Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-10

Gan Z chIld feeo on gems OF
= thought when graham gems are
what he needs? Omaha people are
asking themselves this question.
There was considerable discussion
of 1t last spring when Miss Lutte
Stearns of Milwaukee, supported by
local experts, made some startling
revelations about conditions here.
At that time a local dairy offered
to donate 81 1000 worth of milk for
d school lunches. During the sum-
iner months the subject has been
kept alive, and now just before the
opening of school, sentiment seems
to have crystalized around the idea
that the hungry child must be fed.
There are hundreds, if not thous-
ands of under-fed children in
Omaha This condition is not con-
fined 10 babies alone, whose plain
tive cry for food is being answered
this summer by The Bee milk and
ice fund. Public health nurses, doc
tors and social welfare workers in
the CITY agree that from 2 to IA per
cent of $1,000 Omaha school child
cnr are under -nourished.
Agitation for School Lunches.
A group OF earnest social service
workers met at the Chamber of
Commerce several months ago and
discussed this startling condition,
naming poverty and ignorance as
the chief causes. DR.. B. w. Chris
tie, who attended that meeting, says:
II was greatly surprised to know
so many school children are poorly
fed. We come in contact with that
class of people in our dispensaries,
but I did not know there were SO
many outside. The matter has been
before the executive committee Of
the Chamber of Commerc and
something definite will be done be-
fore fall. There can be no doubt
of the need for il"
Initial Steps in Omaha.
The initial step toward school
lunches in Omaha was taken by the
Omaha Woman's club in 1914 under
he leadership of Mrs. Edna R. Mel
son, then president of the club, and
now deceased.
Mrs. Mary E. Hayes, her prede-
cessor in Office, and one of the pio-
neer workers, says that the need for
school lunches being apparent, a
beginning was made in one Of the
South Side schools, under the lead
ership of Mrs. Nelson, assisted by
members Of the club. The work
was carried on for one year and was
decided success. 1t might have
continued had not its most devoted
sponsor died before the plan was
put on permanent basis. The club
donated fund to start with; indi-
vidlals, wholesalers and retailers
contributed, and children who were
able to pay for their food, did SO;
to others it was furnished without
charge.
ANY campaign for feeding the
should include plans for
education of parents in dietetic val
ues," says Mrs. Draper Smith, be
cause ignorance and shiftlessness are
as often responsible for mal-nutrl-
ton as poverty. There are from
3 100000 to 100000 under-nourish-
cd children in our country"
Miss l.. S. cambridge, head of. the
woman's branch Of the New York
and Tract society, says: 1T
IS the constant experience of our /
trained nurses that their services
are asked for children who need
bowl of soup or good dish OF oat-
meal with milk on it rather than
medicine"
Free Lunches vs.. Penny Lunches.
The word lunch" is a commod-
ious one. When used in connection
with schools, it may mean anything
from a single warm dish to a high
school cafeteria. The "free" lunch
is served without cost. The penny
lunch carries a charge, which may
be waived for those unable to pay.
The free lunch has distinct disad-
vantages from democratic point
Of view. 1t tends to pauperize the
recipients, to lower wages and relax
ties of family life.
The penny lunch, if properly man
aged, cannot be charged with the
same disadvantages. This type first
developed in France where restau-
rants, "Cantines Scolaires," were es.
tablished to which children and
teachers went at noon for a warm
meal. Pupils and instructors alike
passed through box office, where
thew secured tickets for their food.
Those who could not pay were given
tickets and the family name re,
corded. A school officer then called
1t the home and if the family was
found able to pay, they were COM
pelled to do so. If unable to meet
The situation, the child's ticket was
made to extend over the necessary
period. No publicity was given and
the delicacy of his feelings was thus
The presence of teachers at the