Liberal Reforms – Liberal Reforms – ChildrenChildren

By Callum MorrisonBy Callum Morrison

BackgroundBackground

A study of poverty in 1901 by Seebohm A study of poverty in 1901 by Seebohm Rowntree found that in a society where Rowntree found that in a society where those who didn't work didn't eat, there those who didn't work didn't eat, there were three times in people's lives when were three times in people's lives when they were especially vulnerable: they were especially vulnerable:

as a young child as a young child when they were old when they were old when they were sick or unemployedwhen they were sick or unemployed

Provision of school meals Provision of school meals act 1906act 1906

It was argued by Margaret McMillan that if the state It was argued by Margaret McMillan that if the state insists on compulsory education, it must take insists on compulsory education, it must take responsibility for the proper nourishment of school responsibility for the proper nourishment of school children children

Fred Jowett made a speech in Parliament convincing Fred Jowett made a speech in Parliament convincing the MP’s that hungry children had trouble learning the MP’s that hungry children had trouble learning

In 1906 parliament passed the Provision of School In 1906 parliament passed the Provision of School Meals Act.Meals Act.

However, local authorities were slow to respond to this However, local authorities were slow to respond to this legislation and in 1914 it was made compulsory to legislation and in 1914 it was made compulsory to provide meals. provide meals.

School Medical School Medical Inspections 1907Inspections 1907

Doctors and nurses were sent into schools to provide Doctors and nurses were sent into schools to provide free medical checks on childrenfree medical checks on children

They would recommend necessary treatment which They would recommend necessary treatment which would have to be paid for by the child’s parentswould have to be paid for by the child’s parents

However a few Local authorities covered the costs for However a few Local authorities covered the costs for the poorest children free medical treatment wasn’t the poorest children free medical treatment wasn’t available for children until 1912 and the free medical available for children until 1912 and the free medical clinics.clinics.

Children’s Act 1908Children’s Act 1908

Children were now protected, by law, against cruelty Children were now protected, by law, against cruelty from their parentsfrom their parents

Poor law authorities were responsible for visiting and Poor law authorities were responsible for visiting and supervising children who had suffered cruelty or supervising children who had suffered cruelty or neglectneglect

Children’s homes to be registered and inspectedChildren’s homes to be registered and inspected Children under 14 who committed crimes were now not Children under 14 who committed crimes were now not

to be sent to adult prisons rather the newly constructed to be sent to adult prisons rather the newly constructed borstals.borstals.

Special juvenile courts to be set up to try children Special juvenile courts to be set up to try children accused of crimesaccused of crimes

Children under 14 not to be allowed into pubsChildren under 14 not to be allowed into pubs Cigarettes or alcohol not to be sold to children Cigarettes or alcohol not to be sold to children

under 16under 16