the rates for the provision of food4#edf ,by the ,education 7,scotland7 ,act passed in that year it was enacted that a ,school ,board might1 either by itself or in combination with other ,school ,boards1 provide accommodation1 apparatus and service for the preparation and supply of meals4#edg ,where it appeared that a child was unable by lack of food or clothing to take full advantage of the education provided1 the ,school ,board should1 after due warning1 summon the parent or guardian to appear and give an explanation of the child's condition4 ,if the explanation was not forthcoming or was insufficient or unsatisfactory1 and the condition of the child was due to neglect1 the ,procurator ,fiscal should prosecute the parents under the ,prevention of ,cruelty ,act4#edh ,if1 however1 it appeared that the parent or guardian1 through poverty or ill-health1 was unable to supply sufficient food or clothing1 the ,school ,board1 if satisfied that the necessities of the case would not be met by voluntary agency1 should make such provision for the child 444 as they deem necessary out of the school fund4#edi ,temporary provision might be made by the ,school ,board pending completion of procedure against the parents1 and the cost of such provision might be recovered4#eej ,the powers conferred upon ,scottish ,school ,boards thus differed in several respects from those conferred on ,english ,local ,authorities by the ,act of #aijf4 ,the ,school ,boards were granted power not only to provide food but also clothing1 and no limitation was placed upon the amount which might be spent out of the rates on the provision of these necessaries4 ,moreover1 the ,act was not permissive4 ,in ,england1 when in any area school children are suffering from lack of food1 and voluntary funds are not forthcoming to meet their needs1 the ,local ,education ,authority may provide food out of the rates2 in ,scotland the ,school ,board shall make such provision4 ,footnote #edf3 ,see ante1 p4 #dh4 ,footnote #edg3 #h ,edward ,,vii41 c4 #fc1 sec4 #c 7#b74 ,footnote #edh3 ,ibid41 sec4 #f 7#a74 ,footnote #edi3 ,ibid41 sec4 #f 7#b74 ,footnote #eej3 ,ibid4 ,no report has yet been published by the ,scottish ,education ,department as to the action taken either by the ,school ,boards or by voluntary agencies in the work of the provision of meals4 ,as far as we can gather from the reports of the ,chief ,inspectors1 though several ,boards co-operate with voluntary agencies and provide apparatus and service1 in only some half-dozen towns1 e4g41 ,edinburgh1 ,glasgow1 ,govan1 ,leith1 ,perth1 has the system of providing food out of the rates been adopted to any extent4#eea ,the increase in expenditure on the provision of meals1 etc41 for necessitous children under the ,act of #aijh is shown by the following table3--#eeb ,footnote #eea3 ,during the coal strike in the spring of #aiab1 some ,boards in the ,fife district took action under section #f and provided free meals4 7,report of the ,chief ,inspector for the ,southern ,division for #aiab1 p4 #aa47 ,footnote #eeb3 ,report of the ,committee of ,council on ,education in ,scotland1 #aiab-ac1 p4 #d4 ,providing ,food1 ,clothing or ,total4 ,accomodation other expenditure for ,meals1 7for necessitous ,sec4 #c7b7 children7 ,sec4 #f #aijh-i 7,part of #fg #aa #gh year only47 #aiji-aj #bij #iba #a1baa #aiaj-aa #c1ggg #c1gfh #g1ede #aiaa-ab #d1ehf #c1agb #g1geh ,in ,edinburgh1 the necessity for feeding underfed school children was recognized#eec very soon after the passing of the ,education ,act of #ahgb4 ,the ,association for ,improving the ,condition of the ,poor early undertook to deal with cases reported by the ,attendance ,officers4 ,in #ahgh ,miss ,flora ,stevenson started a scheme for feeding and clothing destitute children1 on condition that children so assisted must attend school4#eed ,towards the close of the nineteenth century numerous other voluntary organisations appear to have been established4#eee ,as in other towns the provision by these voluntary agencies proved inadequate and unsatisfactory4 ,meals were supplied only for about ten weeks in the year4 ,they were served in eating-houses1 where the food was poor and the arrangements of the roughest description4 ,the children were selected by the teachers and attendance officers1 and there was no adequate investigation into the cases4 ,in the autumn of #aiji the ,lord ,provost summoned a conference to discuss the question1 and a scheme of co-operation between the ,school ,board and the two chief voluntary agencies1 the ,flora ,stevenson ,committee and the ,courant ,fund1 was drawn up1 by which the voluntary funds were pooled1 and cases were decided by a committee consisting of representatives of the three bodies concerned4 ,in the following year the ,school ,board undertook the entire responsibility for the provision of meals1 though it still relied on voluntary contributions4 ,it decided to establish a cooking centre of its own instead of entrusting the supply of the meals to caterers4 ,care ,committees of voluntary workers were to be appointed for each group of schools to investigate all cases of destitution1 and to keep in continuous and sympathetic touch with the families4 ,cases were to be recommended by the medical officer1 school nurses1 teachers and attendance officers1 in addition to applications made by the parents2 the ,care ,committee was also itself to take the initiative in searching out cases of destitution4 ,to secure uniformity of treatment a ,central ,care ,committee1 composed of representatives of the ,school ,board and the voluntary agencies1 was appointed to give the final decision on all cases2 this central committee was also to supervise the collection of the necessary funds1 and to rouse general interest in the problem of school feeding4#eef ,the ,courant ,fund declined to act with the ,board under this scheme1 but the ,flora ,stevenson ,committee co-operated cordially4 ,footnote #eec3 ,for the following account ,i am mainly indebted to the kindness of ,mrs4 ,leslie ,mackenzie and ,mr4 ,i4 ,h4 ,cunningham4 ,footnote #eed3 ,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,q4 #dbaa2 ,report of ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training 7,scotland7 #aijc1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 ,q4 #bcif4 ,footnote #eee3 ,report of ,special ,sub-,committee on ,meals for ,school ,children1 in ,minutes of ,london ,school ,board1 ,july #be1 #ahhi1 ,vol4 #ca1 p4 #chb4 ,footnote #eef3 ,edinburgh ,school ,board1 ,memorandum on the ,feeding of ,school ,children1 #aiaj1 pp4 #e-f4 ,the cooking centre was opened in ,january1 #aiaa1 and by the end of the year the system of ,care ,committees was in working order4 ,voluntary subscriptions rapidly decreased1 however1 and in ,may1 #aiab1 the ,board resolved that recourse must be had to the rates4 ,the ,central ,care ,committee thereupon ceased to exist1 its duties being transferred to the ,attendance ,committee4 ,the local ,care ,committees1 of which eight had been appointed1 were continued for a time1 but at the beginning of #aiac the duty of investigation was entrusted to the ,attendance ,officers1#eeg and the local committees also were given up4 ,the system had not worked entirely without friction4 ,the method of investigation was cumbersome and slow1 and the local committees were not in sufficiently close touch with the ,central ,committee4 ,the committees were too large2 from one to nine schools were allocated to each1 and the membership usually numbered about twenty-five4 ,but it is to be regretted that the system has been entirely abandoned4 ,apart from the work of investigation1 which1 as we have shown elsewhere1 is not a task which can suitably be entrusted to voluntary workers1 there are many matters connected with the welfare of the school child in which the volunteer's services can be of the greatest value4 ,footnote #eeg3 ,two special officers have been appointed to make enquiries4 ,the meal given is always dinner1 though in one of the poorest districts breakfasts have recently been started2 for these a halfpenny is charged1 except to those children who are on the free list4 ,till lately two courses were supplied at dinner1 but now usually only one is given4 ,the meals are served ordinarily in the schools1 but in one or two places in halls hired for the purpose4 ,from reports that we have received the arrangements seem to compare very favourably with those obtaining in most ,english dining-centres4 ,the teachers frequently take a great interest in the question and supervise the meals4 ,some of the elder boys and girls help to serve the food and wait on the children4 ,the infants are served at a separate table or1 perhaps1 in a separate room4 ,attention is paid to cleanliness and tidiness1 and the children's manners are very good4 ,provision is made not only for necessitous#eeh children1 but for those who can pay part or the whole of the cost4 ,non-necessitous children may obtain a dinner on payment of #b;d41 while the semi-necessitous may pay #a;d4 ,it is noteworthy that the number of free dinners is decreasing1 while the number of penny dinners is on the increase4 ,of the #dac1jjj meals supplied during #aiab-ac1 nearly #ej per cent4 were supplied to semi-necessitous children on payment of #a;d42 about #be per cent4 were given free1 the remaining #be per cent4 being supplied to children whose parents were receiving relief from the ,parish ,council1 children in ,higher ,grade and ,special ,schools1 and the elder girls who helped in serving the meals4#eei ,the work of investigation has been greatly reduced by the introduction of the penny dinner1 and it has been suggested that the provision of a halfpenny dinner would still further diminish the need for free dinners1 and consequently the need for investigation4 ,footnote #eeh3 ,there is no fixed scale in determining which children are necessitous1 but free meals are usually granted if the gross income of the household is less than #cs4 a head4 ,footnote #eei3 ,for the week ending ,december #ai1 #aiac1 the number of children fed was3-- ,necessitous #ddb ,paying children #a1chi ,parish ,council children #bjg ,for many years before the ,school ,board undertook the responsibility for providing for its underfed children1 the ,parish ,council was supplying meals to the children of mothers who were receiving parish relief4 ,the ,report of the ,royal ,commission on ,physical ,training in #aijc had drawn attention to the question of underfeeding among children1 and the ,parish ,council determined to provide meals for the children for whose relief it was responsible1 in order to ensure that no complaint might be brought against it4#efj ,hot dinners were provided every day except ,sunday4#efa ,they were intended chiefly for children whose mothers were at work all day1 but tickets were also given