The history of school meals revealed: 1940s-70s (2013)

The content of school meals has changed a lot throughout generations.

Unhealthy School Meals have decided to investigate these changes looking at the 1940s and 50s to the 1960s and 70s.

School meals in 1940/50:

Just after the Second World War, food was scarce. Rationing continued until 1954 so during the 40s and 50s school dinners mainly consisted of bread and potatoes.

‘Dinner’ was considered the main meal of the day, therefore it was expected to be a cooked meal usually between 1pm and 2pm. This meant that a lot of children went home at lunch time.

“Myself and about 30% of children in my school went home for an hour at dinner” (Enid Freshwater, 77).

There were no guidelines of what foods had to be in the meals, however similarly today, they mainly contained carbohydrates (bread, potato) and vegetables. A typical school meal in the 40s and 50s would include boiled potatoes, vegetables and some sort of beef e.g. minced. Mary Watts (80) described them:

“They always smelt horrible. You always knew what you were going to get… soggy vegetables seemed to be the thing!”

Jugs of water were always available on the tables, and this was the only drink they were allowed. Students were also provided with milk occasionally as rickets (bone problems due to a lack of vitamin D) were a common problem.

Dessert came in the form of rice pudding or some sort of sponge, which many of the people we spoke to said was the best part of the meals. According to online sources, desserts were always served with custard and were nicknamed “stodge.”

School meals in 1960/70:

Food in the 60s and 70s has been described as being “very British,” containing foods such as sausages, fish and potatoes. There no foreign influences such as curry or pizza, and pasta was rarely available as a school meal.

A typical school dinner would include a meat cut such as beef or lamb, potatoes served roasted, mashed, boiled or as chips, lots of vegetables such as onions, cauliflower, peas and spinach, and meals were always topped with gravy. Fish and chips was also very common, as well as roast dinners and liver; all deemed healthy.

“They weren’t overly nice,” says Nicola Moore (45). “Friday’s were definitely the day we all looked forward to.”

The ratio between school dinners and packed lunches was roughly 60:40 as this was the time when packed lunches started to become popular amongst children.

The standards since the 1940s seemed to have dropped a bit as foods such as chips were served, as well as desserts such as jelly, which weren’t as healthy as some parents wanted their children to have at the time.

Desserts were also the most favoured part of the school meal, and these included rice pudding, fruit crumble, jam tart, jelly or semolina.

Protesters parade through Birmingham - what does this mean for students? (2012)

Thousands of students had the day off from school last week as teachers and other public sector workers marched through the streets in protest.

Between 10,000-15,000 workers including doctors, bin men and airport security workers, took part in the biggest march for 30 years to protest against the Government’s pension reform plans.

In Birmingham, over 200 schools were closed with teachers and staff blocking the school gates from 8am with their own picket line. This involved them protesting at sites with banners and whistles, encouraging students not to go into lessons.

Charlotte Rice, 18, a student at Birmingham City University commented, “My lectures were all cancelled so I just had the day off! I know a lot of students who got told not to go in to lessons by their teachers as they were all protesting.”

Across England, many protests took place, involving over 10,000 teachers and lecturers who didn’t go in to work. As a result, more than half of the state schools in England were shut, and only 13% were officially open.

However, although those involved were happy with how the initial protest went, there has been many views that it didn't actually have much effect. Following the action, it has been reported that there was no disruption to airlines on the day; something that was considered a huge problem before the event. Prime Minister, David Cameron also responded to the event, describing it as a “damp squib,” stating that it will not have much effect on Governments decision.

Since last weeks protest, there has been a warning that more are to follow.

James Howard, 45, said, “The protest went really well, but we’re not going to stop now until we get what we want.”

Many people still believe that there is more they can do to change the pension reform. With banners bearing the slogans, “stop the cuts” and “fair pensions for all,” people think that the Government's decision is unfair.

Effect on Students

The point of the protest on November 30^th was to fight against the Government’s plans to make people retire later. This is due to them not being able to afford to support the increased ageing population.

The Government can no longer afford to give early pensions to people working in the public sector e.g. doctors, teachers, therefore, this is forcing people to pay more towards a pension fund during their working life. As a result, the Government will be saving millions of pounds, yet people are not happy about this.

For students, this means that many will be considering a change of direction in terms of their jobs. Aspiring teachers or paramedics are going in to jobs knowing that their jobs are not paying them enough to cover their pension, therefore their pensions will be smaller and they will have to work longer.

Derek Brown, 50, said that two years ago he was thinking about retiring when he was 65, however due to the pension reform, this has now gone up to at least 67 years of age. For students, the situation will only get worse and we will be lucky to retire when we are 70 years old.

Nicola Robshaw, 39, didn't take part in the protests. Her view was that, “They are trying to fight the inevitable. The Government cannot afford it, but at least they are securing our futures eventually.”

