The Liberal Reforms (Children)

Question 1

School medical inspections

Answer 1

1907
+ Doctors and nurses went into schools to do free medical checks
+ Compulsory for pupils

• Until 1912 parents had to pay for treatment
• Varied greatly across country whether or not they were enforced
• Many parents couldn’t pay for treatment

Question 2

The children’s act (the children’s charter)

Answer 2

1908
+ Parents would be persecuted if children were abused
+ Orphanages inspected
+ Children under 14 unable to be send to adult prisons
+ Juvenile courts set up
+ Illegal to sell cigarettes to kids under 16

• Lack of ID, improper handling of cases
• No organisation to monitor it

Question 3

School clinics

Answer 3

1912
+ Free medical treatment for kids

• Care varies depending on area
• Lack of monitoring
• Many not in school

Question 4

Free school Meals (+-)

Answer 4

1906
+ Councils provided meals to kids from poor families
+ Paid for by local collection rates
+ 158,000 children receiving free meals by 1914

• Not enforced, only half of the schools did it
• Hard to assess who is eligible for a free meal
• Lots of kids didn’t go to school (working)