in cases where an increase of relief would not have benefited the children1 or where the children had a consumptive tendency4#efb ,the dinners were served in eating-houses where the conditions as to the serving of the meals1 and the manners of the children--entirely without supervision-- were anything but civilising4#efc ,when the ,school ,board took over the general arrangements for feeding1 it seemed at first as if the ,parish ,council would still continue its own methods1 but the superiority of the ,board's scheme was soon apparent1 and the ,parish ,council made an arrangement with it by which children whose mothers were receiving relief would have meals at school1 the ,council paying #a-a_/b;d4 per meal to the ,school ,board4#efd ,footnote #efj3 ,evidence before the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 ,vol4 ,,vi41 ,qs4 #faeec-e4 ,footnote #efa3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #facga 7#ab74 ,footnote #efb3 ,ibid41 ,q4 #eebdg 7#ca74 ,footnote #efc3 ,report of the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 #hvo edition1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #adh4 ,footnote #efd3 ,administrative problems arising out of ,child ,feeding1 by ,j4 ,a4 ,young1 in ,proceedings of the ,national ,conference on the ,prevention of ,destitution1 #aiaa1 pp4 #cci-cdj4 ,in ,glasgow1 as in ,edinburgh1 the provision of meals was very early undertaken by voluntary societies4 ,as far back as #ahfi the ,glasgow ,poor ,children's ,dinner ,table ,society was founded1#efe and in #ahge another philanthropic society established ,day ,refuges1 which were intended chiefly for children of widows or widowers who were at work all day1 and at which three meals were supplied daily4#eff ,the ,poor ,children's ,dinner ,table ,society continued to be the chief agency for supplying meals till #aiaj1 when voluntary contributions proved inadequate and the ,school ,board took over the provision of the meals4 ,a central cooking centre1 with modern labour-saving appliances1 was built1 the food being distributed to the different centres by motor waggon4 ,the meals are served either in the schools or in halls hired for the purpose4 ,the supervision is usually undertaken by the attendants2 at some centres assistance is given by members of the old dinner societies1 but the numbers are falling off4 ,only necessitous children are fed4 ,each case is decided on its merits1 but dinners are not usually granted if the family income exceeds #cs4 per head4#efg ,the children are selected by the school doctors1 nurses1 attendance officers or teachers1 and enquiries are made by the attendance officers1 immediate provision being made in urgent cases4 ,boots and clothing1 which up to #aiab were supplied by the ,poor ,children's ,clothing ,scheme1 are now provided by the ,school ,board4#efh ,in the special schools for the physically defective1 dinner is provided for practically all the children1 and the parents pay4 ,the food is good in quality and served in an attractive manner1 tablecloths of some kind and flowers being provided4 ,the supervision is undertaken by the nurses and teachers4 ,footnote #efe3 ,report of ,select ,committee on ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,bills 7,england and ,scotland71 #aijf1 ,qs4 #cjge-h4 ,footnote #eff3 ,evidence before the ,royal ,commission on the ,poor ,laws1 #aiji1 ,vol4 ,,vi41 ,q4 #eigbh 7#ah72 ,report of ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bec4 ,footnote #efg3 ,see ,dundee ,school ,board1 ,report on the ,feeding of ,school ,children1 #aiac1 p4 #ca4 ,footnote #efh3 ,report of ,glasgow ,school ,board for #aiaa-ab1 p4 #ac4 ,perth was one of the earliest ,school ,boards to use its powers under the ,act of #aijh and to provide food and clothing out of the rates1 the system being begun in #aiji4 ,a ,care ,committee was appointed in #aiaa to assist the ,school ,board in looking after the welfare of the children and to take part in the distribution of the meals2 the members visit the homes1 but apparently have no voice in the selection of the children4#efi ,the dinners are mostly served in a ,church ,hall and are supervised by the ,care ,committee and members of the ,school ,board4 ,most of the dinners are supplied free1 only a small proportion being paid for4#egj ,in the matter of boots1 if a child is found improperly shod1 a notice is sent by the ,board to the parents4 ,if they do not provide boots themselves1 the ,board supplies them and calls upon the parents to pay#ega2 about two-thirds of the money thus spent is recovered from the parents4#egb ,footnote #efi3 ,report of ,chief ,inspector for ,southern ,division for #aiab1 pp4 #aa-ab4 ,footnote #egj3 ,perth ,school ,board1 ,officers' ,report on the supplying of ,meals and ,boots to ,school ,children1 #aiab-ac1 pp4 #a-c4 ,footnote #ega3 ,report of ,chief ,inspector for ,southern ,division for #aiab1 p4 #ab4 ,footnote #egb3 ,perth ,school ,board1 ,officers' ,report1 #aiab-ac1 p4 #d4 ,in most towns1 as we have said1 the cost of the food is still borne out of voluntary funds1 whether the ,school ,board itself undertakes the provision of meals1 or whether this is done by a voluntary society4 ,in ,dundee provision has been made by ,the ,free and ,assisted ,dinner ,fund since the winter of #ahhd-e4egc ,the meals are given usually in the schools1 but sometimes in coffee houses4 ,the prevailing menu appears to be soup4 ,in view of the large number of married women who are industrially employed at ,dundee1 the school meal is a great convenience4 ,a large proportion of the children1 something like two-thirds in fact1 make some payment towards the meal4#egd ,but the price charged is very low2 a single bowl of soup costs a halfpenny1 while the payment of a penny a week secures a bowl daily4#ege ,at ,paisley also a large proportion of the children pay4 ,soup and bread1 or1 if the children prefer1 cocoa and bread1 etc41 is provided for the sum of one halfpenny1 the poorest children receiving it free4 ,the balance of expenditure on food is met from voluntary funds2 the ,school ,board pays all expenses of administration4#egf ,in ,aberdeen the work of providing meals1 which had formerly been undertaken by the ,aberdeen ,educational ,trust1 was transferred in #aiji to the ,school ,board1 together with the income which the ,trust had devoted to this purpose4#egg ,at ,greenock the ,school ,board have raised a voluntary fund for the provision of books1 boots or food for necessitous children1 but it has not been found necessary to supply any meals within the last two years4 ,in ,inverness provision is made by a voluntary organisation1 the children being sent to local eating-houses4 ,footnote #egc3 ,dundee ,school ,board1 ,report on the ,feeding of ,school ,children1 #aiac1 p4 #aa4 ,footnote #egd3 ,ibid41 p4 #ae4 ,footnote #ege3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ac-ad4 ,footnote #egf3 ,in the special schools for defective children at ,paisley a two-course dinner is provided at a charge of #h;d4 a week4 ,footnote #egg3 ,report of ,chief ,inspector for the ,northern ,division for #aiaa1 p4 #bd4 ,turning now to the rural districts1 we may mention an early experiment somewhat similar to that at ,rousdon1 to which we have already referred4 ,in #ahgh the minister of the small country parish of ,farnell came to the conclusion that the attendance at school would be more regular1 and the children would derive more profit from the education given if a hot midday meal were provided4 ,accordingly a soup kitchen was instituted at the school1 the plant being provided by voluntary contributions4 ,a charge was made of a halfpenny per meal or #a;d4 per family1 where there were more than two children4 ,practically all the children availed themselves of the provision4 ,the effects were soon visible1 not only in improved attendance--the grant earned rose from #hi in #ahgh to #ii in #ahhc--;but in greater immunity from epidemics and illness than in neighbouring schools1 and in the greater buoyancy of spirits of the children4#egh ,footnote #egh3 ,can a sufficient mid-day meal be given to poor school children 444 for 444 less than one penny8 by ,sir ,henry ,peek1 #ahhc1 p4 #ac4 ,in this matter of providing a midday meal for the children attending rural schools1 ,scotland would appear to be1 on the whole1 in advance of ,england1 though the extent of the provision made varies considerably in different districts4 ,thus1 in the ,border ,counties1 very few schools make any arrangements1#egi while in ,fifeshire1 where the ,inspector has consistently pressed upon managers the necessity for providing dinners1 the attitude of most of the rural ,boards is one of stolid apathy4#ehj ,in ,aberdeenshire1 on the other hand1 a cup of cocoa or a plate of soup is provided in most of the country schools1#eha and in the county of ,inverness almost all the schools provide some sort of hot liquid4#ehb ,in ,kincardineshire it was reported in #aijf that the soup kitchen was a universal institution4#ehc ,the meals may be paid for by the children1 these payments being supplemented by voluntary contributions in money or in kind4 ,footnote #egi3 ,report of ,chief ,inspector for the ,southern ,division for #aiaa1 p4 #bg4 ,footnote #ehj3 ,ibid41 pp4 #bg-h4 ,footnote #eha3 ,first ,report on ,medical ,inspection of ,school ,children in ,scotland1 by ,dr4 ,leslie ,mackenzie1 #aiac1 p4 #ea4 ,footnote #ehb3 ,the ,diet of ,country ,elementary ,school ,children1 by ,dr4 ,gordon ,a4 ,lang1 in ,rearing an ,imperial ,race1 edited by ,c4 ,e4 ,hecht1 #aiac1 p4 #aaf4 ,footnote #ehc3 ,report of ,chief ,inspector for ,northern ,division for #aijf4 ,but even where it is the rule to find cocoa or soup supplied1 it is inadequate for the wants of many of the children1 who require a more substantial and nourishing midday meal4 ,moreover1 the provision appears as a rule to be confined to the winter months1 a limitation patently absurd1 since the raison d'tre of the meals is not so much the poverty of the parents1 a condition which may fluctuate according to the seasons1 but the fact that the distances are1 in many cases1 too great to allow the children time to return home at midday--which condition is1 of course1 constant the whole year round4 ,,appendix ,,iii ,,the ,,provision ,,of ,,meals ,,abroad ,we have not been able to make any original enquiry into the systems of school feeding existing in other countries4 ,the following history of the ,cantines ,scolaires in ,paris and brief notes as to the provision made in other foreign towns may1 however1 be useful for purposes of reference1 and as showing how widespread has been the movement for the feeding of school children4 ,the information as to foreign towns other than ,paris is derived mainly from ,prize ,essays on ,feeding ,school ,children1 #ahij2 ,report of ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 ,appendix ix41 pp4 #bee-bgb2 ,feeding of ,school ,children in ,continental and ,american ,cities 7,cd4 #bibf71 #aijf2 ,the ,free ,feeding of ,school ,children1 a reprint of the reports by the ,special ,sanitary ,commissioner of the ,lancet1 #bnd edition1 #aijg2 while fuller and more recent information is to be found in ,school ,feeding1 its ,practice at ,home and ,abroad1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac4 7a7 ,france 7i7 ,the ,cantines ,scolaires in ,paris ,paris has long offered to other cities an inspiring example of an efficient and uniform system for feeding poor school children4 ,she was the first to make systematic provision on a large scale4 ,she had a basis of organisation ready to her hand in the ,caisses des ,ecoles4 ,these bodies correspond in some degree to the ,english ,care ,committees1 though with a far wider sphere of action4 ,the original object of these school funds was to encourage school attendance by rewards to industrious pupils and help to the needy4 ,the first ,caisse was established in #ahdi by the ,national ,guard in the second arrondissement1 and gradually the system spread4 ,in #ahfg a law was passed encouraging the formation of ,caisses in every commune1 and directing that their revenues were to consist of voluntary subscriptions and subventions by the commune1 department or state4#ehd ,this law was merely permissive1 but in #ahhb1 by the ,compulsory ,education ,law1 the establishment of these organisations was made obligatory4#ehe ,a ,caisse was accordingly set up in each of the twenty arrondissements of ,paris4 ,attendance at school being now compulsory1 and it being therefore no longer so necessary to provide incentives to attendance1 the ,caisses1 though they still continued to grant prizes1 turned their attention more and more to the physical needs of the children1 boots1 clothing1 food1 country holidays and1 later1 crches1 ,savings ,banks1 skilled apprenticeship and medical treatment4 ,the ,caisse was a voluntary body1 but was officially recognised by the municipality4 ,the ,general ,committee was composed of the ,mayor1 the members of the ,municipal ,council1 and the school inspector for the district1 together with from twenty to twenty-four persons elected by the subscribers4#ehf ,footnote #ehd3 ,the ,free ,feeding of ,school ,children1 a reprint of the reports by the ,special ,sanitary ,commissioner of the ,lancet1 #bnd edition1 #aijg1 p4 #g4 ,footnote #ehe3 ,ibid41 p4 #h4 ,footnote #ehf3 ,ibid41 p4 #i4 ,as in other towns1 the early attempts at feeding poor school children were due to private initiative2 meals were provided by the ,caisses des ,ecoles or other voluntary associations or by philanthropic individuals4 ,these attempts were unco-ordinated and inadequate to deal with the evil of underfeeding4 ,in #ahgi the ,municipal ,council made an enquiry into the whole question4 ,as a result a scheme was drawn up to place the work on a more satisfactory and uniform basis under public control4 ,the provision of meals was entrusted in each arrondissement to the ,caisses des ,ecoles1 and a grant of #dhj1jjj francs was voted by the ,municipal ,council to aid them in this work4#ehg ,footnote #ehg3 ,the ,cantines ,scolaires of ,paris1 by ,sir ,charles ,a4 ,elliott1 in the ,nineteenth ,century1 ,may1 #aijf1 pp4 #hcd-e4 ,it is interesting to note that it was seriously considered whether the meals should not be supplied free for all children attending the schools4 ,the ,council1 however1 came to the conclusion that1 in freeing the parents of all responsibility with regard to their children1 and in accustoming them to evade their duties1 they would be running the risk of weakening the family spirit1 to the great detriment of the morality both of the children and of the parents4#ehh ,it was1 therefore1 decided that free provision should be limited to necessitous children4 ,at the same time it would be difficult to exclude children who were willing to pay for their meals1 hence provision should be made for these too4 ,footnote #ehh3 ,organisation des ,cantines ,scolaires ,paris1 a manifold manuscript report issued by the ,direction de l',enseignement primaire1 #cme bureau1 #aiab4 ,the voluntary subscriptions which had supported the work before #ahhj continued in theory to be the chief resource of the new ,cantines ,scolaires4 ,these voluntary subscriptions rapidly decreased1 being either withdrawn altogether or diverted to the other objects of the ,caisses4 ,at the same time both the number of meals provided and the proportion of free meals increased no less markedly4 ,in #ahhj1 the first year in which meals were provided under the new system1 only #cc per cent4 of the meals were supplied free 7the remainder being paid for by the parents72 in #ahih this proportion had nearly doubled1 being #fc per cent4 ,the municipal subsidy rose correspondingly1 and in #ahii amounted to #a1jag1jjj francs4 ,the ,council took fright and appointed a ,commission to consider the question1 with the result that the grant was restricted to #a1jjj1jjj francs4#ehi ,this limit has been fairly strictly adhered to1 for the grant amounts now to only #a1jej1jjj francs1 though the proportion of free meals has continued slowly to increase4#eij ,footnote #ehi3 ,the ,cantines ,scolaires of ,paris1 by ,sir ,charles ,elliott1 in the ,nineteenth ,century1 ,may1 #aijf1 pp4 #hce-f4 ,footnote #eij3 ,according to the latest figures #gj per cent4 of the children for whom meals are provided receive them free4 ,each ,caisse is allowed a free hand in the actual details of administration1 hence the arrangements vary in the different arrondissements4 ,the want of uniformity has obvious disadvantages1 and a proposal was recently made that the system should be centralised1 but this would have necessitated the appointment of a large and expensive staff1 and it was felt desirable to leave the initiative and responsibility to voluntary workers4#eia ,everywhere the meal is served on the school premises1 a kitchen being established for each school or group of schools4 ,the meal is cooked by the cantinires1 and is sometimes provided by them at a fixed price per head2 more often the ,caisse prefers to purchase the materials itself1 a more economical method1 and one which ensures a better quality of food4#eib ,the dinner may consist of one1 two or three courses4 ,the food is plentiful and good1 well-cooked and well-served1 and the menu sufficiently varied4 ,the meals are made as attractive as possible to encourage the better-class parents to make use of them4 ,the price charged varies from #a;d4 to #b;d42 in almost all the arrondissements the charge appears to be below the cost price4 ,no difference is made between the children who pay and those who are on the free list4 ,the teachers do not assist in serving the food1 as in ,england1 but are always present to supervise the children1 and1 in some schools at any rate1 they eat their dinner with them4 ,at first the supervision was undertaken voluntarily1 but since #aiaj the teachers have received an extra remuneration of #aej francs a day for this duty4#eic ,this sharing in a common meal by all classes alike1 together with the presence of the teacher1 has had a marked influence on the children's manners4 ,besides the mid-day meal1 which is given by all the ,caisses1 breakfasts of soup are sometimes supplied to the children who are receiving free dinners1 while in some arrondissements1 e4g41 the eighteenth1 a small meal is also given at four o'clock to these children if they remain at school for the classe de garde4#eid ,a further extension has recently been made in the seventeenth arrondissement1 where it was decided in #aiab to try the experiment of a classe de garde till eight o'clock in the evening1 with a supper1 for children of widows or widowers who were at work till late1 or for other especially poor children1 or children with bad homes1 the object being both to secure them adequate nourishment and to remove them from the temptations of the streets4 ,for this purpose the ,municipal ,council voted a sum of #aj1jjj francs4#eie ,weakly children have codliver oil given to them in winter and syrup of iodide of iron or phosphate of lime in the summer4 ,footnote #eia3 ,organisation des ,cantines ,scolaires ,paris1 report by ,direction de l',enseignement primaire1 #cme bureau1 #aiab4 ,footnote #eib3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #eic3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #eid3 ,caisse des coles du #ah;e arrondissement1 ,exercice de l'anne #aiaa1 p4 #cd4 ,footnote #eie3 ,proposition tendant l'ouverture d'un crdit de #aj1jjj francs en vue de permettre la ,caisse des ,ecoles du ,x,v,i,ie arrondissement d'organiser1 titre d'essai1 une classe de garde prolonge jusqu' huit heures et une cantine du soir1 dpose par ,m4 ,frdric ,brunet1 conseiller municipal1 ,septembre #ai1 #aiab4 ,the methods of enquiry vary in the different arrondissements4 ,usually the enquiries are made by a paid investigator1 but the numbers of children on the free list are so large that the investigation is as a rule very superficial4 ,the necessity of keeping secret the fact that a child is receiving the meals free also militates against any effective enquiry into the parents' circumstances4 ,the meals are granted for a school year1 hence it frequently happens that a child continues to receive them long after the need has passed away4#eif ,the enquiries are1 as might be expected1 the least satisfactory part of the ,paris system4 ,in granting the meals the ,caisses usually take a generous view2 it is held1 for instance1 that a man earning up to #cjs4 a week cannot adequately feed and clothe more than three children1 and if his family is larger than this the ,caisses are prepared to assist him2 while widows' children are invariably fed if application is made4#eig ,footnote #eif3 ,organisation des ,cantines ,scolaires ,paris1 report issued by ,direction de l',enseignement primaire1 #cme bureau1 #aiab2 ,necessitous ,children in ,paris and ,london1 by ,george ,rainey1 in ,school ,hygiene1 ,november1 #aiab1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #aih4 ,footnote #eig3 ,ibid41 p4 #aih4 ,an interesting feature of the ,paris system is the provision of clothes4 ,the municipality insists that the children shall come to school properly clothed2 it is ready to provide the requisite garments1 but it insists that they shall be kept clean and tidy4 ,frequent inspections are made for this purpose4 ,the result is a notable raising of the level of cleanliness and tidiness in the schools1 both the parents and the children themselves learning to take a pride in their appearance4#eih ,so far1 indeed1 from the work of the ,caisses having undermined parental responsibility1 it would appear that the reverse is the case1 the parents