CHILD EVACUEES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 18 November 1939, Page 5

CHILD EVACUEES

RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS BENEFIT OF CHANGE WAR-TIME EDUCATION (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 16 In the House of Commons to-night. Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith (Labour, Keighley), opened a discussion on education problems in relation to the evacuation of children. He said he welcomed the decision to re-open the schools in certain vulnerable areas. The children in such areas would probably be safer in the schools than on the streets or in their own houses. He suggested the return of doctors and nurses who should resume their ordinary tasks and stand by only for emergencies. He added that an inquiry by the War Office showed that amongst 250,000 militiamen now mobilised there had been only three cases of crime sufficiently serious not to be dealt with by the commanding officers. This, said Mr. Lees-Smith, was both the test and justification of the modern British schools. Education Dislocated The Parliamentary Secretary of Education, Mr. K. M. Lindsay, said though education had experienced an unexampled dislocation, the flexible decentralised system was recovering, and many children were benefiting by the changed conditions.

In the country areas they were taller and stronger and better fed. slept longer and were found easier to teach and the average weight of some had increased by over 31b. There were some 900,000 children in the evacuation areas, 1,700,000 in neutral and 2,500,000 in reception areas. They were not yet all at school. In the evacuation areas many schools had been commandeered and, in some, adequate protection was not yet forthcoming. An adequate medical service was operating in the reception areas, normal services in the neutral and a skeleton service in the evacuation areas, but it would be extended as the schools were reopened in them. Good Meal For Fourpcncc The Government had agreed to meet the overhead charges in connection with feeding arrangements and expected under the scheme to provide a good meal for 4d. Mr. Lindsay stated that 99 out of 105 training colleges were now working and the supply of teachers was being maintained. In conclusion, he said: "We must see ihat every child receives educational supervision as soon as possible and that the school medical and dental services resume the attack on sickness and uncleanliness. The children must not suffer either from the enemy or lack of care at home."