The Washington times., 1909-09-04
Washington Educators Pro-
pose Way to Aid Under
nouriShed Pupils.
PRACTICE IN VOGUE
AT OTHER PLACES
Believe Such Scheme Would Rem
edy Many Evils Now Due
to Bad Nourishment.

With a view Of safeguarding the
health Of District school children who,
by reason OF the poverty OF their pa
rents, are not properly nOurished Il
home, II is probable that the school au-
thorities will put in operation a plan
to provide meals during the school day.
Such a plan has been considered, II
has the approval OF members Of the
Board of Education, and viii be eS-
perimented with IN several OF the
buildings situated in the poorer neigh
borhoods unless it is found that the con-
tingent fund is too limited TO supply the
necessary food.
The idea as proposed would be 70
supply only breakfast at the outset and
then only to those children who, upon
examination by a school medical Of
hcer, were found to be in A low physical
state because insufhciently nourished.
The meals would be prepared by girl
pupils OF the higher primary grades,
TO be served 10 pupils between the a ges
OF eight and fourteen years. They prob
ably NCuld consist or cocoa, eggs pre-
pared In varied styles, baked potatoes,
and toast or biscuits.
Not a New Plan.
This plan Of school PHILANTHROPY Is
not new 10 several of the larger Amer
lean cities where many school chill
circumstances. Authorities declare its
merit has been proved, and that its ef-
feet has been to upbund the mental,
moral. and physical character of thou
sands Of underfed boys and girls. Those
members OF the local Board OF Educa-
ton who give the plan their support
say that while there would be no need
for so general application as is the case
in larger cities OF mixed and illiterate
population, yet in many instances, If
unh "a 81 nrF- fHaf .r 81
II would eliminate those evils among
school children due to weak intellects
and half-starved bodies.
In working out the details OF the
schoOl-kitChen idea, the District author
tiles would have the benefit OF the data
which the United States Bureau OF Ed
ucation has collected on the subject
This includes information as to results
obtained in schools OF New York, Chi
cago, and several European cities where
the plan Is now In operation.
Wouldn't Bring Lunches.
Another factor in the success Of the
school kitchen, It is pointed out by ed
ucators, would be that they would OBJ
viste the necessity OF children bringing
10 school such meager lunches as their
means might AFFORD. The homemade
luncheon, 10 large extent, has al
teacher. inasmuch as the pupils Us
ually eat them under conditions which
are not always clearly, and they scat
ter bits OF bread and meat around the
school building. creating untidiness and
inviting flies and other insects. Those
teachers who have made study of diet
les and hygiene contend that the home
made lunch OF the hunk OF bread and
a slice OF meat" style. gUlped down by I
the pupil eager for play. is decidedly /
injurious 10 health. The school Kitchen. /
they contend, would remedy much Of /
this evil
The friends or the school children also /
contend that some plan should be de. l
vised 10 check the sO-called "evii OF /
money spending prevalent among chill /
dren- Inquiry into this subject BY sew /
eral interested teachers last year dis !
closed that the number OF push carts /
offering hockey pokey," cakes. and can /
dies that gather around school buildings /
during recesses was constantly grow /
ing, as was the number Of school chill /
oren patrons with pennies 10 spend.
Would Remedy Evils.
Inssmuch as the teachers regard food /
from this source as seldom wholesome, |
they have sought 10 put a stop To this ]