Morris tribune., 1920-12-31
PUPILS ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER HOT LUNCH PLAN
Less Underweight Conditions Found
By County Nurse Among School
, Children During December

nursing committee or the stevens
County Chapter of the Red Cross on
Wednesday afternoon of last week,
the following report was submitted
by Miss Irene Labrie, county health
nurse:
During the month of December
thirteen rural schools were visited
and the pupils examined, and two
days were spent at the Parochial
School. In all 291 pupils were ex-
amihed. 1t is quite gratifying to
notice that there are not as many
children so distinctly underweight.
There has not been a marked in
crease in the general weight, just
slight Improvement which has taken
many children out Of the 10 per cent
class but not UP to standard. This
is in part due to the natural tend
ency to increase in weight with cool
er weather, heavier clothing and we
hope the rest is due in some small
part to the talks Of the nurse on the
harmfulness Of coffee for the growing
child and the nutritional clinics; the
Health Crusade; and to the interest
aroused in the children of weighing
and measuring themselves monthly
and recording their weight on the
class room weight record.
Another thing we hope to gain
great benefit from are the hot noon
lunches, equipment for which has
been placed in IL Of the rural schools
and there promise to be few more
after the holidays. No school that
has once had we'll equipped and
managed hot lunch plan will ever
give it up willingly, if the statement
OF one of the pupils is any indica-
t1on of the pupils in general. When
asked how she liked the hot lunches.
(th1s was one Of the older girls upon
whom fell a great deal of the re-
sponsibility) she said, II wouldn't
do without it if I could help it even
II had to do all the work myself
which don't, but I know how much
better l feel and how much more T
get out Of my afternoon lessons now
and1 hefeel that it is mostly due to
the warm lunch" It is hoped that
the school officers will see the ben
etits and cooperate with the teach
ers as much as possible. Owing to
heavy taxes and recent repairs some
boards are unable to help financially.
but if they support the teacher in her
eHorts to earn the money, and get
the water necessary for the work
everything will work out splendidly.
During the last week two children
have returned from the Phalen PARK
Hospital for crippled children. It
will be remembered that the nurse
with one Of the county physicians
took these children down to st. Paul
In July for an examination to de-
term1ne whether they could he
helped. Walter Hadler was the first
child to go. He had been suffering
from an old tubercular abcess of the
left hip, resulting in shortening of
the limb so that he could not put his
foot on the floor. Walter returned
this last week, using both legs and
no crutches only when in a hurry
as the cast has only been off two
weeks. To say that his is a happv'
and grateful family is speaking mild
Iy. Reed Burns went down in Nov
ember. A case of congenital hin dis
location (double) but because of his
age and fatness, manipulation to re-
duce the dislocation was impossible.
so retaining braces were fitted to
stabilize his hips and keep them in
place when he walks, thus saving his
back which was being strained
Considerable time was spent in
planning and helping direct the
Christmas Seal Sale, Of which the
nurse was co-director with Mrs
Nash. The result this year will not
be as favorable as last year. owing
to the fact that last year every one
was working for the county nurse
which they now have and the finan-
ctal stringency we are all feeling and
IN a great measure too, because the
nurse could not devote as much time
as the work demanded and do her
own work too. In all we hope to
take In about $400, at least half of
which will be used in the county for
health work and possibly a larger
percentage will be given when head
quarters has made the division.
The statistical report is as follows:
Defective vision ..............1 III
Granulated eyelids s...........-1e -1e
Crossed eyes --.--...... 2
Defective hearing .......3 z
Defective breathing -.:--...63
Defective throat ....---.-.-. TX
Cervical adenitis ........ 90
Defective teeth ....... 226
No tooth brush ......... S7
~