Evening journal., 1910-04-02
HUBBUB OVER
LUNCH PERIOD
AluHlnuS in Letter Advocates
the HaIf-HOur MONDAY
Recess
BOYS MAY MARCH ON
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Whether TO strike or not to strike
next Monday is the question which is
agitating the minds Of the students at
the Wilmington High School, who are
opposed TO the longer noon recess and
extended afternoon period. The new
order goes into effect on Monday 1t
Is not likely that there will be any
strike Of the pupils. however.
There is another proposition which
is now receiving the consideration Of
the students and that is for all Of them
10 march in a body to the rooms of
the Board Of Education on the next
meeting night as a protest to the
boards action. Just what will be
done. however, has not yet been de-
cided.
The following letter has been re-
ceived.
Alumnus Airs His Views.
Editor Of THE EVENING JOURNAL;
I am much Interested in the agitation
over the proposal of the Board of Edu
cation TO extend the luncheon period at
the High School to one hour, and eN-
tending the afternoon session to three
o'clock Instead of 2.30. As an alumnus
of the High School I feel, and ! be-
lieve many others do, that the half
hour period at noon would be more
satisfactory To the pupils. IL is one
of the time honored customs that the
boys will ina it difficult to get away
from So far as is concerned the
physical benefit that will' accrue from
the hour lunch period, as compared
with the half-hour recess, l hardly
think il would he appreciable
If the members of the Board Of Edu-
cation will look around them they will
observe hundreds of High School
graduates who emerged from the half
hour lunch period routine Of two or
three years without falling victims to
the ravages of indigestion or the imag
mary ailments that a few persons have
pictured so graphically as to sway the
boards members. There is DR.. John
Palmer. Jr.. or DR.. II. G. Buckmaster,
of the Board Of Education, both of
them honored alumni Of the High
School. They don't show any harm
ful effects physically of the half-hour
lunch period.
And if further illustration may be
desired. consider John ]. Monaghan
the weu-knoWn real estate operator
who is one Of the largest, II not the
largest, men physically in Delaware
and a picture Of health. I know per
sonally that Mr.. Monaghan when q
pupil at the High School at Eighth
and Adams streets made it a custom
daily to go to his home at Fourth anc
Madison streets, get his lunch ana re.
turn to the school, all inside Of half al
bour Can anybody say that Mr.
Monaghan was wrecked physically by
his daily half-hour noon-day routine
a H.
Then there is Councilman John j
NcC;overn, of the Eleventh ward. Fol
many years the record for the mile run
established by Mr.. McGovern while q
pupil at the Eighth and Adams Higi
school was never equalled by an,
athlete Of that institution. In fact
Mr. McGovern's figures stood as thu
mile run record for Delaware. Ye
each day Mr.. McGovern ran from tn
Hieh School to his home at Chestnu
and Monroe streets, ate his lunch ant
returned to the school. all inside o
half an hour. Had il the harmful et
feet the educational fathers imagine
could Mr.. McGovern have been sucl
n successful athlete or have retainel
the excellent health he still possesses
Then there were DR.. James r. Ma
hairy and Irving Chandler, both o
whom while High School pupils he'll
the championship of Delaware in TN
one-bundred Yards dash. They wer
both reared and trained under the half
hour lunch period regime. Instance tn
many others who achieved fame "a
athletes while pupils at the schoC
avaHing themselves Of the half-hou
lunch period Look at the many robus
men i'm professional life who doubles
look back upon the half-hour lunc
period as a tradition that added zes
TO their school days. Was Judg
Harry p. Joslyn impaired physically b
The half-hour lunch. Look at him 70
dav. Was Herbert L. Rice, prothonc
tarv Of New Castle county? Was ID
George w. x. Forrest, or DR.. Swithl
Chandler. or City Treasurer Howar
d. Ross. or Bernard Dougherty or Cit
solicitor John w Brady, or his assist
ant. Armon d. Chaytor, Jr., or othel
vhom 1 might recall.
There is another side that might
considered, too. IL is the econom
phase of the uuestion-whether man
n parent who really keeps a boy in II
High School at a sacrifice can amor
40 do so should the boy be deprive
hecause of the extension of the atte'
noon session. of the two or three do
lars a week he now is enabled to ear
after school hours.
Alumnus.
wilmington. Del. April 1.