I would like to correct something which was said at the Members Meeting on Saturday October 18th. After a member had raised the matter of the awfulness of school meals we left with the impression that it is the fault of the schools. As a retired teacher and a school Governor I felt annoyed at the slur, but it was not the time to have an argument, especially as I was not entirely sure of my facts.
I have checked now and can say that in our local authority the schools have no control over what is served or planned. I can also say that the one meal that I have had was awful. The catering has to be put out to tender and the cheapest quote has to be accepted. This means strict limits on spending and the children’s dietary needs have a low priority.
If people have no contact with the present State schools system it is all too easy to blame the schools for many of the ills that befall our society but I can assure you that poor school meals is not one ill that can be blamed on the schools themselves. Although it would appear that we Governors have little influence on this subject, I have made up my mind to try and do something, no matter how small.
Lead in pre-1960’s paint gets little publicity these days. Yet trades people, such
as decorators, are warned that it is dangerous and, when rubbing it down, to take
precautions to avoid breathing any of the dust. Yet no such warnings are given in this
country to D.I.Y. decorators.
In America it is an important issue and lawyers make big money making claims on behalf of
children who suffer brain damage or even die from contact with lead in paint. I think that
it is a more serious issue than lead in petrol. However, the Government, apparently, does
not want to become involved.
Can NfCG influence the Department of Trade and Industry, the Health Ministry and the Ministry for the Environment to get together and do something? Failing that, or perhaps as well, can NfCG encourage Consumers’ Association, through a Which? Report, to do some research into the dangers of lead in older paint. This might lead to national publicity.
Children are the most vulnerable and particularly those whose parents do a lot of decorating in older properties.
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