Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-03

factors which made for physical
health. l do not hesitate to say that
a child's food is the greatest aid to
physical growth and health, and in
deed, 1t is closely associated with
mental conditions. DR.. Hutchinson
says: Looking at 1t scientifically, 1t
would be an extremely important mat
ter to insure to every school child good.
sufficient, and proper meals"
This might be accomplished by
either of two methods; by the educa-
tional authorities carrying on a Wig
orous and persistent educational cam
paign among parents, or by the state
setting q definite standard Of bodily
nurture for children during the school
age. This would have it's educational
value, and without such a standard the
state cannot make a definite demand
upon parents. The law requires that
we send our children to school, and
would 1t not be we'll to add to this some
requirement for feeding children? It
would not prove harmful to the child,
who Is properly fed. and would mate
rally assist the child who is poorly fed.
Another solution to the situation Is
tlAthS VI ohPRAJAA6 oShO1A AoASAO@t 4AAAS
provides for the child only while he is
away from home but at that 1t is to be
encouraged This idea has been in
vogue for the past half century in some
European countries, and for score of
years in some Of the larger cities of
America It has been handled to the
full satisfaction of those in charge.
and to the great benefit Of the child.
I consider that this work cannot be
carried too far. and believe that 1t
should be made a permanent part Of
the school work In every city village,
and community. 1t would overcome
many of the evils OF the lunch box
and the street lunches. Many chill
dren who go to school eat little or no
breakfast. Often breakfast consists Of
coffee and greasy fried foods, which
are worse for the child's health than
no breakfast. and 1t seems only fair to
the child to provide for him good noon
meal. This many children fail to get,
for the distance from school requires
that they carry a lunch, which entails
care upon the often already overworl1ed
mother, and in many cases the lunch is
poorly arranged. At best, it is only an
excuse for "a meal, or at least that is
the opinion OF the hungry, growing
youngster. Many parents instead of
providing lunches for their children,
give them small amounts OF money
with which to buy food; and this the
children often spend for trashy nick
tnacks, or for food that is neither
wholesome nor nutritious. For this the
children should not be criticized, for
| they know no better. The push cart
and the corner store usually get the
money, and they with their cheap con-
fectfons and trashy food stuffs should
be treated as a menace to any school
community. These conditions are a
cruel injustice to our school children,
and the remedy for them lies in the
school dining room where every child
can get a good, wholesome, square
well balanced dinner. It would be an
educational measure, 1t would save
money, 1t would preserve health, II
would save life. However, this scheme
only provides for the noon meal, and
it will be a score of years before 1t is
universally established, and II may
never be worked out satisfactorily, ex-
cept in the larger cities. Hence some
practical advice on children's diet and
school lunches. believe, will be CRATE
fully received by many mothers.
Eminent physicians claim that break
fast for school children Is always ar
important meal, and should be care
fully selected and well prepared. AS
an evidence of what many schoo,
children's breakfasts consist give here