SCHOOL PUPILS’ DINNERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 October 1924, Page 2

SCHOOL PUPILS’ DINNERS.

NEGLIGENCE. OF PARENTS. NEED OP SUPERVISION BY TEACHERS. ■ During his lecture on “Health in Infancy and Childhood/’ given in the Red Cross rooms on Tuesday evening, Dr. P. C. Davie made mention of the luncheon eaten by children in the lower classes of the primary schools. “Some pupils go to school with bags containing appetising foodstuffs cleanly and carefully packed by their 'dutiful parents, but others, unfortunately, who have indolent parents, are given money with which to buy their dinners,” Dr. Davie said. “I am not saying that this is altogether wrong, for if the children go to the right shops and purchase what is beneficial to them no harm is done. However, when children of such an irresponsible age are allowed to. visit whatever shop they please, and can purchase anything that takes their fancy, it is impossible to expect that their sense of duty to their health will overcome their infantile foibles.’ They see some delectable sweet or toy that appeals to their heart, and -without the slightest compunction buy these things with the money which was originally intended for their lunch. Here ate but a few of the investments that have been made by pupils of New Plymouth schools,” Said the speaker, displaying an array of edibles—digestible and indigestible—that left the audience astounded. One pupil had purchased himself a tasty coconut upon which he intended •to dine, .but was deprived of this great pleasure by his teacher confiscating-the prized nut. Another had secured a bargain in a job line of broken biscuits, whilst soaue girl, with a taste for a more . dainty bill-of-fare, had bought a bare, half-dozen assorted biscuits, nicely designed and flavoured, but hardly satisfying to a healthy young appetite. With the instincts of a born gambler, yet another boy had wasted ,his means upon a lucky packet which, when opened by Dr. Davie, revealed to. the amused audience a dice —.perhaps loaded—and a few gaily coloured sweets; such was to be the repast of this child. Oandy and liquorice “dinners” seemed to ho the most popular, hut quite ’a. few meat pies, not altogether prepossessing in appearance, were included in the collection. These, the speaker said, were Pot so bad, for they contain a certain amount of nutriment, and the organs of the child of to-day were quite capable of digesting them. “But, when such a meal , as this is purchased,” lie said, holding aloft with, some apparent effort a piece of block cake which to all appearances resembled a cube of unpolished granite, “the child must surely suffer.” Continuing, Dr. Davie said that in America many, schools had luncheon depots where the children bought sensible meals at mid-day. A bowl of soup, some gingerbread, or something similar was given, and the meals were supervised by teachers. “I do not favour the giving of-prizes at the schools,” said the speaker. “I would fart-ratlier see the money expended in this direction utilised for the supply of hot milk or cocoa to. the pupils. The boys and girls quite realise that they cannot all secure prizes, and I do not think that this is a successful means of inducing them to study.” Dr. Davie went on to say that he knew the teachers would be only too willing to watch over the children and see that they ate a sensible meal, for they must realise that gbod health was of far greater importance thaii a good education. “The indifference of some parents is appalling, and it is due to their rank negligence that such circumstances as these have arisen. They display an entire lack of interest in the welfare of their families., for if they exercised a little thought and consideration their children would never be tempted with the desire to waste their dinner money upon' sweet s , etc., said the speaker in conclusion.”