Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-25

PHILADELPHIA is to have the distinction
l. of being the first city in the United States
to experiment with the penny lunches"
for school children on a comprehensive SCALE
This city will even improve the idea
which originated in England some five years
ago When the public schools open on
September T. or within few weeks there
after, the children of 25 new elementary
schools will be able to buy for three four
cents a nourshing lunch
An experiment in furnishing cheap lunches
for school children made by the Home and
School League, together with an investga-
ton of the conditions in the homes of thou
sands of this city's children of grammar
school age, led DIR. John P. CARRIER, Acting
Superintendent of Schools, to recommend
the innovation to the Board of Education.
This body was impressed with the report
of conditions found by Doctor CARRIER that
it made appropriation sufficient to give
the plan a flying start.
Breakfastless School Children
What Doctor CARRIER learned about the
living conditions of Philadelphias school
children astonished him just it will
tonsh all Philadelphians Here some
of the facts his investigation brought out:
Three per cent of all the pupils of the
grammar schools go to school without break
fast In other words, from p. m. to noon
the next day, total of 1S hours, they do
not have bite to eat
Ten per cent. of the pupils are obliged to
eat their breakfast at 6 a. m.
Between so and so per cent. of the chill
dren eat inadequate breakfast.
Seventy per cent. of the school children
of grammar school age drink coffee or tea
for breakfast.
other American cities, notably New York
have experimental with the penny lunch
idea, just as this city has done for several
years with the cooperation of the Home and
School League. But nowhere has such an
enterprise been undertaken as Philadelphia
will enter upon this fall School lunches to
be sold in penny portions" will be fur
nished In 25 new elementary schools. In
addition they will be maintained in the half
dozen or more schools where the system was
introduced by the Home and School League.
Each Of these school centres is now being
equipped with kitchen and a lunch counter,
where nourlshing and cheap meals can be
furnished the children at a cost of three or
four cents. The food will be furnished in
penny portions. This means that a bowl of
| soup may be purchased for a penny. One cent
will also buy portion of fruit, or q glass
| of milk, a cup of cocoa, rolls or crackers.
In other words. three cents will purchase a
very wholesome lunch, and there will be
enough variety to suit all tastes. This lunch
will be available at the morning recess hour.
Doctor CARRIER began his Investigation
about year ago 10 learn what the school
children eat, and particularly to learn TO
what extent the children are under-nour-
ished and how the schools might co-operate
with the home in securing a better under
standing Of foods and food values Doctor
Garber's Investigations took him to England
where the system started about Ave years
ago. and also led him to make a careful study
l OF what New York had achieved
Cooperation Between School and Home
II found" said Doctor CARRIER, that OF the
grammar school children three per cent.
come to school in the morning breakfastless
Think OF i'll This number OF children tryine
to study on stomachs that had had no food
since o'clock the night before and going is
hours in this condition. In some cases these
children contracted the habit of going with.
out their breakfasts because they arose late
and had to hurry. In few cases, l suppose
II was due to a desire TO economize ON food
on top OF this was found that ten per cent
Of the pupils breakfast at 6 o'clock, and then
try 10 go until 1880 before lunch. Thoss
who eat this early come largely from the in.
dustrial centres and poorer districts.
"But the number OF children who eat an
inadequate breakfast or eat foods whicI
don't go together or are lacking IN nutritiv,
values ts astonishing Between fifty and
sixty per cent OF these children eat what
should call An inadaotlafa hreahfaat - 1.