The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-10
HOW TO FEED 4 SCHOOL CHILD
UNCLE SAM ISSUES A REPORT
on QUALITY AND QUANTITY.

(ATOUne NUM- VuO1 nC0A InvB8uB0 vLnR
the Subject, Tells tho Coed Results
That Follow Meals Supplied by tho
schoo,-sampie Menus fer . Day.
The United States Bureau OF Educa-
ton in the current issue OF Its Bulletin
laws before the public q detailed study
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
~calories OF heat every schoolboy should
extract from said basket.
The article was prepared by Caroline
l.. Hunt at the request of Elmer Ellsworth
Brown. United States Commissioners Of
Education. Mr.. Brown. In a letter to
the Secretary OF the Interior 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. 1t is intended
merely to contribute to an intelligent
discussion Of such plans.
1t has seemed to me- writes the COM
missioner. that a wider knowledge OF
numerous facts relative to wholesome
meals for school children and the whole
some serving Of such meals could be made
10 help materially In the promotion also
Of their mental health and vigor. This
conviction has been deepened by consul
tation with the representatives OF several
of the more important voluntary organi-
yations in this country which concern
themselves with matters affecting the
welfare Of children
Miss Hunt tells OF results attained In
some Of the New York schools where the
children are fed.
In the Speyer School, a primary school
Of New York city set aside as 4 practice
school for Teachers College. every child
from the kindergarten to the third grade
is given a cup of milk aud u graham cracker
At half past 10 O'Clock. The children first
rest for a few minutes with tn eir heads
down on their desks. A paper napkin Ii
then placed on each desk and the milk and
~craciers are passed. Another napkin Ia
given for use by the child. IL the child Ia
able he pays IS cents a month for this food.
but il unable he is fed with the others and
the knowledge OF his poverty Is not allowed
10 reach the other children.
The principal OF the school reports hat
A. Inc year bINhNCtS tuttc 70 diWayb -
marked improvement In the condition Of
the children. probably due to the fact that
the food which they take between meals
H. Of wholesome character and is taken
with regularity. She reports also Q great
Improvement in table manners. Children
VINO begin by scattering crumbs quite reck-
lessly end by eating In very orderly fashion.
Al the Hebrew Technical School for
Girls. also in this city, every girl receives
a cup OF milk or cocoa in the middle OF
the forenoon and at 100 soup Is sold
BY the school at one cent a bowl.
Here also says Miss Hunt. "a marked
Improvement in physical condition Is
noted as the school year advances
These examples are cited to show that
i, has been found helpful to give food to
young pupils during the school session
even when there is no reason 70 suppose
they are suffering from undertaking.
Miss Hunt has observed that plans for
feeding children In schools la always
originated with those who are In charge
Of backward students. The writer goes
on:
Miss Farrell, now in ch arge OF tho under
rraduate schools OF New York city. reports
an tHt6EtStluk cApcI Tx ~ thouO ny u %
when teacher OF the special class in Public
school I. 1t was discovered that tho boys
in this class were usually lock cd out Of home
during the day because their mothers were
Mt work. They we're given a lew pennies
10 buy food. These pennies had usually
leon spent for such things as Ice or am sand
witches and ginger beer. Miss Farrell be-
gan 10 scrvs milk at one cent a glass and to
encourage the boys TO bring a bread and but
ter sandwich from home. Later the food
which was prepared by the cooking classes
vas served 10 these boys. The cost OF the
domestc science work was not increased and
the Lessons became more real because OF
their usetulne's.
Miss Hunt adds that a. the twelve boys
in this class OF Miss Farrells that sat down
10 the first school luncheon only one
had sat at a table with his family and that
one had brought the custom from q con-
valescent school in New jersey whore
he had been n resident for a year.
Miss Hunt thinks that a school lunch
80 conducted that children themselves
lay for the food while the school
hoard paws for the educational part, for
ali that ~ necessary for training and for
The education that is given by tasteful
SURROUNDINGS, Is the most effective way
Of ~diatributing relief In case Of necessity.
Miss Hunt thinks that the American
altitude toward this subject Of serving
school meals may have to undergo a
change. Our present attitude OF OBJ
lection to having money taken from the
public treasury for this purpose indicates
that we have incorrect ideas about
food
VI food says Miss Hunt, were looked
upon as vitality connected with health
and efficiency instead OF as a means OF
gratifying the palate we should prob
ably think more about the desirability
Il lmparting mental and physical. vigor
10 the. mex generation and much less
ABOUT the possibility OF pauperlzing
fathers and mothers by the process"
The ideal school meal as Miss Hunt
fees it you'd he. both as to quality OF food
and the manner of serving, somewhere
between the ordinary meal OF the poor
and the meal Of those who are free to yield
themselves 10 luxury.
We are likely says the writer. ito
think Of public school meals as a means
"f lnstructing the children Of the poor In
table manners; they might, however.
lie quite as valuable In accustoming the
children Of the rich to rational SIM
pIio'tv."
The pushcart pedlers in their quest for
The pennies OF school children con-
%et'ute in themselves a serious problem
IN New York, according to the writer's
views She says.
once tooi the number OF the license OF
'ari from which ] had seen scores OF
"hldr"n eating. went 10 the City Hall and
got m. uame and address Of the owner.