The Washington herald., 1907-02-10
PENNY SCHOOL LUNCH
Milwaukee Experiment Has
Proved a Success.
BENEFIT SHOWN IN STUDIES
Gambler Started the Fund for Es-
tabIishiRg the Enterprise, which
Ing of Girl ia store-NO
Charity About the scheme.

In the midst Of the holiday rush Of two
years ago q little cash girl in one of the
local department stores notable for the
consideration shown its employees tainted
dead away. says the Milwaukee CORE
spOndent of the ST. Louis Dispatch
The physician summoned soon saw that
the child was suffering from malnutrition
and, pushing his kindly inquiries soon
discovered that she was in the habit OF
coming breakfastless from her poor home
in the Polish quarter 10 her work
This incident made public through the
newspapers. was the beginning of the
penny lunch stations established in con-
nection with the public schools by the
Woman's School Alliance and supported
by public contributions. a system SO
unique. so practical, and so effective in
the reduction Of nervousness and restless
ness in the schools that it has become a
permanent institution.
Gambler starts the Fund.
A gambler was largely instrumental in
furnishing the inspiration OF the move
ment. John Mccoy, at that time an al
derman and proprietor of a saloon and
gaming establishment. did not dismiss the
fainting incident with a passing thought
Of pity. He publicly declared himself as
believing that hundreds of children in the
city schools went breakfastless. urged the
need of an investigation, and offered 20
start a fund with a $50 contribution and
to become a regular subscriber to il in
such sum as might seem desirable il some
wOmans club or other organization would
see 20 the administration of il,
David $ Rose then mayor of the city.
duplicated the Offer and there was a con
siderable fund pledged before there was
amy definite plan for using il. Then the
Noman's School Alliance became inter
eSted in the project With ii membership
Of Influential women from an parts of the
city, il has been instrumental in securing
many reforms i'm the schools-betJer Saui-
tation. better janitor service, more attrac-
tive rooms, and IN some Instances new
school buildings.
With the aid Of the principals and teach
ers, its members started an Investigation
The number Of children who went to
school without breakfast was astonishing
Ia the foreign districts it was found to
be NO uncommon thing for parents TO
leave for work early in the morning. max
Ing no provision for the children's lunch
or breakfast beyond, perhaps. a loaf of
bread and a pot of cold black coffee In
some cases the children were locked out
az doors at noon. "a hunk of bread being
left fer them in an entry way or shed.
Success OF Experimental station.
After considering several plans. the alli-
ance opened one penny lunch station in
connection with the Fifth district school.
and so successful did the experiment
prove that the same plan has governed
the entire system, with one exception.
There are now nine of these stations. and
two more are to be opened in the near
future With the exception of the one
for the school for the deaf. each station
is in a private home near the school which
il serves
The housewife is the matron. and each
noon she provides the lunches for the
children sent TO her By the teachers. Hot.
nutritious soups. made of meat stock or
of milk foundation. and rolls are served
one day, with perhaps cocoa or hot milk
and sandwiches the next. Soup, however.
is the favorite, and the children do not
seem TO tire Of IT,
In the school for the deaf the teachers
and older pupils serve che lunches in the
school building the children in this school
coming from all parts Of the city. and il
being deemed advisable that all Of them
have the advantage Of the hot lunches.
regardless of the financial condition OF
their parents
To avoid the danger Of pauperizing the
children, tickets for the lunches are sold
for a penny, although each lunch costs
between 3 and 1 cents exclusive of the
mauons wages. If a child receives a
ticket without the payment OF the penny.
no one but the child, its parents. and the
principal Of the school knows it. There
are such cases Of extreme need. but the
child is spared The humiliation Of having
the fact known by his or her playmates
The payment Of the penny spares the
pride of both child and parents, takes
away the stigma Of charity. which would
prevent some of the worthiest cases beue-
fitting by the plan. and encourages indie
pendenCe among the class which stands
ready TO accept charity but which is able
10 pay the nominal price asked for the
lunches.
Unexpected Benefits Develop.
Unexpected benefits have developed from
the system. and one Of the most important
of these is the influence Of the matrons
over the children. The Alliance has been
careful in the selection Of the women to
have charge OF the kitchen. and the mat
rons, without exception. have entered so
heartily into the spirit Of the movement
that they have not limited their interest
I'm the children 10 feeding them.
One Of the matrOns has fitted I'D the
basement of her home as Il gymnasium
and roller rink, and here the boys and
girls alternate in its enjoyment during
the noon hour. In all instances children
are allowed TO remain inside by the fire
in lnclement weather. Each matron is
paid 81 "a week, and I'm more than one case
il has made il possible for a worthy
woman Of limited means to remain at
home and care for her own family in
stead Of going out 20 work by the day.
In making her annual report. Miss
Frances Wettstein, principal Of the School
for the Deaf. gave the plan high indorse-
ment, stating that IL had resulted in a
marked decrease in restlessness and nerv-
BUSINESS and I'm an increased power Of
concentration and ability to study.
Twins Galore All in One Day.
From, fhe Netr ya-l Trb,,,s