Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-04
VAN REYPEN'S
HOUSEHOLD LETTER.
Feeding the School Children.

York, that out OF 5C b,525 chill zen
enrolled in the city schools, 222 21I
we're i'll n1rrished end that IN 'Le
S, hools of the Whole country there
were approximately 1,472,895 nm
derfed pupils. The effect of insult
ficient nourishment is manifested in
stunted growth both physical and
mental as well as in a lowering of
the moral tone.
Ribot states that memory is
directly dependent upon nutrition.
The percentage of underfed children
in the public schools varies but is
always sufficient to appreciable
lower grades, as school standards
must be adapted to the average ca
pacity of the pupils, hence the
progress of the normal child is re-
tarded by his ill nourished neighbor.
The state is especially concerned
with the proper nourishment of the
body and minds of it's future citi-
zens, body and mind being simply
different aspects of the same prob
lem, which must be solved in some
practical effectual manner.
Individual Initiative.
School feeding is a question that
is receiving earnest attention from
educators and public spirited men
and women all over the land, espec-
tally in the more congested city dis
tricts. The highest percentage OF
half-starved children is found in the
lower ungraded or kindergarten
classes. The trouble diminishing
rapidly in the older grades. In this
movement, as in almost every other
grated on the existing school sys-
TEN, private initiative is needed to
demonstrate its practically before
civic and state authorities can be
induced to support it. Kinder
gardens and the teaching of Domes-
tic Science and Mechanical Training
were all first tried out under private
auspices before being adopted by the
state.
Pauperism and Glass Distinction.
Pauperism and the introduction
of class distinction among the school
children are the two great obstacles
to be met and overcome, but we
have the examples of cities abroad,
as well as several reasonably sue
cessful experiments in our own
schools to serve as guides in the
work. In Germany, where a pater-
nal government scientifically cares
for the welfare of all classes of it's
citizens who are unable to fully
guard their .own interests, school
lunches gratis, or at nominal cost,
are regularly furnished. In Paris
the feeding of the children Of
pauper parents-those helped by
the city-was begun in 1880 and
quickly changed to include all the
children in certain schools. In
Christiania and other cities, Norway
furnishes nourishing noon meal to
all the school children who desire it,
Where all are equally welcome
none is a pauper" they say.
In American Cities.
Associations of private citizens
here have already accomplished
enough to point the way to more
comprehensive work. One school
in New York tried the plan of hav-
ing children in the ungraded classes
bring bread to school, and then
furnishing milk of excellent quality
at penny a glass. The food pre-
pared in the cooking classes was
also given to the younger children
and teachers reported a marked
beneficial effect. Some two years
ago the Salvation Army opened sew
eral free lunch rooms for the school
children which were not as success
full, however, as lunches served un-
der the management Of committees
of public spirited women. Perhaps
the tact shown in adapting the menu
to the national tastes of the chill
dren accounted for the difference.
In one district where Italians pre-
vailed, macaront was much ap-
preciated dish, while in an Irish
neighborhood good beef stew was
acceptable.
In Chicago.
In Chicago one of the most sue
cessful lunches is served at the
Goldsmith School in a Jewish neigh
borhood The Johanna Lodge, an
Association of women, has, since
1902, furnished from 40 to 20
meals a day at cost of about $3.50
per year. The plan here is to serve
meals Immediately after the open of
/ the sessions at 9 O'Clock, and at one,
10 pupils designated by the teachers.
A great Improvement in health and
progress has resulted, especially in
the Kindergarten classes.
In Boston.
Boston has perhaps made the
greatest progress in school lunches.