Just under 50% of the UK population work in the public sector. If students, working towards becoming doctors and other civil workers, are changing their career paths due to the reform, this mean that in the near future there will be a lack of these important services we need in society. Where would we be without teachers, lecturers, security workers and doctors?

Students may have to reconsider the path they take for the future or just hold out to see what next radical step the Government takes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJNjf5slc0Y

Do our jobs depend on Facebook? (2012)

Research has found that almost half of employers have rejected a potential worker after looking through their Facebook and Twitter profiles online.

Employers are now widely using social networking sites to research their own employees, as well as people who are applying for jobs at their company. 

The main reason for this is to check if their information is correct, for example about qualifications or experience they claim they have, as many candidates have been found out for lying abut these facts.

Students are probably under the most threat, and are at most risk of losing out on a job opportunity due to material that is on their Facebook profiles.

Six out of ten students that I spoke to at Birmingham City University admitted that they have images on their online profiles that they would not like their parents to see, let alone a future employer.

Studies have shown that 28% of students have been declined a job opportunity because they have lied about the qualifications they have. A further 9% were overlooked for talking about drink or drugs on their profile, and 7% for presenting 'inappropriate' photos online.

According to Career Adviser, Farham Yasin, “More employers are now using social networking sites to uncover any digital dirt.”

Employers are making decisions based on the “real” personality and lifestyle of the job-seeker as they feel that this would affect how they perform in a job.

Paul Wright, a manager of a company in Birmingham, added that, “I would probably change my opinion of a potential employee if I saw photos of them doing something inappropriate. It puts you off wanting to hire them.”

He also expressed that students are under most risk and warned that they should be careful with what they show online.

Speaking to students, it appears that many of them wouldn't actually change their Facebook profiles.

Jenna James said, “It's funny having photos like that on your profile. Employers know what teenagers and students are like so it cant be much of a surprise.”

Recent research has shown that in 2008, 22% of employers were googling their potential workers, and it is believed that this figure has dramatically risen in 2011 to over 50%.

Social networking sites give the opportunity for people to meet people and post pictures and comments for people to see. However, what if this was threatening your chance of getting a dream job?

Body found of missing teen (2012)

The body of Tracy Watson was found yesterday morning in Sutton Park.

The teenager who went missing five days ago, failed to arrive home from a night out after leaving a nightclub alone.

Her partially clothed body was discovered in the undergrowth at 7am by a man walking his dog.

Police were first alerted of her disappearance by Tracy’s boyfriend, Stephen, 21, on Monday. The couple had gone out together, but had been separated during the night. He has been questioned on her disappearance but no further investigation has been carried out.

It is believed that they had an argument before they went out in Sutton, and CCTV footage shows that Tracy, 19, left Type3 nightclub by herself at 1:07am.

An eyewitness told Police that she saw Tracy walking along Anchorage Road, 4 miles away from the club.

She was accompanied by a man, and the witness, a bartender in her thirties, described the couple to be talking and smiling together.

The unknown male was described as being tall with blonde hair, wearing blue jeans, a grey t-shirt and a black leather jacket.

Forensic tests are being carried out to find the cause of her death, but it is believed that the teenager was strangled and possibly sexually abused.

Tracy’s parents, James and Margaret Watson, have said to be, “distressed at the loss of their beloved daughter,” and her family have said that her death came “as a great blow.”

They have appealed for anyone with information to come forward, or to call the Police hotline at 01212 345678.

Police Inspector, Jim Bloggs, added, “We are treating the case with upmost seriousness.” He also expressed that, “We advise members of the public to take extra care.”

Officers are searching the scene for further evidence that may help to explain what happened.

Music TV talent shows - good or bad? (2011)

Over the past few years, music talent shows have burst on to our screens in an attempt to find the best voices in Britain. Shows such as the X Factor and The Voice have developed over the years to find singers who have not yet been discovered and are in need of their lucky break.

There is no doubt that these music talent shows have provided us with some successful and well-known artists. Leona Lewis is now an international superstar after winning the X Factor; Kelly Clarkson's career kickstarted when she won American Idol in 2002; Olly Murs has become a national heartthrob and successful singer since being the runner up on X Factor; and celebrities such as Cheryl Cole started their careers through entering music talent shows such as Popstars in 2002.

Bad

Some people believe that artists should have to start at the bottom and work their way up. Singer-songwriter Elton John believes that shows such as the X Factor have the wrong view on what talent is, and they thrust acts into the limelight before they are ready. Let's face it, some performers such as Chico Slimani (X Factor, 2005), and Kitty from this years X Factor are confident and not fazed at all by being in the limelight constantly. But what about those who aren't ready or prepared for it, but have more talent than those who are?