responding to the higher standard demanded of them4 ,footnote #eih3 ,ibid41 pp4 #aih1 #bjj4 ,what strikes one in comparing the ,paris system with that obtaining in ,english towns is the thoroughness with which the problem is tackled in ,paris and the widespread interest taken by the citizens generally in the work of the ,caisses4 ,no half measures content them4 ,from the first the work has been educational1 the primary object of the ,caisses being to encourage school attendance rather than to relieve distress4 ,the educational progress of the children1 the improvement in their physique1 the raising of the standard of manners and cleanliness1 all show that the results have amply justified the expenditure4#eii ,footnote #eii3 ,for the above description1 see1 besides the references already quoted1 ,report of ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 ,appendix ,,ix41 pp4 #bfb-e2 ,the ,cantines ,scolaires of ,paris1 by ,marcel ,kleine1 in ,report of ,proceedings of the ,international ,congress for the ,welfare and ,protection of ,children1 #aijf1 pp4 #fe-hb2 ,feeding ,school ,children3 ,the ,experience of ,france1 in the ,manchester ,guardian1 ,february #bb1 #aijf2 ,children's ,care ,committees in ,paris1 in the ,morning ,post1 ,march #ai1 #aiji2 ,school ,canteens in ,paris1 by ,miss ,m4 ,m4 ,boldero1 in the ,school ,child1 ,july1 #aiaj2 ,school ,feeding1 its ,history and ,practice at ,home and ,abroad1 by ,louise ,stevens ,bryant1 #aiac1 pp4 #gg-ic2 ,conseil ,municipal de ,paris1 ,procs ,verbal1 ,june #be1 #aiji1 ,december #ca1 #aiji1 ,march #bc1 #aiaj4 7ii7 ,provision in other ,french ,towns4 ,paris was not the first municipality in ,france to interest itself in the provision of school meals4 ,the pioneer town in this respect seems to have been ,angers1 where as early as #ahga the ,socit de ,fourneau des ,ecoles ,laques was founded with the support of the municipality1 to provide hot dinners1 either free or at a cost of #aj centimes1 during the winter4#fjj ,towards the close of the nineteenth century many municipalities were providing meals1 either directly or indirectly through voluntary organisations4 ,footnote #fjj3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 pp4 #ic-id4 ,thus at ,havre1 in #ahih1 the municipality was making a grant of #ejj to a voluntary society2 meals were provided for #aj centimes1 or were given free in cases of poverty2 about five-eighths of the children who attended paid for the meals4#fja ,footnote #fja3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bfe4 ,at ,marseilles ,cantines ,scolaires were organised by the municipality in #ahic4 ,prior to this date meals had been provided in some three or four schools1 but only in a haphazard manner by voluntary agencies4 ,by the bye-law of #ahic a committee of twenty-two was to be appointed by the ,mayor1 and presided over by him or his representative2 this committee was to investigate the demands made for free meals4 ,in #aije about #h per cent4 of the children in the communal schools were dining at school1 about half this number paying for the meal2 in the infant schools the proportion fed was much greater1 viz41 #ah per cent41 while only about one-sixth of the parents paid4 ,as in ,paris1 no distinction was made between the paying and the non-paying children4 ,dinner tickets could be bought at all the police stations2 if the parents wished to receive the meals free1 they had to make application personally or by letter to the education department2 if on investigation they proved to be unable to pay1 the municipality provided them with tickets4#fjb ,footnote #fjb3 ,lancet ,reports1 #aijg1 pp4 #ej-ef4 ,at ,nice also ,cantines ,scolaires were established by the municipality about #ahif4 ,here the object was not so much to feed starving children as to provide a suitable meal for children who came such distances that they were unable to return home at mid-day4 ,the municipality built kitchens1 provided all the necessary apparatus1 and paid the salaries of the cooks4 ,a penny was charged for a dinner of soup1 the meal being given free to those who could not afford to pay4 ,any deficit was supplied by voluntary subscriptions4 ,in the infant schools1 on the other hand1 the municipality assumed the entire responsibility1 and a hot meal was provided for all the children without payment4#fjc ,footnote #fjc3 ,ibid41 pp4 #da-dc4 ,by #aiji ,cantines ,scolaires of one kind or another had been very generally established4 ,it appeared that at this date something like three-fifths were supported entirely by public funds1 the remainder being so supported indirectly and partially4 ,in many towns where regular cantines had not been instituted1 the teachers or janitors served warm soup to the children at a nominal sum4 ,in country districts or smaller towns1 the children would bring the raw material for soup and the teacher would prepare it2 the children would also bring their own bread1 and sometimes wine and cake4 ,whether any organised provision was made or not1 the great majority of the schools everywhere had a stove on which the children could warm any food they brought with them4#fjd ,footnote #fjd3 ,school ,feeding by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 pp4 #hj1 #id-ig4 7b7 ,switzerland ,switzerland was one of the first countries in which provision for necessitous school children became the subject of national legislation4 ,the question early attracted attention4 ,the long distances which many of the children had to walk to school rendered the provision of a mid-day meal of the greatest importance1 while clothing and especially boots were little less necessary4 ,after #ahij the system of providing food and clothing was greatly extended4 ,the provision was everywhere made by voluntary societies1 but assistance was given from the cantonal and communal funds4 ,the cantonal contribution was derived chiefly from the alcohol monopoly profits and was devoted to this provision for the children's wants on the theory that their misery was in most cases the direct result of parental insobriety6#fje ,this method of administration by voluntary societies1 subsidised but not controlled by the municipal authorities1 proved most extravagant1 and led to much abuse1 while it aroused sectarian jealousies4 ,the municipalities began1 consequently1 to take over the direct management of the school meals4#fjf ,in #aijc the ,federal ,government issued an order making it obligatory for cantons to supply food and clothing to necessitous children in the public elementary schools4 ,three years later it authorised the use of state funds for this purpose1 on the understanding that in no case should the cantonal or city support be lessened because of this federal support4#fjg ,footnote #fje3 ,report of ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 pp4 #bga-b4 ,footnote #fjf3 ,the ,bitter ,cry of the ,children1 by ,john ,spargo1 #aijf1 p4 #bgg4 ,footnote #fjg3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 p4 #acc4 7c7 ,italy ,as in other countries1 the early attempts at school feeding in ,italy were made by voluntary agencies4 ,in many towns1 towards the close of the nineteenth century1 ,committees of ,assistance and ,benevolent ,funds were instituted to assist poor pupils in the elementary schools1 chiefly in the matter of books and clothing1 but in several communes of ,lombardy and ,romagna meals were also given4 ,a small grant1 which in #ahig was raised to #abj1jjj francs 7#d1hjj71 was made by the ,department of ,public ,instruction to the school authorities in the large cities1 and especially ,rome1 who provided a mid-day meal for their children4#fjh ,footnote #fjh3 ,report of ,london ,school ,board on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bfg4 ,the first town in which the municipality undertook the provision of meals was ,san ,remo1 in #ahif4 ,this policy was inaugurated by the ,socialist ,council4 ,it was temporarily abandoned in #ahih1 when a ,conservative ,council was appointed who preferred the subsidising of voluntary agencies to direct municipal action1 but was re-introduced on the return of the ,socialists to power some four years later4#fji ,footnote #fji3 ,lancet ,reports1 #aijg1 pp4 #ca1 #cc4 ,in ,milan an agitation for the provision of meals was set on foot in the last decade of the nineteenth century4 ,the municipal authority declined to undertake the work themselves1 but advocated the formation of charitable committees to raise subscriptions for the purpose1 offering to supplement these voluntary funds with a municipal subvention4 ,this grant amounted in #ahig to about #djj4faj ,it was soon found that this system did not work satisfactorily1 and the municipality was obliged1 though somewhat reluctantly1 to assume the responsibility4#faa ,footnote #faj3 ,minutes of ,london ,school ,board1 ,may #bf1 #ahih1 ,vol4 #dh1 p4 #ahaj4 ,footnote #faa3 ,lancet ,reports1 #aijg1 p4 #bj4 ,but it is in the small rural town of ,vercelli that we find the most remarkable experiment4#fab ,here for some years a charitable committee had been providing meals for children who lived too far from school to go home at mid-day1 and the municipality had granted a small subsidy1 but it was felt that this provision was entirely inadequate4 ,in #aijj it was decided to provide a meal for all the children attending the elementary schools4 ,the object was not the relief of distress but education in its fullest sense1 as distinct from mere instruction4 ,it was argued that the mid-day recess furnished an opportunity for moral education which could not be imparted in the class-room4 ,the teachers would be brought into more intimate relation with the children1 while the joining of richer and poorer alike in the common meal and in recreation afterwards would instil sentiments of brotherhood4 ,the meal was to be free to all and attendance compulsory1 for rich and poor were to be treated exactly alike4 ,with the same object of preventing class distinctions1 clothes were supplied for the poorer children1 the municipality providing the material which was worked into garments by the sewing classes4 ,the teachers were to have the same food1 though they were allowed a double quantity1 and were to eat it with the children4 ,for this extra duty of supervising both the meals and recreation they only received an additional #b a year4 ,since the moral rather than the physical welfare of the child was the primary consideration1 too little attention was paid to the actual food that was given4 ,the parents1 it was argued1 could in the great majority of cases amply feed their children at home1 hence all that was needed was to supply sufficient food to compensate for the waste of energy during the two and a half hours of morning school4 ,a cold meal of bread and sausage or cheese was given4 ,this did not satisfy the more prosperous children1 