MILK IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 6

MILK IN SCHOOLS

CITY COUNCIL SCHEME COMMENCEMENT YESTERDAY ENJOYMENT BY CHILDREN More than 5000 children in city schools received half a pint of milk each yesterday, when the Auckland City Council's temporary scheme of milk distribution was inaugurated. Headmasters stated that the milk was much enjoyed by. the children and that the scheme, if made permanent, promised to be very beneficial. Pupils up to the fourth standard in 18 schools will receive a daily halfpint of milk for the remainder of the present term, pending the formulation of a permanent plan for next year. In cases yesterday where, for various reasons, there was a small surplus supply to a school, an extra ration was given to the more needy children or else older pupils were allowed to participate. As the scheme progresses a more accurate idea of requirements will be obtained. Facilities for distributing the milk vary with the different schools. In some instances the milk for convenience was distributed ift the class rooms, while in others, a special room was available, enabling the children to march round a bench and collect their ration. Schools where it has been the custom in the winter to distribute cocoa were advantageously placed in some respects, in that all that was called for was some adaptation of an existing organisation. . '

The milk was delivered in large cans after school had started, a cool place being found for the brief storage until distribution commenced. In some cases it was served to the children at morning playtime, while in others the children were given the milk with their lunch. Those going homo for lunch were allowed to drink the milk first if they go desired. One headmaster said he contemplated dividing the smaller children's allowance into two rations, to be consumed at different times.

It was inevitable that some children should forget to take cups to school, but this no doubt will be remedied to-day. 'At schools where winter cocoa has been distributed a store of cups and mugs and utensils for handling the milk was already in existence. At others various arrangements, ,such as the installation of cup hooks and labels, are being developed, either in separate classrooms or in a room set apart for the whole school.

The apportioning and distribution of the milk was done by monitors or other older pupils selected, under the supervision of teachers, and the washing of the cups was carried out on the principle of working parties or of each child being responsible for his own cup. "Allotting a teacher to supervise matters makes extra work, as we are not over-staffed," said one headmaster. "It would help considerably if we could get a few outside volunteers, with time at their disposal, to visit the school for, gay, an hour each day, and supervise the distributidh for us. The scheme should do a lot of good and the children are responding to it well."