St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-04
A Schoolboy's Lunch.

WHIMS AND HABITS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
CHILDREN DESCRIBED BY A TEACHER.
ga growing evil in the public schools,
and one which gives the teachers much
trouble" said principal of a male pri-
mary school in Baltimore to a reporter of
the San, ''is caused by parents giving the
scholars money to buy their luncheon. The
habit is a pernicious one. Not long ago
was called by a teacher to one of the class
rooms, where little fellow had his lunch
spread on his desk. His mother had given
him 10 cents to buy his lunch. and this is
what he had bought Two sticks of choco-
late, two pieces of cocoanut, two Jumps of
taffy on pieces of stick, one large cucumber
pickle and piece of chewing gum. 1t is
an every. day occurrence for children to,
have such lunches. If they are not given
money with which to purchase indigesti-
bles, they often bring them from home.
Childlike, they either eat the cakes and
other sweets first and have no appetite for
the solids. Besides the effect it has on the
children's physical health it too often
affects them morally.
s'From cinnamon cigarettes they often
drift to purchasing those made from to-
bacco. A boy will often do more to secure
class than he will to avoid the displeasure
of his teacher. On numerous occasions
when have written to parents requesting
spending money, the parents have either
written to me or called and informed me
that they had no idea that their small boys
spent SO much, as they had only occasion
ally given their SONS small amounts.
eel, oh oo1c how oHn taH q nIQn
of making the scholars deposit their lunch
package or basket with the teacher as they
enter the schoolroom. Those children who
do not 90 home at midday to dinner are
allowed half an hours play in the yard. at
1890 they are called to their school. room room
and their lunches are distributed. with
an appetite whetted by the half-hour's
romp. they relish their lunch no matter
how plain it might be.
"Boys, as rule, are not so bad as most
people imagine. A boy who is not mis-
chievous u.s. of course, rarity AS RUE
boys are placable enough when judiciously
managed. r.
cit is wonderful with what regularity
the seasons for the different games are OBJ
served by the boys. When the edict goes
forth in it's mysterious way that it is top or
marble time it is irrevocable, and the
stores have to be provided with stock OF
material for the sports. Unlike field
sportslnen, the boys require y no o. fix. fixed
statutes to regulate their season OF partlcu-
lar sports. a,; con
son. the cord top now being the favorite.
This will be followed by whip-tops, after
which will come marbles. Leap frog is
fall game, it being at the season when ns the
boys feel like that sort of play. Of late
vesss base. ball, or as much of the game as
the limited school yard, lots and streets
will permit, has occupied their attention
during the spring and summer.
'tWind gets into the head and heels of a
boy, and teachers dread windy day, as
The bays are hard to manage then. In fact
,he atmosphere affects boys particularly.
Teachers in different portions of the city
~ comparison of dates have found great
similarity in the behavior of the boys on
certain days"