The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-06-01


The United States Bureau of Edu-
cation in its Bulletin lays before the
public detailed study Of what school
children should eat. 1t explains SO
plainly that every fond mother may
read just how many grams of pro-
teins, how many of fat and how many
of carbohydrates should be packed
into every lunch basket, and it tells
how many Galleries of heat every
schoolboy should extract from said
basket.
The article was prepared by Caro-
line L. Hunt at the request of Elmer
Ellsworth Brown, United States Com
missioner of Education. Mr. Brown,
in letter to the Secretary of the In
terror says that the article is not to
be regarded as a special plea for the
feeding of school children at public
expense nor for any special project
or reform. It is intended merely to
contribute to an intelligent discus
sion of such plans
1t has seemed to me" writes the
commissioner, that a wider knowl-
edge of numerous facts relative to
wholesome meals for school children
and the wholesome serving of such
meals could be made to help materi-
ally in the promotion also of their
mental health and Mgor. This con-
viction has been deepened by COD
sultation with the representatives of
several Of the more important volun-
tary organizations in this country
which concern themselves with mat
tiers Affecting the welfare of chill
dren"
Miss Hunt tells of results attained
in some of the New York schools
where the children are fed:
In the Speyer School, primary
school of New York City, set aside
as practice school for Teachers Col
lege, every child from the kindergar-
ten to the third grade is given cup
of milk and graham cracker at
half past ten o'clock. The children
first rest for few minutes with their
heads down on their desks. A paper
napkin is then placed on each desk
and the milk and crackers are passed.
Another napkin Is given for use by
the child If the child is able he pays
thirty-five cents month for this
food, but if unable he is fed with the
others and the knowledge of his pow
erty is not allowed to reach the other
children.
The principal of the school reports
that as the year advances there is al
ways marked improvement in the
condition of the children, probably
due to the fact that the food which
they take between meals is of whole
some character and is taken with reg
ularity. She reports also great i'm
provement in table manners. Chill
dren who begin by scattering crumbs
quite recklessly end by eating in very
orderly fashion.
At the Hebrew Technical School
for Girls, also in New York City,
every girl receives cup of milk or
cocoa in the middle of the forenoon
and at noon soup is sold by the school
ct one cent bowl
Here also," says Miss Hunt, "a
marked Improvement in physical con-
dition is noted as the school year adj
vances."
These examples are cited to show
that it has been found helpful to
give food to young pupils during the
school session even when there Is no
reason to suppose they are suffering
from undertaking.
Miss Hunt has observed that plans
for feeding children in schools have
always originated with those who are
in charge of backward students. The
writer goes on:
Miss Farrell, now in charge of the
undergraduate schools of New York
City, reports an interesting expert
ment made by her when teacher of
the special class in Public School No.
/. 1t was discovered that the boys In
this class were usually locked out of
home during the day because their
mothers were at work. They were
given a few pennies to buy food.
These pennies had usually been spent
for, such things as ice cream sand
witches and ginger beer. Miss Far
rell began to serve milk at one cent
a glass and to encourage the boys to
bring bread and butter sandwich
from home. Later the food which
was prepared by the cooking classes
was served to these boys. The cost
of the domestic science work was not
increased and the lessons became
more real because of their useful
ness"
Miss Hunt adds that of the twelve
boys in this class of Miss Farrell's
that sat down to the first school
luncheon only one had sat at table