Sophie Habibis auditioned for X Factor this year and made it to week four of the live shows before being voted off by the public. In her audition, and all the way through the show, she presented herself as a calm, shy girl but with buckets of talent as her voice touched listeners and fans. However, due to her personality, she got a lot of negative press for being “boring” and as a result, she was voted off the show before people who arguably had less potential talent when it came to singing.

Some contestants can't handle the pressure of being put in the public eye during the competition and after it has finished. The shows and rehearsals take up almost all of their time, and if they're not practising or performing, everything they do is under watch by the show's producers or the press. Nothing is private anymore and one thing they say could change thousands of people's opinions of them. A recent contestant of a music talent show said, “No matter what age you are, it's going to get you stressed because of the amount of pressure you are under. Everyone is stressed in a competition like that, you can't just avoid it."

It has been no secret that there has been a lot of debate about the X Factor in recent weeks, since Simon Cowell has left. Many people have the opinion that the show has become more about money and popularity, instead of about the talent of the singers. Furthermore, the welfare and treatment of the acts has come in to light, with stories being released in the papers about how Janet was not given the same amount of attention as the other acts, as she gave her view that, "I'm not X Factor material, and I've said this from the audition, I'm just who I am. But I don't think it's what The X Factor wanted.”

Are people getting bored of these shows now?

Good

Music talent shows can sometimes be a platform that performers need when everything else seems to have failed. A lot of acts come on to shows such as Britain's Got Talent and the X Factor and tell the judges that this is their last chance or their last shot at becoming successful. These talent shows can help a performer to step in to the industry and begin a career doing something they love.

The winners of talent shows are not the only ones who get recording contracts. Singer, Susan Boyle finished second in Britain's Got Talent, after narrowly missing out being crowned the winner to dance troupe Diversity. Although she didn't win, she was immediately signed by Sony Music and has now released three albums. Music talent shows have benefits for all contestants, as it allows them to get in to the industry and try and follow their dream.

Some singers who rose to fame through talent shows have even furthered their careers beyond singing. Cheryl Cole started off on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and gained her place in the roup, Girl's Aloud. She has now gone on to have a successful solo career, being the face of many advrtising campaigns, been a judge on the X Factor, and has just released her own show collection. This shows that talent shows can kickstart a persons career in the music industry and allow them to develop as a person and a performer.

Furthermore, they can give a performer a chance to experience a real situation where they will be on stage in front of hundreds or thousands, as well as with the technical side of being a performer such as sound-checks, rehearsals and being backstage during shows.

Every year, thousands of people audition for their one chance of fame and for their talent to be spotted. Every year, we sit at home, turn on our TVs and watch as these hopefuls fail or succeed. No matter what your opinion is, it looks like TV talent shows are here to stay.

It's fashion, it's live, it's the Clothes Show Live (2011)

With the Clothes Show Live 2011 near approaching, there has recently been a lot of hype in the fashion world. The show is set to appear at the NEC in Birmingham on the 2^nd - 7^th of December, with celebrities including George Lamb, Alexandra Burke, Grace Woodward, Jeff Brazier, and many others expected to be at the huge event.

Fashion is a part of society which may not be well recognised by everyone, but is an extremely important part of our world, as it affects our everyday decisions and most importantly, how we look. With the Clothes Show presenting the slogan “Keep Fashion Live” on t-shirts and banners, the idea that fashion is important cannot be ignored.

Fashion is about expressing your individuality and being whoever you want to be. Who has the right to tell you what you can and cannot wear; which colours clash and which ones look good together; which clothes are 'normal'? At the Clothes Show Live, well known fashion brands such as Lipsy London and E-Vintage all come together to showcase their unique qualities and promote their styles to their target audience.

For some people, fashion is everything. They read about fashion, work in fashion, start trends and follow everything to do with fashion.

The Clothes Show is a chance for people's passion for fashion to be recognised and for talents to be discovered. With over a hundred models performing on the catwalk, each one will be representing a designer who has been lucky enough to showcase their collection at one of the biggest UK fashion events.

Furthermore, The Dance Winners from Talent 2011, Pressurize, will be performing at the Clothes Show Live this year. This is a huge opportunity for their talent to be recognised and to be seen by thousands.

A website that has recently come to my attention is www.lookbook.nu where pictures are posted of outfits considered to be “in fashion.” Looking through the hundreds of pictures, some of the outfits look quite mainstream, whereas some are more absurd and have crazy concepts that some people may find questionable. Each person who posts an outfit on the website has a different idea of what fashion is; from capes to floral designs, or from skinny jeans to long skirts. Some of these clothes are by top designers such as Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen and Prada, who have their brands showcased at the Clothes Show Live.

From looking in to the different designers that are at the event, it caused me to research who were voted the 'best dressed' celebrities in 2011. Votes showed that the best dressed women were Emma Watson and Victoria Beckham, and the best dressed men included Taylor Lautner and Justin Timberlake. These are all celebrities who follow the most recent and up to date trends, therefore they are voted as the 'best dressed.'

