8. THE ATTITUDE OF THE MOTHER

What do those mothers who do not let their children have school meals think about them? During a housewife survey in many parts of Scotland, mothers who did not let their children take part in school meals were asked why they did not do.

The sample is not very large, but it is most illuminating to read through the comments of the 67% who say that there is no need for their children to take school meals.

It becomes clear that these mother’s attitude to school meals is that they are not bad for children who need them – this need only exists, however, for three groups; those who are too poor, those whose mothers are out at work, and those who live some distance from school. Otherwise, they think that all children should come home – the reasons being that the mother wants to see them, she needs company, nobody knows better than herself what is good for the child, and she cooks anyway, so why not cook for the one child more.

From these answers one gets the impression that mothers have no inherent aversion to school meals, but on the other hand they have no strong incentive to let their children take part in them.

There is also the feeling that one of the most important family ties is the fact that one has one’s meals with the family, and if meals are taken elsewhere family life will suffer; in this way, too, the function of the housewife will be undermined.

The mothers who say that their children don’t like school meals possibly rationalize their own dislike in this way; or they may be right in saying that their children are fond of certain foods which they can’t have so often at school as at home.

“He likes chips and he has a lot of them at home.”

He does not like meat.”

“School provide mostly soup and steamed puddings, both things the kids don’t like.

A number of mothers think that the meals are too expensive for their pockets; though they may not be able to give their children the same nutritious meal for the same money, they can fill them up with bread and potatoes, which are probably cheaper.

This has been said earlier in a clearer way.

The relative absence of strong objections to school meals probably means that the number of children taking them could be increased by necessity of publicity.