New-York tribune., 1909-11-14

figure II the thing is to be supporting,
for the charge child Is only three cents
Polenta i favorite dish with the Italian
children. To make enough for 125 children
the basis figured On--takes eleven
pounds Of cornmeal. two pounds OF cheese
and half a gallon Of oil. Ten and a half
loaves of bread arc eaten with this. only
one dish is served at a luncheon, but the
child has all he or che wants and plenty
OF bread Menestrs is another Italian dish,
but not 81 nouTishinS as polenta. Enough
for l25 children requires fifty pounds Of
potatoes. half a bUshel of cabbages. twenty
big onions. head of celery. a pound of
lard and a pint OF oil, and it costs s. 81.
Bean soup. a dish sometimes served at
the Irish school, can be got UP az the rate
OF s. l. for Is children. but il would never
do for Russian school. because there is
salt pork in H. Boiled rice. with milk
sugar and mOlassCs. is another success at
the Irish school.
The intention" Dr. Vile said lis 10
have the school luncheon bring the chiId's
daily need of nOurishment up To- the stand
ard required for efficiency The Italian
parents try 10 feed their children what
they think they need: Italians will sacrf-
flee shelter 10 food; but their meals abound
too much in starch. oil and sugar Most
Italian children look plump, but they re
dreadfully prone To be bowlegged I never
saw skinny Italian child that wasn't
sick. us different with the Irish. They
can be skinny and we'll
Jewish mothers want TO provide well.
but they depend too much on the deIica-
lessen shops. Aud they give their chill
dron pennies TO buy things from the side
walk vendors for lunch. and what horrible
things these children eat-pink ice cream.
pickles. chalk. shOestrinss."
BEHIND OTHER COUNTRIES.
DIT. Vile was asked IL the children
wouldn't be likely 10 go on buying these
fascinating indigestioles with the pennies
given them for school IuncheOns.
That is one of the things we are expert
menting To fnd OUT he said. 1t might
be best 10 sell tickets 20 the mothers But
we'd much rather have the child trusted
If possible. 10 bring his pennies and buy
lis ticket.
"Other countries are ahead OF US in the
matter of school luncheons" Or. Vile went
on. 'In the public schools Of Stockholm.
Sweden. the children prepare their luncheon
under the supervision of teachers. The
educational act passed in England in 1905
enables local school authorities 10 use pub
lie money or 10 levy taxes 10 supply school
luncheOns. Paris sells its school children
luncheOns 81 a very low rate
The Hebrew Technical school in this
city, has Its pupils prepare luncheon for the
teachers. They get the training but not
the good food they need LunCheons are
served in the Horace Mann School and a
few others but what we want to do is 70
secure proper feeding for the sreat mass II
elementary public school chtldren-thosa
who make up 80 q. per cent OF New Yors's
school population. We are convinced It
would De a great saving not only i'm the
greater efficiency Of the child. but in the
nerves of the teacher for every Iaggard.
dulI. backward child is 81 much added %
the trials and burdens Of the teacher. Feed
ing should 80 along with education. The
brain can't work without good food"
The New York school luncheon commit
to- had lis inception with Miss Mabel KIT
tredge. of the Model Housekeeping Centres.
aud Alrg. Ernest Poole. The other meul-
hers. besides Dr. Vile. are Miss Helen kinns
and Miss Adelaide Nutting. Of Teachers
College: Miss lillian Wald. of the Nurses
settlement; Mrs. Mary Simkowi;ch, Of
Greenwich House; Dr. Sucddcr. Dr. 4.
Wood and Dr. sherman. of Columbia l..
Wade Crompton and John Doty and George
III. Chatteld. the principals Of the schools
where the experiment 3, being tried. II IL
planned TO have the mothers cooperate. and
in one ot these schools a committee OF
mothers has been formed. The money for
the Iuncheons comes entirely from private
sources.