THE CHILDREN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 14

THE CHILDREN.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The attention that is being drawn in your columns to the large and increasing number of children who aro sick and ailing brings homo the fact that conditions are very far from what they should be, to secure a healthy race. We are now in the throes of winter, -and on every side there are crying public needs. For the moment, setting aside the requirements of tho older people in shopsj offices and factories, thero is the question of tho efficient warming of the public schools. In some rooms the sun never enters, and the small heat provided by ono or two open grates is entirely inadequate to raise the temperature to the point necessary for comfort. Many children are poorly and insufficiently clad, and some sit all day in damp or wet shoes and stockings. Then after sitting shivering when they are released from lessons they have a miserable cold, often muddy, and'slushy playground whither to betake themselves for " recreation,” where many of them have but a wretched. bit of dry bread and butter or jam, which for the most part is consigned to the rubbish bins. Is it any use locking tho stable door when tho steed has escaped P More publio money is needed, and plenty of it, to do bare justice to our school children, from the point of view of health alone. Hundreds of thousands of pounds are being thrown away by the Defence Department which has also the charge of education, and though there is much smouldering discontent things continue to go from bad to worse. In the old days fewer children attended the schools, smaller classes existed, lighter burdens were laid on the teachers who could and did personally supervise tho wants of the children. To-day teachers aro driven to desperation by the numbers of children grouped in one class, and by the amount required of them by the syllabus, and they simply cannot do more, however much they may desire. Without doubt, our schools should be places of health and beauty. Every schoolroom should be efficiently wanned and ventilated. There should be nurse-teachers attached to every large school- Thero should be warm baths provided, changes of garments for those insufficiently clad, and comfortable and nourishing mid-day meals supplied. Winter playrooms and gymnasia should also lie provided, and every child should receive physical culture from men and women skilled in the knowledge of imparting the laws of health. This question concerning the health and physical welfare of the children is not a party question. It concerns everybody interested in the good of the community. Conservatives, Liberals, Social Democrats and unlabelled people should join in an unceasing agitation to obtain for tho children the rights of the children.—l am, etc.,

A. WELLS