who would have preferred to pay for a hot meal1 and some #aj per cent4 of the children1 chiefly the richer ones1 obtained a medical certificate exempting them from attendance4 ,nor was the meal sufficient for the poorest children who were suffering from lack of food4 ,to provide a really adequate meal free for all would have been too expensive an undertaking4 ,accordingly1 after some six years1 the general free provision was abandoned4 ,instead1 hot soup was provided1 which was given free to the poorest children1 any others who wished being allowed to receive it on payment of #aej lire a month4#fac ,footnote #fab3 ,footnote #e3 ,for the following account1 see ,lancet ,reports1 pp4 #bd-cj4 ,it is interesting to note that this scheme for making universal provision was introduced by the ,conservative party4 ,footnote #fac3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 p4 #ada2 ,il ,patronato ,scolastico ,umberto #a in ,vercelli e la sua ,opera al #ca ,dicembre1 #aiab1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,the ,school ,restaurant seems to have been established in ,italy to a greater extent than in any other country4 ,a very large proportion of the children attend1 and a great number of these pay for the meals4 ,in #aijh-i it was found that in forty-three cities the average attendance amounted to #cg per cent4 of the total school population2 while in several towns the attendance rose to over #gj per cent4#fad ,footnote #fad3 ,footnote #b3 ,ibid41 p4 #adj4 7d7 ,germany ,in ,germany little attention appears to have been paid to the question of feeding school children1 apart from their parents1 till the closing years of the nineteenth century4#fae ,in some of the large towns1 at any rate1 the arrangements that were made were quite inadequate4 ,in ,berlin1 for instance1 there was in #ahij no society whose chief object was the provision of school meals4 ,a society which provided food for the poor generally had a branch which devoted special attention to the needs of school children1 and gave a small sum1 generally only #aes4 or #bjs4 a year1 to the committee of each parish school1 to be used at the headmaster's discretion4 ,generally milk and bread were given in the headmaster's house4#faf ,about #ahij the subject began to attract more attention1 especially in connection with the vacation colonies for school children2 it was found that the children who were sent to these colonies1 on returning to their homes1 lost the benefit they had gained1 owing to lack of food4 ,on an attempt being made to continue the work of the colonies by feeding some of the children1 it was found that thousands of others were also underfed4#fag ,in #ahig a ,bill was introduced in the ,reichstag by the ,social ,democrats to make provision for school meals in the cities4 ,the ,bill was defeated on the ground that it would increase the migration to the cities from the rural districts4#fah ,some ten years later the agitation for national legislation was renewed1 as a result of the discovery that from #dd to #df per cent4 of the conscripts for the ,imperial ,army were rejected on account of physical unfitness4#fai ,footnote #fae3 ,prize ,essays on ,feeding ,school ,children1 #ahij1 pp4 #fe1 #bab-d4 ,footnote #faf3 ,ibid41 p4 #fe4 ,footnote #fag3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 pp4 #ag-ah1 #ajd4 ,footnote #fah3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ah1 #aje4 ,footnote #fai3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ii1 #ajf4 ,in #aiji it was found that out of #ahi cities from which information was obtained1 in #gh meals were being provided by voluntary societies1 without any subsidy from1 or control by1 the municipal authorities1 though these latter usually co-operated in the supervision and service1 and often supplied rooms1 gas and cooking free2 in #fh cities1 meals were provided by voluntary organisations1 but the city governments subsidised1 and usually exercised some control over1 their work2 while in #dc cities the provision of meals was undertaken entirely by the municipality4#fbj ,footnote #fbj3 ,ibid41 pp4 #aad-e4 7e7 ,austria ,in ,austria school meals are provided in most of the large towns4 ,in ,vienna the ,central ,association for feeding necessitous school children was founded in #ahhg1 with the help and approval of the municipality1 the ,mayor acting as ,president and the ,municipal ,council being represented on its ,administrative ,council4 ,meals were given from ,november to ,april1 occasionally at the schools1 but more often in restaurants4 ,all the meals were supplied free4 ,the children were selected by the ,school ,managers and the headmaster1 and enquiry was made by ,local ,committees with the help of voluntary workers4 ,the teachers supervised the meals4#fba ,in #ahhh-i1 the ,municipal ,council made a grant to this society towards the provision of food2#fbb by #ahif this municipal subsidy amounted to #ej1jjj frs4 7#b1jjj71 while #eb1ejj frs4 were granted for the supply of clothing4#fbc ,in #aijf the food subsidy had risen to #c1cej4fbd ,the provision made was1 however1 inadequate4 ,meals were only given during the winter1 and were not obtained by all the children who needed them4 ,it was felt that the city ought to assume direct control4 ,in #aiji kitchens and dining-rooms were built in four new public schools4#fbe ,footnote #fba3 ,prize ,essays on ,feeding ,school ,children1 #ahij1 pp4 #ff-gj1 #aha-g1 #aig-h4 ,footnote #fbb3 ,ibid41 pp4 #ach1 #aih4 ,footnote #fbc3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 pp4 #beh1 #bfj-bfa4 ,footnote #fbd3 ,feeding of ,school ,children in ,continental and ,american ,cities1 #aijf1 p4 #f4 ,footnote #fbe3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 p4 #adc4 7f7 ,belgium ,in most of the ,belgian towns in the last decade of the nineteenth century voluntary organisations were to be found whose object was to provide food and clothing for poor school children4 ,this provision was made to enable them to attend school instead of begging in the streets1 since education was not compulsory4#fbf ,in ,brussels the chief society was ,le ,progrs ,club1 which in #ahhh commenced the provision of soup dinners in the schools4 ,the ,town ,council assisted by providing tables and undertaking the carriage of the food to the different centres1 and in #ahia by granting a subsidy of #e1jjj frs4 ,an application was very soon made for an increase of this subsidy1 whereupon the municipality undertook a detailed enquiry into the whole question of the food1 clothing1 lodging1 cleanliness and health of the children in the communal schools4 ,it was found as a result that #afhi per cent4 were badly shod1 #bejd per cent4 badly clothed1 and #beee per cent4 insufficiently fed4#fbg ,the work of medical inspection and treatment was very early undertaken by the local authority4 ,at the date of this report 7#ahid71 a doctor and dentist were attached to each school2 frequent inspections were made by the doctor1 and preventive medicine1 e4g41 codliver oil1 was provided from public funds4#fbh ,the provision of meals continued to be undertaken by voluntary organisations1 aided by a municipal subsidy4 ,in #aijc-jd1 this subsidy amounted to #aj1jjj frs4 for the communal schools1 and #e1jjj frs4 for the clerical schools4 ,in addition large quantities of clothing were supplied from public funds4#fbi ,footnote #fbf3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bef4 ,footnote #fbg3 ,ibid41 p4 #bee2 ,board of ,education1 ,reports on ,educational ,subjects1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 #ahih1 p4 #fhb4 ,footnote #fbh3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bef4 ,footnote #fbi3 ,lancet ,reports1 #aijg1 pp4 #ad-ae4 ,at ,lige1 as early as #ahhc1 the municipality organised the provision of soup for all children in the kindergartens who wished to receive it4#fcj ,the dinner was only given on condition that the children were clean and tidy4 ,each child was expected to have clean linen twice a week and also to have a pocket handkerchief4 ,a teacher was present to supervise the children1 and share the meal with them4 ,each child brought a basket of bread and fruit to supplement the food provided1 and at the end any bread that remained was packed in the baskets by the children1 to prevent waste and to inculcate habits of thrift4#fca ,the whole cost was borne out of municipal funds4 ,in #aija a voluntary committee was formed for providing soup in the communal primary schools4 ,this committee placed at the disposal of the municipality a sum of #aj1jjj frs41 in order that general provision might be made for the first year's scholars in the primary schools1 on the same lines as in the kindergartens4 ,in other classes in the primary schools soup was given only to necessitous children1 or to those whose parents were at work all day2 this provision was at first limited to three months during the winter1 but in #aije the municipality voted a grant of #g1jjj frs4 in order that it might be extended to six months4#fcb ,footnote #fcj3 ,feeding of ,school ,children in ,continental and ,american ,cities1 #aijf1 p4 #b2 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 pp4 #bei1 #bfj-a4 ,footnote #fca3 ,prize ,essays on ,feeding ,school ,children1 #ahij1 pp4 #bjd-e4 ,footnote #fcb3 ,feeding of ,school ,children in ,continental and ,american ,cities1 #aijf1 pp4 #b1 #d1 #f4 7g7 ,holland ,holland was the first country to enact national legislation for the provision of school meals4 ,the law of #aijj enforcing compulsory education authorised municipal authorities to provide food and clothing for all school children1 whether in public or private schools1 who1 owing to lack of these necessaries1 were unable to attend school regularly4 ,this provision might be undertaken directly by the municipality1 or by means of subsidies to voluntary organisations4#fcc ,footnote #fcc3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 p4 #acj4 7h7 ,denmark ,in some of the cities of ,denmark meals were provided by voluntary agencies in the 'seventies4 ,in #aijb a law was passed allowing municipal authorities to subsidise these organisations4 ,this system1 however1 proved unsatisfactory and1 in #aijg1 a campaign was set on foot for compulsory national legislation4#fcd ,footnote #fcd3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 p4 #adf4 ,in ,copenhagen the municipality from #aijb made a grant of #be1jjj kr4 7about #a1djj7 to the ,society for ,providing ,meals to ,free ,school ,children1 the voluntary contributions to which were rapidly diminishing4 ,this society1 though a voluntary organisation1 was directly connected with the municipality1 its ,executive ,board consisting of the seven municipal school inspectors and four private gentlemen1 while the municipal school director was ex officio president4 ,more than half the