The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-06
TWENTY MINUTES FOR DINNER"
The Mooted Question as Seen Con-
servatively and Otherwise.


adopted by many towns ard cities and
when once the system is established
II is much preferred 60 the hour sys
TEN. What TO do with the noon hour
has been a problem with teachers and
scnoo boards for years where there
are many children TO be handled
Many towns and cities in order to
avoid the noon hour open school at
eight or eightthirty O'Clock and is
miss at one or one-thirty o'clock with
two short recesses in the meantime.
This works an inconvenience TO those
who have dinner az ~ o'clock Rut
either system has been found prefer.
able to the long noon intermission
These are some OF the reasons why.
At the least calculation 80 per cent
Of the pupils bring lunch and remain
on the school ground during the noon
hour. others in their haste TO return
to play eat hurriedly. sometimes TAX
ing handful and eat 4 on the way
and there are instances where II din
ner is not prepared children in their
agerness TO play return to school with
out eating anything Some walk eight
or ten blocks and IT dinner should be
delayed the pupil is tardy He enters
school fatigued from his walk and is
unfit for study until he has had time
90 recupctate.
OF warm days. the boys after hav
ing engaged in violent sports for one
hour (Which following a hearty meal.
physiology teaches is a hnderance to
digestion) enter the room in heated
condition and they are not only dis.
qualified for study hut they ere also
source OF disquiet in their restless con
dition. Water is demanded and the rec
itation comes TO a standstill else the
boys suffer from thirst until the next
intermission. Again in a short while
an offensive odor sets up, II the room
is crowded from the persp!ration
thrown OF This must be admitted TO
be unhealthful to all
During the last thirty minutes of the
noon hour is what is known TO teach
ers as the period Of difficulties. Unless
the grounds are thoroughly patrolled
by the teachers, all the common forms
of rudeness turn loose The deadly
cigarette is introduced, swearing and
the other vices from which the par.
ents desires their children to be
shielded take root And all the difficult
ties must be adjusted at the cost OF
time. Teachers cannot patrol the
grounds every day because they need
all spare time possible to prepare for
the work that follows There is also
an objection to the patrol system, in
that 1t stirs up bad affection in the
child knowing that he is watched.
Games for small children can be
regulated but a regulated game for
good sized boys is distasteful. Play
with boys must be spontaneous. il
matters not how damaging to hide
and old clothes. on a limited amount
of playground the smaller pupil cannot
be kept separated from the larger
ones and many are the times the form
er are hurt by the latter.
The great number of tardy pupils
at the noon hour is a source OF an.
noyance Until a strong sentiment IS
created against being late, tardiness
will continue with its 1isorganizing
effects. II the weather Is warm the
tardy pupil must rest and cool himsel.
before entering into recitation. II t.
is cold or raining wraps must be re-
moved and often the pupil must 90 10
the stove to warm. All this takes time
from the recitation and it is certainly
disorgani2eing in it stendency.
Nearly every case OF hooky comcs
in the afternoon Boys go home and
NIL up on a big dinner, and, to eyade
the task of the afternoon botakc them
selves to some place of seclusion. one
crime leads to another. To escape pun
ishment lying and deception and forg
ed excuses too often follow.
II rain falls and the streets beccm
muddy during the forenoon parents In
most cases do not let the children re
turn 20 school in the aftnrr Don. on
the schools are disorganzed for one
hall the day As a rule those children
that are out Of school are not prcpar
ed with their work next day and IA,
general interest of the room is AFFECT
cd thereby Some children in order
TO get the benefit of the afternoon ses
sions miss their dinners on rainy days
Those who return do so with wet mud
dy feet and sit at their seats in :ha'
condition, which TO all thinking ptopl,
is KNOWN TO be hazardous
Il is true there are not many rainy
days this season of the year. ~. whe,
the winter months set In and it ia 10,
disagreeable to play out OF doors
! where shall the children plqy dulinl