Science and Physical Development 



at the home, and from the relieving officer and 

 the school attendance officer. The Committee 

 found that in every case where proper inquiries 

 were made the number of children fed was greatly 

 reduced. As to funds, the various Blue Books agree 

 that voluntary subscriptions may be relied upon 

 to produce all that is necessary. It is far easier 

 to obtain charitable contributions than to spend 

 them wisely. Each Education Authority ought to 

 insist on an advisory control over all schemes for 

 feeding the children in its district, and in return 

 should allow the free use, where necessary, of its 

 buildings and staff for the purpose ; but the teachers 

 ought not to be expected to take part in the actual 

 service of the meals, and wherever possible the 

 food should be served elsewhere than in the class- 

 rooms. 



Let us regard the school feeding of children not 

 as an ideal, but as a necessary evil ; and then, if 

 we take sufficient precautions, we may succeed in 

 giving real help to poor children whose hunger 

 rightly enlists our sympathy, without too greatly 

 pauperising the parents or breaking up the home 

 life. But the end to be ultimately aimed at is so to 

 train our girls that as mothers they may be able 

 and willing to properly feed their children, and so 

 to educate our boys that they may become worthy 

 citizens, neither seeking nor receiving help for the 

 maintenance of their families. There is much to 

 be said for providing hot cocoa or milk for country 

 children who come long distances to school, bring- 

 ing their food with them, and this is being done in 



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