However, what about people who step out of the box and create their own fashion trends?

Lady Gaga, a worldwide singer and songwriter, is also well-known for her outrageous outfits and fashion taste. The celebrity has her own fashion site (www.gagafashionland) and although she is often noticed for what she is wearing, she isn't listed as 'fashionable' or the 'best dressed.' Is this because she isn't wearing typically mainstream clothes? She is known to step out the box; to wear clothes which people wouldn't normally wear. There have been debates about whether she wears outfits for attention, and to promote her role as a singer. However, I believe that she is just being herself and showing the youth of today that you don't have to wear what everyone else wears, and that you can be yourself. Let's face it, were not necessarily going to go out and buy her 'headless priest' dress or do our hair in the same style she does, but she is putting her own stamp on fashion and creating a new trend of being whoever you want to be and not worrying about what people say. In fact, most coverage of Lady Gaga's outfits have been positive, with people admiring the risks and new crazy ideas that she comes up with.

With the Clothes Show Live beginning in two days, fashion is becoming more widely recognised as an important part of society and a major part of who we are.

Annabel Monkhouse, 18, gave her own opinion that, “I think fashion is important, because in a sense it helps define who you are. However I think people are judged too much on what they wear.”

Fashion is all about being confident with who you are and not hiding that confidence underneath the same clothes that everyone else wears. 

Music - what makes a real artist? (2011)

Everyone has the opportunity to listen to any type of music, but we always chose to listen to artists we like or songs we prefer.

People argue that the artists they do not particularly like are not real artists.

Definitions of “music artist” claim they are people who write, perform and create music, yet there is the lingering question of what makes a REAL music artist.

Lucas Zavala, 22, is in a band “Oh So Quiet” who write and produce their own music. When speaking to him, he bought up the argument of artist vs. performer. He added, “To be an artist, they have to write and then perform the music, instead of letting someone else write it and then simply just sing it.”

His views are that a real artist is someone who makes music for a living and who's life is dedicated to every aspect of music, including producing and performing it.

The charts have a huge influence on what the general public listens to and like. Artists such as Rihanna, The Wanted and David Guetta constantly dominate the Top 40 due to number of albums or singles they sell during that week. So does their popularity make them real artists?

The songs in the UK Top 40 are those which are played on the radio or advertised the most because they are so popular. However, there are also so many singers who are not as well-known but just as good in terms of music. Bands and artists such as Boyce Avenue, Lifehouse and Bluey Robinson have albums and singles which grow in views on Youtube and other downloading sites, but are not necessarily known by everyone. This could be because they do not follow the 'current trend' of music that plays in the charts. Their music still reaches out to the people who do listen, yet they do not reach the charts due to their popularity. But who is to say that this makes them any less of a real artist?

Derek Brown, 50, expressed that, “They have to reach out to people and have an impact on at least one person.” He added that, in his opinion, The Beatles are real artists as they developed a new style of music which was unique and had an effect on people.

An article in The Telegraph in 2009 spoke about The Beatles' music, stating how inspiring it was and that, “it comes alive again every single time you listen.” This shows that the effect and impact on people was huge and therefore many people think that The Beatles are an example of a real artist.

Some people in society do not think that rappers are real artists because they do not sing like many of the mainstream artists today. However, others argue that they are sometimes more relatable than singers such as Beyonce and Justin Bieber because they tell a story in their songs. Looking at raps by artists such as Eminem, the words they use tell stories about bullying, drug use, death and other issues that people experience in the world. These lyrics can have a huge impact on young people particularly, who can relate to the story being told and reflect on the harsh realities of life. Studies show that music is therapeutic and many people listen and relate to the words artists use in their songs or raps. Although rap artists may not appeal to one audience, they are loved by another and can have an effect on their life.

Furthermore, on a blog titled, 'What does music mean to you?' Erin Browne gave her opinion that, “Music is a way for the artist and audience to process and understand something they might not be able to otherwise.”

Sian Melia, 19, a media student at Birmingham City University specialising in Music Industries, expressed that, “A music artist is someone who has drive, passion and musical knowledge.”

Both views support the opinion that being a real music artist isn't necessarily about the music they make or perform, but is about the way they translate it to their audience. Real music artists have the ability to make an audience aware of emotions or issues through lyrics better than they would be if they were just told them.

Any type of artist, whether they are creative through arts, drama, dance or music is someone who has undeniable talent. I believe that a real artist is someone who you aspire to be; someone who you are in awe of and who makes you feel emotion through their songs, whether this is happiness, pain, sadness or joy. A real artist is someone who you look up to when you are younger and say, “I want to be like them when I grow up.”

http://musictome.tumblr.com/tagged/Meaning_Of_Music

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/6138620/The-Beatles-how-they-changed-everything.html