[Report 1956] / School Medical Officer of Health, Isle of Man.

  • Isle of Man. Council.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / School Medical Officer of Health, Isle of Man. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    entailing invaluable training in sportsmanship and a desire to do well for the school. Playing fields in the secondary schools and playing areas in the prim- ary schools have been improved and kept in good order. The groundsmen are always willing to help in any way to give the children as good conditions as possible for games and sports. Improvements have been made for indoor work, and asphalting of play- grounds has been carried out, but there is still need for more indoor accom- modation, better storage facilities, more portable apparatus and better playground surfaces. Plead Teachers and their staffs take a keen interest and through their influence are helping the parents to see the necessity for suitable clothing and footwear for physical education, so that the children are unhampered in their movements and can gain full benefit from using the apparatus provided. It is through their co-operation and keenness that our school children get a good basic training.” MILK AND SCHOOL MEALS. I am grateful to the Organiser of Domestic Subjects and School Meals for the following report: — “ The aim in planning the school meal is to provide an adequate supply of protein. The body needs protein for growth and the repair of worn tissues. Children need protein more urgently than adults because of the requirements of the rapidly growing body. The protein obtained from meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and from green vegetables is the most valuable in body-building and is known as first-class protein. When the quantity of first-class protein available is limited, it is necessary to supplement it by the use of foods rich in second- class protein, namely pulses and cereals. As first-class protein is so important to the growing child it is the policy in the School Meals Service to buy as much meat and fish per head as is practicable and cooks are instructed to serve each child with his por- tion and to encourage him to eat it. Protective foods are provided by potatoes, green vegetables* carrots and turnips. Heat- and energy-producing foods are provided by the puddings which are made with the full proportion of fat and sugar to flour, with die addi- tion of eggs and milk and dried or fresh fruit. Parents can be assured that if their children eat the food provided they have a really satisfactory meal. Unfortunately, some children refuse to eat meat and a proper proportion of the second vegetable. Most children like the puddings, but it would be benficial to the well-being of the children if parents would encourage them to eat the meat and fish and cheese foods provided.