total expenditure was met out of the municipal subsidy1 the balance being made up by voluntary contributions4 ,dinners were given three days a week to all the children in the free schools who wished to attend4 ,no charge was made and no question raised as to the economic circumstances of the parents4 ,about #cc per cent4 of the total number of free school children availed themselves of this provision4#fce ,footnote #fce3 ,the ,feeding of ,school ,children in ,continental and ,american ,cities1 #aijf1 pp4 #c1 #e1 #g4 7i7 ,norway ,christiania was the first town in ,norway to make municipal provision for underfed school children4 ,the system was started in #ahig4 ,a proposal was made to distribute food free to all elementary school children1 but this was1 at the time1 rejected4 ,in the winter of #ahig-h1 applications were made on behalf of #be4ib per cent4 of the pupils in the school1 the great majority of the meals being given free4#fcf ,the children made such marked progress as a result of this experiment that the system was extended and in ,christiania and several other towns a good dinner was provided by the school authorities for all school children who cared to attend1 the entire cost of the system being met by taxation4#fcg ,it was soon found that the advantages of this free provision outweighed the expense4 ,at ,trondhjem1 when the proposal was first made by the ,socialists1 it was bitterly opposed1 but by #aijf the system was unanimously supported by all sections4#fch ,footnote #fcf3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 p4 #bfh2 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 p4 #ade4 ,footnote #fcg3 ,the ,bitter ,cry of the ,children1 by ,john ,spargo1 #aijf1 pp4 #aad-aae1 #bge4 ,footnote #fch3 ,ibid41 p4 #bgf4 7j7 ,sweden ,in many towns in ,sweden schemes for feeding poor school children were started in the 'eighties1 these voluntary schemes being later subsidised by the local authorities4#fci ,footnote #fci3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 pp4 #adc-d4 ,in ,stockholm several voluntary organisations were formed for supplying meals1 the provision being usually limited to necessitous children4 ,in order to preserve the self-respect of the children and parents1 some of these societies adopted the plan of allowing the children to contribute to the expense of the dinner by performing some manual work1 the making of baskets 7which were sold71 the mending of clothes1 the sweeping out of the rooms1 etc4#fdj ,towards the close of the nineteenth century the ,school ,boards of the several parishes resolved to build kitchens at the schools4 ,the kitchens generally contained several fireplaces1 at each of which dinners for a certain number of children were prepared by the elder girls4#fda ,each child only received a dinner three times a week4 ,footnote #fdj3 ,prize ,essays on ,feeding ,school ,children1 #ahij1 pp4 #ga-ge4 ,footnote #fda3 ,london ,school ,board1 ,report on ,underfed ,children attending ,school1 #ahii1 pp4 #bgj-bga4 ,at ,jnkping the free distribution of meals dates from #ahhg4 ,the funds1 which were derived from voluntary contributions and proceeds of concerts1 were administered by the ,board ,school ,inspector1 and the distribution of the food was supervised by the ,school ,board4 ,the children were usually sent for dinner to the houses of private ladies who undertook the catering4#fdb ,the poorest children were fed twice a week1 those who were rather less poor only once4 ,footnote #fdb3 ,ibid41 p4 #bgj4 ,at ,gothenburg1 besides the provision made by voluntary agencies1 the ,board of ,education distributed bread to certain children who were selected by the ,school ,board4#fdc ,footnote #fdc3 ,ibid41 p4 #bfi4 7k7 ,united ,states of ,america ,in ,america#fdd the movement for the feeding of school children is of comparatively recent date4 ,it is true that in the numerous ,day ,industrial ,schools which were instituted in the nineteenth century by voluntary organisations1 e4g41 by the ,children's ,aid ,society1 meals were always given1#fde but it was not till #aijd1 when ,mr4 ,robert ,hunter in his ,poverty stated that probably #fj1jjj or #gj1jjj children in ,new ,york ,city often arrived at school hungry and unfitted to do their school work well1#fdf that public attention was seriously directed to the question of under-feeding among school children4 ,footnote #fdd3 ,see for a full description of the provision made in ,america1 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac4 ,footnote #fde3 ,prize ,essays on ,feeding ,school ,children1 #ahij1 pp4 #bbe-ce4 ,footnote #fdf3 ,poverty1 by ,robert ,hunter1 #aijd1 p4 #baf4 ,in ,new ,york in #aijh a ,school ,lunch ,committee of physicians and social workers was formed with the object of ascertaining if a three cent lunch could be made self-supporting4 ,this idea of making the meals self-supporting seems to be characteristic of the provision made in most of the ,american cities4 ,two schools were at first chosen1 and the experiment proved so successful that two years later the ,board of ,education gave permission for lunches to be supplied in other schools4 ,the ,board provided rooms1 equipment and gas2 the cost of the food and service had to be met by the sale of tickets4 ,the meals are served sometimes in the basement in the schools1 and there does not appear to be always adequate accommodation4 ,the meal itself is well cooked and served1 the elder children helping the staff4 ,a physician draws up the dietaries4 ,these include one main dish such as soup1 stew1 rice pudding1 etc41 costing the child about four cents4 ,there are besides extras1 such as dessert1 cakes or other delicacies1 which may be bought for one cent1 but only by children who have had the main dish4 ,the meals are not quite self-supporting1 as a small number are given free4#fdg ,footnote #fdg3 ,school ,feeding1 by ,louise ,s4 ,bryant1 #aiac1 pp4 #adg-ej4 ,in ,philadelphia the ,starr ,center ,association undertook school feeding in some schools over fifteen years ago1 but it is now managed by the ,home and ,school ,league4 ,several of the schools provide a meal1 some at #aj4cj a4m41 others a fuller meal at midday4 ,the cost is one cent for lunch and three to five cents for dinner4 ,there is one hot dish of soup or rice pudding1 etc41 and the children may spend another cent on the extra dainty4 ,the meals are self-supporting4 ,the teachers co-operate enthusiastically1 and sometimes eat with the children4 ,the food is served on japanned trays in enamel bowls and a paper napkin is provided4 ,the washing up is done by the children under supervision1 and everything is carefully sterilised4 ,both the superintendent1 who is responsible for planning the meals and purchasing the food materials1 and the home visitor are trained dietists4#fdh ,footnote #fdh3 ,ibid41 pp4 #aea-afd4 ,in ,boston the ,hygiene ,committee of the ,home and ,school ,association began to organise school dinners in #aiji1 at a school with a kitchen attached4 ,by #aiaa meals were being supplied at twenty-two schools4 ,equipment was given in the first place1 and the meals are now self-supporting4 ,in schools where there is a kitchen1 the cooking classes prepare and serve the meals2 here one cent amply covers the cost of the food4 ,in other schools outside help is hired1 and an extra cent per meal ticket meets this expense4#fdi ,footnote #fdi3 ,ibid41 pp4 #afd-h4 ,throughout the rest of the ,states the system is gaining ground4 ,by #aiab some thirty cities had organised the provision of school meals1 while in at least twenty others the question was under consideration4 ,everywhere this provision was made by voluntary organisations4#fej ,public funds could not be utilised1 but there was growing anxiety that the question should be made a national concern4 ,the nearest approach to legislative action was taken by ,massachusetts1 where in #aiab the ,committee on ,education of the ,lower ,house reported favourably a ,bill to allow ,school ,boards to spend part of the school funds on the provision of meals4#fea ,footnote #fej3 ,ibid41 p4 #ai4 ,footnote #fea3 ,ibid41 pp4 #bj1 #ahb-c4 ,,index ,aberdeen1 #bdf2 county of1 #bdg ,acton1 #fh1 #ij1 #ajd1 #aad1 #bcd ,after-care1 #aci1 #adj1 #ade1 #bbgn ,alexandra ,trust1 #aee1 #aeg ,angers1 #bee ,anglesey1 #abe-f ,arkle1 ,dr41 #aga1 #aha-b ,aston ,manor1 #ean ,attendance1 effect of meals on1 #h1 #abc1 #ahh1 #aie-f1 #aih-i1 #bdf ,audit by ,local ,government ,board1 #ef1 #ajb1 #ajc1 #ajd-e ,austria1 #bfb-c ,badger1 ,dr41 #age1 #agf1 #ahb ,barnett1 ,canon1 #bbj ,barnsley1 #edn1 #ee1 #aban ,bedfordshire1 #abcn ,belgium1 #bfc-e ,berlin1 #bfa ,bermondsey1 #bajn1 #baa ,bethnal ,green1 #gfn1 #aia-b ,birkenhead1 #ehn1 #ffn1 #fg1 #fhn1 #fi1 #gan1 #hj1 #hc1 #ie-f1 #abj1 #aba ,birmingham1 #abn1 #acn1 #ain1 #cen1 #cfn1 #dbn1 #dcn1 #ddn1 #fd1 #ff1 #fg1 #fh1 #ga-b1 #gc1 #hfn1 #ajan1 #ajin1 #bajn1 #baa ,birrell1 ,mr41 #df ,blackburn1 #aae1 #agi ,blake1 ,dr4 ,sophia ,jex-1 #h ,board of ,education1 xvi1 #dj1 #dh1 #fj1 #ia1 #aja1 #ajf4 ,see also ,newman1 ,sir ,george ,board ,school ,children's ,free ,dinner ,fund1 #ac1 #aen ,bolton1 #dbn ,bootle1 #fg1 #fh1 #gj1 #ga1 #gh-i1 #hb1 #he-h1 #ihn1 #ajf1 #aaa1 #aah1 #age1 #aifn ,boots1 provision of1 #ade1 #bdd1 #bde1 #beg4 ,see also ,clothing ,boston1 #bgj ,bournemouth1 #ei1 #fe1 #fh-i ,bowley1 ,professor ,a4 ,l41 #bje ,bradford1 xvi1 #cfn1 #db-c1 #ean1 #ef1 #eg1 #ehn1 #ei1 #ff1 #fg1 #fh1 #gh1 #ha1 #hc1 #ib-c1 #ih1 #iin1 #ajjn1 #ajc1 #aje1 #ajh1 #aab1 #aae1 #abj1 #aba-b1 #abg1 #acj1 #ahj-a1 #ahd-f1 #aic1 #aie1 #aig1 #aii1 #bjjn1 #bajn1 #baa1 #bac1 #baf-bagn1 #bbfn1 #bca-b ,breakfasts1 versus dinners1 #gf-i1 #abh2 dietary at1 #hb2 attendance at1 #gf1 #gg1 #bbh2 a test1 #gf-g1 #aei1 #bjj1 #bbb4 ,see also ,meals ,brighton1 #fa-b1 #ff1 #fi1 #ajdn1 #aae1 #aia ,bristol1 #dan ,browne1 ,dr4 ,crichton1 #aj ,brussels1 #bfc-d ,brynconin1 #abcn ,burgwin1 ,mrs41 #f1 #agn1 #bcn1 #bja ,burns1 ,mr4 ,john1 #dd1 #df1 #ajd ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 #eh1 #ei1 #aaf ,buxton1 ,mr4 ,sydney1 #aj ,caisses des ,ecoles1 #bdi-ee ,camberwell1 #aec ,canteen ,committees1 #dg1 #eh-i1 #fh1 #gj1 #gc1 #gd4 ,see also ,children's ,care ,committees4 ,cantines ,scolaires1 #bdi-ee1 #bef1 #beg ,care ,committees4 ,see ,children's ,care ,committees ,carlisle1 #abn ,casual ,employment1 #bjd1 #bje1 #baa1 #bai ,caterers1 supply of meals by1 #hc1 #abh1 #aeg1 #bbi4 ,see also ,alexandra ,trust and ,restaurants ,centres1 service of meals in1 #ia-f1 #afj-c1 #bbi2 inspection of1 #fj ,charity ,organisation ,society1 #a1 #d1 #aa1 #ec1 #eh1 #ge1 #if1 #bjc1 #bbj ,chate1 ,dr41 #agd ,chelsea1 #afe ,chesterfield1 #ecn ,children1 numbers fed1 #af1 #ee1 #acgn1 #adc2 underfed1 numbers of1 #af1 #bi1 #agj-a1 #bjen1 #bfd1 #bfh2 underfed1 effect of education on1 xiii1 #b1 #f1 #h-aj1 #agi-hc1 #bjh2 numbers attending school1 #ee1 #bbf2 neglected1 #bd1 #be1 #cb1 #dcn1 #fi1 #ge1 #aab-c1 #aai1 #abi1 #bae-f1 #bcg2 necessitous1 report on home circumstances of1 #ach-i2 physique of1 at ,liverpool1 #aga-b2 industrial employment of1 #agb1 #aib2 effect of meals on1 physically1 xiii1 #c-dn1 #e-f1 #g-h1 #bin1 #cj1 #hb1 #aeg1 #ahd-aig1 #bja1 #bbd1 #bdf-g2 mentally1 #g-h1 #ca1 #ahh1 #aig-i1 #bja2 in point of manners1 #bb1 #bcn1 #aii1 #bja1 #bec2 in matter of taste1 #ig1 #aii-bja2 morally1 #gf1 #bjb4 ,see also ,attendance1 ,day ,industrial ,schools1 ,infants1 ,malnutrition1 ,meals1 ,selection1 ,special ,schools ,children ,act 7#aijh71 #aab1 #aahn ,children's ,aid ,association1 #ec1 #eh1 #ff1 #if4 ,see also ,canteen ,committees4 ,children's ,care 7,central7 ,sub-,committee1 #acgn1 #adj1 #add ,children's ,care ,committees1 in provinces1 #fe-f2 in ,london1 #ach1 #aci1 #adj1 #adb1 #adc-ed1 #afe1 #aff2 in ,scotland1 #bdj1 #bda1 #bdd-bde2 constitution of1 #add2 membership of1 #ade2 functions of1 #fe1 #aci1 #ade1 #adh1 #adi2 secretaries of1 #aci-dj1 #adh-i1 #bbgn2 organisers of1 #ach1 #adj1 #adh-i2 advantages of1 #ade-g2 disadvantages of1 #adg-ec2 diverse policies of1 #aea-c2 overlapping of work of1 #aeb-d2 local associations of1 #adj1 #ada1 #aeg1 #aeh4 ,see also ,canteen ,committees1 ,relief ,committees1 ,voluntary ,workers ,children's ,country ,holidays ,fund1 #ade ,chorlton1 #dbn ,christiania1 #bff-g ,civic ,guild1 #ecn1 #ffn ,cleanliness1 relation of1 to nutrition1 #agd ,clothing1 provision of1 #ade2 in ,scotland1 #bcg1 #bch1 #bdd2 abroad1 #bed1 #beg1 #beh1 #bfj1 #bfc1 #bfd1 #bfe4 ,see also ,boots ,cocoa ,rooms4 ,see ,restaurants ,cod ,liver ,oil1 provision of1 #add1 #aee1 #aei1 #bed1 #bfd2 effects of1 #aia-b ,collie1 ,dr41 xii1 #cj1 #ca ,conference1 on ,state ,maintenance1 #cb2 on ,school ,feeding1 #bbe ,congleton1 #agf ,cookery ,centres1 preparation and service of meals at1 #hc1 #ijn1 #abd1 #abf1 #acj1 #ace-f1 #aee1 #aeg1 #aeh1 #afj1 #bgj ,copenhagen1 #bff ,council for ,promoting ,self-supporting ,penny ,dinners1 #ab1 #aen ,council of ,social ,welfare1 #adan1 #afe-f ,crewe1 #eh1 #aadn ,cripple ,schools1 #adcn1 #aee-f1 #aij-an4 ,see also ,special ,schools ,crowley1 ,dr4 ,ralph1 #aje1 #ahj-a1 #ahd1 #ahf ,cumberland1 #agdn ,darlington1 #abjn1 #aih ,day ,feeding ,school1 at ,manchester1 #adn ,day ,industrial ,schools1 #aen1 #cb1 #aag-i2 provision of meals at1 #aen1 #ea1 #eg1 #aag-i1 #aif-g2 in ,america1 #bfh ,defective ,children4 ,see ,special ,schools ,denmark1 #bfe-f ,derby1 #ihn ,derbyshire1 #abe ,destitute ,children's ,dinner ,society1 #c-f ,dewsbury1 #aad ,diet1 at home1 unsuitable1 #gh1 #gi1 #abh1 #agb1 #agd1 #aghn1 #ahi1 #bbc2 effect of school meals on1 #bja1 #bbd2 of working classes in ,glasgow1 #agg-h2 minimum amount necessary1 #agg1 #bjen ,dietary 7at school71 xv1 xvi1 #e1 #ai1 #ej1 #gi-hb1 #aeg-h1 #beb1 #bfi2 at ,bradford1 #gh1 #ha1 #ahe2 planning of1 #fj1 #gi-hj1 #abh1 #bbi2 for ,infants1 #hb1 #bbi1 #bcf2 at ,restaurants1 #hj-a1 #hh1 #hi1 #ij1 #afj2 at ,day ,industrial ,schools1 #aah2 sample menus1 #bca-f4 ,see also ,cod ,liver ,oil1 ,milk1 ,porridge ,dinners4 ,see ,meals ,disfranchisement1 #cin1 #dan1 #db1 #dh ,distress ,committee1 #fd1 #gc ,divisional ,superintendent1 #adin ,dukes1 ,dr4 ,clement1 #bhn ,dundee1 #bde ,eastbourne1 #abj ,east ,ham1 #ef1 #ajfn1 #agc ,eating ,houses4 ,see ,restaurants ,ecclesall ,bierlow1 #dbn ,ede1 ,canon ,moore1 #ain ,edinburgh1 #de1 #bbfn1 #bch1 #bci-dc ,education1 compulsory1 #b1 #f1 #aa-ab1 #bci2 effect of1 on underfed children1 xiii1 #b1 #f1 #h-aj1 #agi-ahc1 #bjh2 provision of meals a corollary of1 #i-aa1 #cb1 #cc ,education ,act 7#ahgj71 #b1 #f1 #bjc2 7#ahgb71 #bci2 7#aijb71 #bg1 #eg ,education 7,administrative ,provisions7 ,act 7#aijg71 #bjc ,education 7,administrative ,provisions7 ,bills1 #ed1 #ajen ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act1 xii1 xiv1 xvi1 #c1 #fa1 #aji1 #aaj1 #aab1 #bjj1 #bcg1 #bch2 debates on1 #dd-g2 provisions of1 #dg-i2 adoption of1 xiv1 #ej1 #ea-h2 should be compulsory1 xv1 #abg ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act ,amendment ,bills1 #ajan1 #ajen ,education 7,scotland7 ,act 7#aijh71 #dh1 #abg1 #bcg-h ,eichholz1 ,dr41 xiii1 #bi1 #cj1 #acd ,elementary ,education ,act 7#ahgf71 #aen1 #aahn ,elementary ,education 7,defective and ,epileptic ,children7 ,act 7#ahii71 #egn ,elementary ,education 7,feeding of ,children7 ,bill 7#aije71 #cin ,enquiry1 #fe-h1 #bdb2 by whom made1 #cg1 #fe-f1 #fg1 #acb1 #accn1 #bdj1 #bda1 #bdd1 #bed1 #bfc2 inadequacy of1 #acc1 #adi-ej1 #bci2 from employer1 #ff-g1 #adi2 not suited to voluntary worker1 #adi1 #bda2 deterrent1 #gd-e1 #bbj2 proposed abandonment of1 #bbj-a1 #bbe1 #bbi ,erith1 #fd ,fabian ,society1 #be1 #eb ,farnell1 #bdf ,farquharson1 ,dr4 ,robert1 #in ,feeble-minded ,children4 ,see ,special ,schools ,fenton1 #hj ,finch1 ,dr4 ,george1 #abcn1 #abe1 #abf ,finchley1 #ajhn ,fifeshire1 #bchn1 #bdg ,foreign ,countries1 provision of meals in1 #bd1 #bdi-gj ,foster1 ,captain1 #agb-c ,france1 #cn1 #bdi-eg ,frere1 ,miss ,margaret1 #djn ,fulham1 #dan1 #afd ,gateshead1 #abn1 #acn ,germany1 #bfa-b ,giffen1 ,sir ,robert1 #bj-a ,glasgow1 #aai1 #agc1 #agg-h1 #bje1 #bch1 #bdc-d ,gorst1 ,sir ,john1 #cc1 #cin ,gothenburg1 #bfh ,govan1 #bch ,grassington1 #abd-e1 #bcf ,greenock1 #bdf ,greenwood1 ,mr4 ,arthur1 xii1 xiii1 #aga1 #aicn ,grimthorpe1 ,lord1 #dg ,guardians4 ,see ,poor ,law ,guardians ,guernsey1 #c-dn ,guest1 ,dr4 ,l4 ,haden1 #ahg-ij1 #aib ,guild of ,help1 #fc1 #ffn4 ,see also ,civic ,guild ,halifax1 #aban ,hall1 ,dr4 ,william1 #cj ,hammersmith1 #afe ,hampstead1 #adan1 #afe-f ,hartlepool1 #efn ,hastings1 #abn ,havre1 #bef ,hay1 ,mr4 ,claude1 #cc1 #ch1 #cin1 #dfn ,henderson1 ,mr4 ,arthur1 #ch ,heston and ,isleworth1 #fb ,holidays1 provision of meals during1 xiv1 #ej1 #ef1 #aja-f1 #ada-b2 loss of weight during1 #ahe-f1 #ahg2 necessity for meals during1 #aje1 #abh1 #bbg-h1 #bbi ,holland1 #bfe ,home1 provision of food at1 #ijn1 #if-g1 #adan ,hookham1 ,mr4 ,george1 #cen1 #cfn1 #ajin ,horn1 ,miss1 #de ,hornsey1 #agf ,housing1 #bjd1 #bai2 relation of nutrition to1 #agb-c ,huddersfield1 #aae ,hugo1 ,victor1 #cn ,hull1 #cen1 #ea1 #aig ,hunter1 ,mr4 ,robert1 #bfh ,hutchison1 ,dr4 ,robert1 #bi ,industrial ,schools1 #bin4 ,see also ,day ,industrial ,schools ,infants1 special provision for1 #hb1 #ib1 #id1 #abh1 #aeh-i1 #afg1 #afh1 #afi1 #ahi1 #bbi1 #bcf1 #bda2 provision for1 abroad1 #bef1 #beg1 #bfd ,inverness1 #bdf2 county of1 #bdg ,iselin1 ,rev4 ,henry1 #bjdn1 #bajn1 #bbj1 #bbbn ,italy1 #beh-fa ,joint ,committee on ,underfed ,children1 #bf1 #aca-d1 #acg ,jnkping1 #bfh ,jowett1 ,mr4 ,f4 ,w41 #dc1 #dfn ,juvenile ,employment4 ,see ,after-care ,kensington1 #aih ,kerr1 ,dr41 #gi1 #hj ,kettering1 #dbn ,kidderminster1 #agf ,kincardineshire1 #bdg ,labour ,party1 #eb1 #ec1 #ed1 #efn1 #aje ,lambeth1 #afe1 #ahg-ij1 #aien ,lancaster1 #fc ,larkins1 ,dr41 #agi ,leeds1 #cj1 #eh1 #ei1 #ffn1 #fg1 #fh1 #fi1 #hc1 #ic-d1 #ihn1 #ii1 #ajc1 #aaj1 #aain1 #aif-g1 #bcc-d ,leicester1 xiv1 #eb-c1 #edn1 #eh1 #fd1 #ff1 #fg1 #fi1 #gb-c1 #gd-e1 #if-g1 #aad1 #abj ,leith1 #bch ,lige1 #bfd-e ,liverpool1 #acn1 #eb1 #een1 #eg1 #ehn1 #fe-f1 #fg1 #fi1 #gd1 #ij-a1 #ihn1 #aae-f1 #aah1 #abj1 #aba1 #adf1 #aga1 #aha-b1 #aie-f1 #bje ,local ,education ,authorities1 power of1 to provide meals1 #c1 #bc-f1 #bh1 #ca1 #cb1 #ch1 #df1 #dg-i1 #ef-h2 adoption of ,provision of ,meals ,act by1 #ea-d2 numbers making provision1 #ed2 different policies of1 #ej2 co-operation and overlapping of1 with ,guardians1 #da1 #ea1 #aac-g1 #abi-cj1 #aci1 #afc-f2 provision of meals by1 abroad1 #bdi-gj4 ,see also ,school ,boards1 ,state1 ,voluntary ,agencies 7co-operation of1 with ,local ,authorities7 ,local ,government ,board1 xiv1 #ci1 #dj1 #ef1 #ajb1 #ajc1 #ajd1 #afd1 #afe1 #bji ,london1 xvi1 #c-g1 #aj1 #ab-c1 #acn1 #ae-bg1 #bi1 #ce1 #da1 #ee1 #fe1 #ajcn1 #aajn1 #aaan1 #aca-fi1 #aij-an1 #aid1 #aie1 #aig-h1 #aii1 #bje1 #bacn1 #bce-f ,london ,county ,council1 xvi1 #da1 #ajd1 #aca1 #acd-e1 #acf-da1 #add1 #aej1 #aea1 #aeb1 #aec-d1 #aef ,london ,school ,board1 #acn1 #acgn2 committees of1 on underfed children1 #af-bf1 #bi1 #aca ,london ,schools ,dinner ,association1 #af-g1 #acdn ,london ,vegetarian ,association1 #adb-c ,lough1 ,mr41 #df ,mackenzie1 ,dr4 ,leslie1 xiii1 #agb1 #agi ,macmillan1 ,miss ,margaret1 #ajj ,macnamara1 ,dr41 #cc ,malnutrition1 extent of1 #cd1 #agj-a2 causes of1 #de1 #agb-i1 #bba2 signs of1 #agj1 #bba2 effects of1 on physique1 xii-xiii1 #bi-cj2 effects of1 on mental capacity1 #ca1 #agi-hc1 #aih2 relation of1 to family income1 #agg-i4 ,see also ,children ,manchester1 #adn1 #bi1 #djn1 #ean1 #ehn1 #fc1 #ffn1 #fi1 #hc1 #ia1 #aagn1 #agf1 #aha1 #aic ,marseilles1 #bef ,massachusetts1 #bgj ,meals1 ,school1 motives for provision of1 #b1 #d1 #f1 #h1 #bg2 public provision of1 #b1 #c1 #bc-bf1 #bg-di1 #bjb-ah1 #bdi-gj2 a corollary of compulsory education1 #i-aa1 #cb1 #cc2 cost of1 #dn1 #abcn1 #abdn1 #aefn1 #bbf-g2 price of1 #ajh1 #aji1 #abcn1 #abd1 #abe1 #ace1 #aef1 #bbf1 #bde1 #bdf1 #bec2 expenditure on1 #ed-e2 time of1 #gf-i1 #abh1 #bbb1 #bec2 number of1 per day1 #gh-i1 #aei1 #bbg1 #bbh2 number of1 per week1 #e1 #af1 #ce1 #cf1 #acc1 #aeg1 #bfg1 #bfh2 continuance of1 throughout the year1 #f1 #bc1 #ce1 #cf1 #ej1 #ig1 #ajf1 #abi1 #acc1 #bbi1 #bci1 #bdg-h1 #bfc1 #bfe2 preparation and distribution of1 #hb-c1 #abh1 #aeg1 #bbi1 #bdj1 #bdd2 service of1 xv1 xvi1 #bh-i1 #de-f1 #ej1 #hc-aja1 #abb1 #abf1 #abh1 #aef-fc1 #afg-i1 #aii1 #bbi1 #bda1 #beb2 in ,day ,industrial ,schools1 #aah-i2 in ,special ,schools1 #he1 #ajjn1 #aba-b1 #bdd2 service of1 by ,poor ,law ,authorities1 #dc1 #bdc2 provision of1 at home1 #ijn1 #if-g1 #adan2 a form of relief1 #fa1 #if1 #abg1 #aea1 #bai2 a preventive measure1 #bai2 provision of1 deterrent1 #bbj1 #bbb2 provision of1 not universally known1 #gd2 reasons for granting1 #ach1 #baj-aa2 necessity for1 #ach1 #bah1 #bai1 #bbd1 #bbh1 #bbi2 provision of1 for all necessitous children1 #bbj1 #bbb1 #bbc1 #bbh2 general provision of1 without enquiry1 #be1 #abf-g1 #bbc-h1 #bbi1 #bea1 #beh1 #bei-fa1 #bfd1 #bfe1 #bff-g4 ,see also ,centres1 ,children1 ,cookery ,centres1 ,dietary1 ,holidays1 ,local ,education ,authorities1 ,parents1 ,payment1 ,poor ,law ,guardians1 ,rates1 ,restaurants1 ,school1 ,supervision1 ,voluntary ,agencies1 ,wages ,medical ,inspection1 #aj1 #bd1 #ed1 #bjh1 #bba2 in ,brussels1 #bfd2 and ,feeding1 ,inter-,departmental ,committee on1 #cd-h1 #dd1 #ajin1 #abfn1 #acdn ,medical ,officer of ,health1 #ha ,medical ,treatment1 #fen1 #aci1 #ade1 #bjc1 #bjh1 #bbg ,mental ,capacity1 relation of1 to nutrition1 #ca1 #agi-hc1 #aih ,mentally ,defective4 ,see ,special ,schools ,meyer1 ,lady1 #bja ,middlesex1 #agd-e ,milan1 #bei ,milk1 provision of1 #ig1 #add1 #aee1 #aei2 effects of1 #aia-b ,monitors1 #ib1 #id1 #aja1 #aba1 #abh1 #afa-b1 #afh1 #afi1 #bbi1 #bda ,morten1 ,miss ,honnor1 #bja ,mundella1 ,rt4 ,hon4 ,a4 ,j41 #hn1 #i1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab ,municipality4 ,see ,local ,education ,authorities and ,state ,mutual ,registration1 #aag1 #aeb1 #aff ,national ,food ,supply ,association1 #ai ,national ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children1 #ec1 #eh1 #aac ,national ,union of ,teachers1 #cb ,nether ,alderley1 #abe ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 #ajb ,newman1 ,sir ,george1 xii1 #fj1 #fc1 #hjn1 #hh1 #agj1 #age1 #ahc1 #ahd1 #bba1 #bbd1 #bbg ,newport1 #bja ,new ,york1 #bfh-i ,nice1 #bef-g ,niven1 ,dr41 xiii1 #cj ,northampton1 #aje1 #ahf-g ,norway1 #bff-g ,norwich1 #cen1 #aban ,nottingham1 #ehn1 #icn1 #ajc ,open ,air ,schools1 #eg-h1 #he1 #abj-a1 #bbg ,outdoor ,relief4 ,see ,poor ,law ,guardians ,over-pressure1 #h-aj4 ,see also ,education ,paisley1 #bdf ,parents1 application for meals by1 xv1 #fc-d1 #ga-e1 #add1 #aej1 #bef2 withdrawal of children from meals by1 #gj1 #baf-g2 dislike of1 to accept meals1 #gc-d1 #bag1 #bbb1 #bbc2 co-operation of1 #gf1 #gg1 #adf2 effect on responsibility of1 #b1 #bc-d1 #bh1 #de1 #dg1 #gf1 #ace1 #bjb-ah1 #bbf1 #bed-e2 abuse of provision of meals by1 #db1 #baf2 obligations of1 increased1 #aa-b1 #bag1 #bbf2 neglect of children by1 #bd1 #be1 #cb1 #dcn1 #ge1 #aab-c1 #aai1 #abi1 #bjc-d1 #bae-f1 #bcg4 ,see also ,payment and ,recovery ,paris1 #bd1 #bdi-ee ,parish ,council1 provision of meals by1 in ,edinburgh1 #bdb-c ,payment1 by parents for school meals1 #d-e1 #ai1 #be1 #cc1 #cg1 #df1 #dg1 #ej-a1 #fb1 #fi1 #ajf-ab1 #abi1 #acf1 #adb1 #aed-f1 #aei1 #bbc1 #bbe-f2 for children at ,day ,industrial ,schools1 #aah2 for children at ,special ,schools1 #aji1 #abj1 #aba1 #abi1 #aee1 #aef1 #bbe1 #bdd1 #bdfn2 in rural districts1 #ch1 #aji1 #abc1 #abd1 #abe1 #bbe1 #bdg2 in ,scotland1 #bda1 #bdb1 #bde1 #bdf2 abroad1 #bea1 #beb1 #bec1 #bef1 #beg1 #bfa1 #bfh-i1 #bgj4 ,see also ,penny ,dinners ,peek1 ,sir ,henry1 #g1 #i1 #ae1 #abd ,penny ,dinners1 #aa1 #ac1 #ae1 #ai4 ,see also ,payment ,perth1 #bch1 #bdd-e ,philadelphia1 #bfi ,physical ,deterioration1 #c1 #bg1 #cb1 #cc1 #acd1 #bfb2 ,inter-,departmental ,committee on1 xi1 #bg1 #bi-cb1 #cc1 #ch ,physical ,test4 ,see ,selection ,physical ,training 7,scotland71 ,royal ,commission on1 xi1 #bg-i1 #cc1 #bdb ,poor ,law1 ,report of ,royal ,commission on 7#ahcd71 #bjc1 #bad ,poor ,law ,guardians1 inaction of1 #ad-e2 inadequacy of relief given by1 #ad1 #ag-ahn1 #aac-d1 #aaf-g1 #abi1 #afe1 #aff2 the authority for the provision of meals1 xvi1 #ccn1 #cin1 #de1 #df1 #dgn1 #ada2 service of meals by1 #dc2 no co-operation between ,voluntary ,agencies and1 #ad1 #ag2 prosecution by1 #ad-e1 #dc2 overlapping of1 with ,education ,authorities1 #ea1 #aac-g1 #abi-cj1 #aci1 #afc-f2 representation of1 on ,canteen ,committees1 #eh1 #aadn2 payment for school meals by1 #ajhn1 #aae-f1 #acj1 #afd1 #afe2 payment for children in ,day ,industrial ,schools by1 #aahn2 provision of meals by1 at ,manchester1 #adn4 ,see also ,parish ,council1 ,poor ,rate1 and ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order ,poor ,laws1 ,royal ,commission on 7#aiji71 #aac1 #aai1 #aign ,poor ,rate1 provision of meals from1 #cb1 #ci4 ,see also ,poor ,law ,guardians ,poplar1 #afd ,porridge1 #gh1 #bjj1 #bja2 effects of1 #hb1 #aij2 as test1 #bjj1 #bbb ,portsmouth1 #fjn1 #ha1 #hc1 #ih1 #ajc ,potteries1 #aie ,poverty ,test4 ,see ,selection ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,children ,act1 #bcg ,prices1 changes in1 #bj-a ,ragged ,school ,union1 #e ,ragged ,schools1 #b1 #c1 #d ,rates1 expenditure on provision of meals from1 #c1 #bh1 #ca1 #cd1 #dh1 #ed-e1 #acd1 #ace1 #acf-g1 #ada2 in ,scotland1 #bcg1 #bch-i2 limitation of amount to be spent from1 xiv1 #dh1 #ef1 #abg1 #bch2 provision of meals during holidays from1 #ef1 #ajb1 #ajc-e4 ,see also ,education 7,provision of ,meals7 ,act 7adoption of7 and ,poor ,rate ,reading1 #bje ,recovery of ,cost1 #ch1 #ci1 #dc1 #dg1 #ajg1 #aji-ab1 #abi1 #bch ,referee ,fund1 #f-g1 #ac1 #aen ,reformatory and ,industrial ,schools1 ,departmental ,committee on1 #aai ,relief1 deterrent policy of1 #bjc1 #bjh-i1 #bbj1 #bbb ,relief ,committees1 #bf1 #cg1 #acb1 #acgn4 ,see also ,children's ,care ,committees ,relief 7,school ,children7 ,order1 xi1 #ci-dd ,relieving ,officer1 #aad1 #aag1 #aff ,restaurants1 service of meals at1 #dcn1 #ecn1 #hh-ia1 #if-ign1 #afj1 #bbi1 #bci1 #bdc1 #bde1 #bdf2 dietary at1 #hj-a1 #hh1 #hi1 #ij ,ricardo1 #bad ,rome1 #bei ,rousdon1 #g-h1 #ab1 #chn1 #abc-d1 #bdf ,rowntree1 ,mr4 ,seebohm1 #aeb1 #bje ,rural districts1 #abb-f2 provision of midday meal in1 #g-h1 #ab1 #aji1 #abc-e1 #bbe2 in ,scotland1 #bdf-h2 abroad1 #beg2 need for provision in1 #cg-h1 #ea1 #abb1 #abe-f1 #acj1 #bbd-e ,st4 ,george's-in-the-,east1 #aean1 #aecn1 #aei1 #afd1 #bjj1 #bajn1 #baa ,st4 ,giles'-in-the-,fields1 #adan ,st4 ,pancras1 #bajn1 #baa ,salford1 #dbn1 #ffn1 #fi1 #ajf ,san ,remo1 #bei ,scale of income4 ,see ,selection ,scarborough1 #eb ,school1 service of meals in1 #hd-h1 #hin1 #abh1 #aei-fj1 #afg-h1 #bbi1 #bda1 #bdd1 #bde1 #beb2 fees1 abolition of1 #bjc ,school ,attendance ,officers1 #ecn1 #ei1 #fc1 #gb1 #aag2 selection of children by1 #fc1 #bci1 #bdj1 #bdd2 enquiry by1 #ff1 #fg1 #gj1 #aci1 #bda1 #bdd2 supervision of meals by1 #ij1 #ih ,school ,attendance ,officers' ,association1 #ccn ,school ,boards1 powers of1 in ,scotland1 #abg1 #bcg-h2 co-operation of1 with ,voluntary ,agencies1 #bch1 #bdj1 #bde1 #bdf4 ,see also ,local ,education ,authorities ,school ,medical ,officers1 proposed responsibility of1 for putting ,provision of ,meals ,act in force1 #ec-d2 part taken by1 in provision of meals1 #cg1 #fj1 #fc2 ex-officio members of ,canteen ,committee1 #ei2 selection of children by1 #fj-c1 #aab1 #adc-d1 #bai1 #bba-b1 #bbc1 #bbh1 #bbi1 #bdj1 #bdd2 milk and cod liver oil recommended by1 #adc-d1 #aei2 planning of dietary by1 #fj1 #hj1 #ha1 #abh1 #bbi2 testimony of1 as to effect of meals on children1 #aib-c ,school ,nurse1 #fbn1 #fc1 #aban1 #bdj1 #bdd ,school ,restaurants1 #cg-h1 #ajg1 #abi1 #bfa4 ,see also ,payment and ,cantines ,scolaires ,scotland1 #dh1 #bben1 #bcg-dh ,secondary ,schools1 #eg1 #ibn ,selection of children1 xv1 #ei-ge1 #abg-h2 under voluntary agencies1 #ah-i1 #ce1 #baj2 by physical test1 #ei-fc1 #adc-d1 #bai1 #bba-b2 by poverty test1 #ei-fj1 #fc-e1 #fh-i1 #ge1 #abg1 #adc-d1 #bbj1 #bba1 #bbb-c2 based on scale of income1 #fh-i1 #ge1 #aea-b1 #bdbn1 #bdd2 final decision in1 #fh2 revision of cases1 #fi-gj2 want of uniformity in1 #ej1 #gj-a1 #ge1 #aea-d2 disadvantages of present system1 #gj-e1 #bbj2 suggested schemes of1 #bba-h1 #bbi4 ,see also ,school ,attendance ,officers1 ,school ,medical ,officers1 ,school ,nurse and ,teachers ,senior1 ,mr4 ,nassau1 #bad ,sheffield1 #ffn1 #hb1 #aban1 #aij ,siddington1 #chn1 #abe ,sims1 ,mr4 ,g4 ,r41 #g ,slack1 ,sir ,bamford1 #ccn1 #ch ,sleep1 want of1 #agb1 #aib ,smith1 ,mr4 ,s41 #i-aj ,social ,democratic ,federation1 #be ,south ,african ,war1 xi1 #b-c1 #bg ,southampton1 #gh ,southend-on-,sea1 #ffn ,southwark1 #f-g ,special ,schools for ,defective ,children1 #addn2 provision of meals at1 #bb-c1 #ca1 #ea1 #eg-h1 #he1 #ajjn1 #aji1 #aag1 #abj-b1 #abi1 #aee1 #bbe1 #bdd1 #bdfn4 ,see also ,cripple ,schools and ,open ,air ,schools ,spectacles1 #ade ,state1 provision of meals by1 #b1 #c1 #bc-f1 #bg-di1 #bjb-ah2 abroad1 #bdi-gj4 ,see also ,local ,education ,authorities ,stevenson1 ,miss ,flora1 #bci1 #bdj ,stockholm1 #bfg ,stoke-on-,trent1 #dbn1 #ef1 #ehn1 #ffn1 #fg1 #fi1 #hj1 #hi1 #bajn1 #baa ,sub-,committee on ,underfed ,children1 xvi1 #acg1 #ada ,sunderland1 #edn ,supervision of ,meals1 #he1 #ie1 #ig1 #aeg1 #afa1 #afb-c1 #afg1 #afh1 #afi1 #bja1 #bdd2 at ,restaurants1 #hh1 #hi1 #ij1 #ia4 ,see also ,school ,attendance ,officers1 ,teachers and ,voluntary ,workers ,supper1 provision of1 in ,paris1 #bec ,surcharge4 ,see ,audit ,surrey1 #agi ,sussex1 ,east1 #abb-abcn1 #abe ,sweden1 #bfg-h ,switzerland1 #beg-h ,tate1 ,dr41 #age ,teachers1 provision of meals by1 #cf1 #ajc1 #abcn1 #abdn2 selection of children by1 #ah1 #cg1 #fc1 #fd1 #fh1 #gj-a1 #abg1 #acb-c1 #aci1 #add1 #bai-bj1 #bci1 #bdj1 #bdd2 urgency tickets given by1 #fd1 #fg-h1 #gb2 enquiry by1 #cg1 #fg1 #acb2 members of ,canteen and ,care ,committees1 #eh1 #ei1 #ach1 #add2 supervision of meals by1 #cf1 #dh1 #hg-h1 #ib1 #ic1 #ig-ajj1 #aba1 #abb1 #abe1 #abh1 #afa1 #afg1 #afh1 #bbi1 #bda1 #bdd1 #bec1 #bfj1 #bfc1 #bfd1 #bfi2 testimony of1 as to effect of meals on children1 #ahh1 #aid-e1 #aif1 #aig-h ,teachers1 ,national ,union of1 #cb ,teeth1 defective1 malnutrition due to1 #agd ,toxteth1 #aaf ,trondhjem1 #bfg ,underfeeding4 ,see ,malnutrition ,unemployment1 #bjd1 #bji1 #baa1 #bai ,united ,states1 #bfh-gj ,urgency tickets1 #fd1 #fg-h1 #gb ,utensils1 insufficient supply of1 #aja1 #aef-g1 #afb ,vercelli1 #bei-fa ,vienna1 #bfb-c ,visiting of homes1 #de1 #ei1 #fe1 #ach-i1 #ade-f1 #adg-h1 #aej4 ,see also ,enquiry ,voluntary ,agencies1 provision of meals by1 xiv1 #b1 #c-ch1 #dj1 #ej1 #ea-c1 #ed1 #if1 #aca-f1 #ada-c1 #bji-aj1 #bcg1 #bch1 #bci1 #bdc-d1 #bde-f1 #bej-a1 #bee-f1 #beh1 #bei1 #bfa-gj2 the best agency for provision of meals1 #bh1 #di2 disadvantages of provision by1 #ae-i1 #bb1 #ce-f1 #dd1 #di1 #adb-c1 #bji-aj1 #bci2 number of1 #cd2 expenditure of1 #cd-e2 organisation of1 #ae-bg1 #cd1 #cf1 #aca-d2 discontinuance of1 #dd2 co-operation of1 with ,local ,authorities1 xii1 #c1 #ac1 #bd-e1 #ca1 #cf1 #dg1 #ea-b1 #eh1 #bch1 #bci-dj1 #bde-f1 #bej-a1 #bee-g1 #beh-i1 #bfb-d1 #bfe-f1 #bfg-h1 #bfi2 co-operation of1 with ,guardians1 #ad1 #ag1 #dj ,voluntary ,contributions1 amount of1 #ed-e1 #acg1 #ada-b1 #bea2 provision of meals during holidays from1 #ajc1 #ajd1 #ada-b ,voluntary ,workers1 utilisation of services of1 #fe-f1 #add1 #bfc2 organisation of1 #aci2 ,canteen ,committees composed of1 #eh-i1 #fh2 supervision of meals by1 #ij1 #ie1 #ih1 #afa1 #afh1 #bdd1 #bde4 ,see also ,children's ,care ,committees ,wages1 effect of provision of meals on1 #de1 #bab-d2 low1 #bjd-e1 #baa1 #bai ,wandsworth1 #dan ,ward1 ,mrs4 ,humphry1 #aij-an ,waugh1 ,mr4 ,benjamin1 #ad ,west ,derby1 #aaf ,west ,ham1 #ehn1 #fd1 #fi1 #gb1 #ggn1 #gh1 #hc1 #id-e1 #ajb1 #ajd1 #aaj-aa1 #aaf-g1 #bcd ,whitechapel1 #adb1 #aed ,winder1 ,miss ,phyllis ,d41 #ga-b ,wilson1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,t41 #ddn ,wolverhampton1 #age1 #ahb ,women1 married1 employment of1 #gf-g1 #ig1 #ajg1 #ajh1 #bbc1 #bde ,workington1 #ef ,wyatt1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,h41 #adn1 #djn ,york1 #fg1 #fi1 #gh1 #hb1 #aaa-b1 #aae1 #bjen 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,missing or obscured punctuation was corrected4 ,typographical errors were silently corrected4 ,spelling and hyphenation were made consistent when a predominant form was found in this book2 otherwise it was not changed4 ,one unpaired double quotation mark could not be corrected with confidence4 ,one unpaired curved bracket could not be corrected with confidence4 ,tables have been reformatted to a manageable width where necessary4