MIDDAY MEAL FOR CHILDREN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22707, 11 May 1939, Page 8

MIDDAY MEAL FOR CHILDREN

TEACHERS’ DISCUSSION

ATTITUDE OF “TIN-OPENER

MOTHERS”

[THE PRESS Special Service.!

WELLINGTON. May 10,

“Tin-opener mothers.’’ those parents who. though living close to a school, preferred that their children should take their lunches to school rather than go home and have a meal, were criticised by Mr R. Arbuckle, of Matamata, at the conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute to-day, during a discussion on pupil welfare. The Matamata branch submitted a remit asking that the Health Department should make a special plea to parents, emphasising the necessity of children going home for the midday meal whenever possible. A committee of the conference which had considered the remit reported that it considered that in consolidated and country schools, in city schools in congested traffic areas, and in many individual cases it was impracticable for children to go home at midday. The committee recommended that the Health Department be requested to use propaganda advising parents to give children the right type of lunch.

Mr Arbuckle said the Matamata remit urged that children should go home for the midday meal wherever possible. Owing to the increase in the number of “tin-opener mothers,” and so-called social activities in small districts, children who lived close to school were being given their lunch. “We should try to encourage parents not to adopt this means; but to entice their children to go home for a hot meal,” said Mr Arbuckle. ‘‘We are attacking those parents who live within half a mile radius of the school.”

Mr E, G. Caigou (Gisborne) said he had noticed that some children who went home for their lunch returned to school at the same time as those who had finished their lunch at school. It was better for children to have their lunch leisurely. Miss M. E, Magill (Wellington) considered that it was beyond the functions of the conference to castigate parents, and ascribe motives that they were not looking after their children. Something must be left to the judgment of parents.

The committee’s report was adopted