MILK IN SCHOOLS

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 16 September 1955, Page 1

MILK IN SCHOOLS

Education Board Seeks Views Of School Committees The Taupo District High School Committee, at its meeting on September 6, had before it a letter from the South Auckland Education Board in connection with the milk in schools scheme. The letter asked the committee to let the board have an indication of its views on the milk scheme before September 9, as the Board wished to discuss the matter at its meeting on September 20. The Board's letter, which had been sent to all School Committees, was as follows:— "The Health Department has recently been approached by at least one educational authority concerning a possible investigation into the value and necessity of the Milk In Schools scheme. This Board has not yet considered the matter, but from some other districts there appears to be a consensus of opinion that the scheme is unnecessary. "The opinion has been expressed that milk in schools was no doubt of value when introduced during a period of economic depression, which resulted in many children being under-nourished. MJt is contended that today the picture is entirely different, in that milk is readily available to any household in the country. "This Board is not competent to - express an opinion on the value of a milk diet to the health of the (Children, and there appears to be a divergence of opinion among medical authorities on the question. "The drinking of milk at schools is not compulsory and all children do not participate. The cost of the scheme is very high and the question is whether it should be persevered with." Following discussion of the Board's letter, the Committee instructed the Secretary, Mr. W. J. Murray, to advise the Board that the majority of the Committee considered that the Milk In Schools scheme was no longer the necessity that it was. The Committee, however, felt that if the scheme were ended there would definitely be a number of children attending the Taupo School who would not receive any milk at all. These cases were known to the District Health Nurse and the Committee considered that the health education of such families was the responsibility of the Health Department. In the event of the Scheme being terminated it was felt that some of the saving in expenditure should be applied to that end. A letter embodying the Ccmmittee's views as above has been sent to the Education Board.