The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-15
school Food Needed.

Now, you're asking me questions
mat Will get me in a lot Of trouble"
he protested. But want to say" he
told Mr.. Collins, chat this IS more
than a question of $4,000. II ought
TO be $1,000, 000-it would be worth s., =
100000 from the economic side to give
5000. wholesome food TO our school
children every noon. It would be say
ing that much to the hospitals and
other institutions that the taxpayers
support. 1t isn't merely a matter of
hxing up cheese sandwich for a child
1t Is to educate the children in food
values. and they in turn would educate
their parents. It's a shame to spend
the time Of city officials arguing such
a self-evident proposition, and IL these
people don't handle the lunches right"
DR.. Copeland finished with a laugh In
the general direction of the B. Of z.
people. Just hand 1t over to the Health
Department, Mr.. Chairman, and we'll
do IT"
Miss Jean recited briefly how last
fall when 1t became evident that the
$4,000 referred to above would not be
available untn January /, certain pub
lie spirited persons. with the approval
OF President Somers OF the Board Of
Education, engaged an expert, DR.. Alice
Boughton, who put municipal school
lunches on self-supporting basis in
Philadelphia, to make a survey of the
field In New York and to outline a plan.
DR.. Boughton's report was accepted,
she said, and the suggestion made by
members OF the board that Dr. Bough-
ton be engaged to manage the work
But here the thing languished In the
committee on school lunches and Or
Boughton has now gone to other fields
However. Miss Jean pleaded ardently
that some capable head be found at
once and put in charge. It was the
more necessary, she said, because the
private agency which is now running
lunches in a few of the scholastic
school lunch committee Of the A. l..
c. P.-wishes TO give up tho work
April !. though they will keep on till
the end OF this school year II they must
Plan to Aid Children.
Chairman Collins took some time Off
here to say bitter things about tho "pri-
Vate agency which would desert the chill
dren just because the city had appro-
priated a little drop in the bucket, $50
600. to enlarge the work" Then he gave
ear to Mr.. Straubmuller and Mrs Muir
ray. Mr.. Straubmuller, who said he had
been designated by the Superintendent
or Schools to start the campaign against
malnutrition, told the committee that
since Wednesday he had been drawing
up the plan for lunches in the proba-
t!onary school He said that they
wouldn't be limited for money-the
Board Of Education could spend as much
as II needed.
"But we don't want to interfere with
family life" he explained. "If a child
can eat at home that is the place for Il
to eat. Those who do not get the right
food at home are our concern"
II don't think this should be a matter
OF investigating to find the hungry chill
dren and feeding Just them" cried Miss
Jean, jumping up. 1T ought to be a
great big educational plan, taking In all
49,, 'ren, teaching them 10 eat the
kind q food that wr&. AXE them good.
strong Americans"
II understand the Board of Education
has Bureau OF Correct Speech" So
cialist Alderman Vladeck interposed 1T
ought TO be able TO AFFORD n Bureau of
School Lunches"
Miss Grace Schermerhorn, head of the
p s, domestic science department was
an interested listener, but did not take
part in the discussion. 1t was minated
by some of the women present that the
fight was really over the s. 600 salary
which would go 10 the outside expert II
one were engag ed.