6. CONCLUSION

It is important to remind the reader that in the foregoing the advantages and disadvantages of school meals were discussed simultaneously; it was impossible to judge from the material what the final judgment of the children would have been if they had been asked to vote for or against school meals. In this connection, two figures, though small, are of interest.

48 children who took school meals expressed an opinion as to whether they should go on after the war or not. Of these, 43 (or 90%) wanted school meals to continue. Of 55 offering an opinion, who did not take school meals, 23 (or 42%) were for continuation. The reasons given were:-

School meals should be continued for those living at a distance; to help the poor; to get poorer children better food; to help working mothers; to save housewives work; to help ill parents; to help people who dislike preparing meals; for people who are bombed out; refugees from Europe, because food will still be rationed and dear; people will be poorer; it will be good for motherless children; because children will be used to them; “it will be a blessing for those who are of the same disposition as me.”

The second figure relates to whether children who take school meals prefer school or home meals. 147 children offered an opinion; of these, 54 (37%) said they prefer school meals under the circumstances.