Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-18
Maine Foremost
School Lunch
Movement
(Florence NJ. Hale. State Agent FOL

(F1orence NJ. Hale, State Agent IoT
Rural Education
In 2479 of Names rural schools the
noon hour is properly SUPERVISED py
the regular teacher! In 393 schoois
hot lunch is being served at noon.
These figures show that Maine is IN
the front rank along the line of one of
the most sensible and. worth while
movements in rural education.
In recent years there has been no
forward step more sane and progress
which is being waged for the proper
supervising of the noon hour in those
schools where pupils come from dis
lance and are obliged. therefore. to re-
main at the school-house during the
noon intermission.. Those persons
who have been pupils in rural schools
themselves and those who have been
teachers in such schools realize that
with dangers to the school child than
this noon hour il it is not properly
supervised. Children of all ages. as
sociating together in isolated regions
after hastily eaten lunch, are likely
to fall into bad habits both morally
and mentally for, while much of the
old has passed away in the changing
order of things. one old proverb at
least still remains true today and. as
of yore, Satan finds some mischief
still for idle hands to do" Therefore.
proper arrangement of the noon hour
is we'll timed. Maine was one of the
first states to get behind this move
ment. A recent survey made by the
sents figures which show that Maine
is now In the front ranks of those
hours: In June 1920. out Of 247s rural
found that 1920 teachers remain dur
ing the noon hour and definitely super
wise it's activities. In a number of
those not reporting such action. 1t
was stated that no children remained
at noon in those schools. Thus. 1t is
seen that in considerably over half of
the rural schools of the State, there is
careful supervision of the noon hour
by tho regular teachers.
Not only has Maine worked unceas-
ingly for, noon hour suparvis ion but,
as state. much progress has been
the health of the country child by Civ
ing attention to proper diet for his
lunch hour in the shape of providing
at least one appetizing hot dish each
serving of the lunch, 1t was away
back in 1913 at the annual conference
of school superintendent at Castine
that the proper use of the noon inter-
of the noon lunch received especial
attention as part of the report of
the committee on resolutions. Fol
lowing the adoption of appropriate
1913. several superintendents, of
the state now in service were pio-
neers in the establishment of the
noon. lunch program in day when
people generally ridiculed the idea of
cooking dinners" as "a part of the
school curriculum. Such superintend-
ents as w. Q. Chase, Old Town. A. w.
f9n w thsn OF @est Mop
formerly of Norway. with others were
among the first school men some years
ago to introduce this important fea-
w Powsrs Sas was aso
an early advocate fthis valuable
movement and the Machas Normal
school has done much to stimulate
progress, especially along the line of
noon lunch itself. Miss Louisa Pryor,
formerly dean of Mason Institute as
chairman of the Home Economics
Committee of the State Federation of,
Women's Clubs, secured the co-opera-
tion of that body and thereby helped
to interest the mothers Of the State in
this. important phase of child welfare
During all this time the State depart
ment Of education. through bulletins.
news items. teachers meetings and
pamphlets. has actively pushed for
ward this valuable work Miss
Marion Kicker, formerly State director
of Home Economics, and Miss Ber-
nardine Cooney. the present State
director, have lent valuable support
schools of the State as a whole at the
present time are training their pupils
to carry on the proper supervision of
the noon hour; Valuable aid has been
of the University of Maine In 1918.
through friendly arrangement of co,
operation between the University and
the State department of education. the
services OF the extension agents of the
University became available to demon
strate the proper methods of carving
out the noon lunch idea and splendid
service has been rendered by them in
their several localities in assisting the
teachers and school superintendent to
carry on this work successfully. That
these efforts on the part of all these
aagenSiese nave avaiied much is shown
mentioned above when Of the 1920
teachers reported by their superin-
tendents as efficiently supervising the
ing at least one hot dish regularly
during the entire year, while another
q are reported as serving hot dish
during the winter months only.
State Superintendent DR.. A. O.
Thomas considers this matter of noon
supervision one of the most inpor-
tant features of rural school organiza-
ton and is at the present time urging
tntendents make the supervision of
the noon hour one of the requirements
in engaging t tea for their rural
Scltocis. ne state department,
through the Maine School Bulletin
issued monthly by the department.
has sought to constantly keep the i'm
portance Of the noon hour and the hot
lunch before the school people and
citizens of the State. Those desiring
information as to the practical
methods OF carrying on the lunch or
suggestions for presenting it to the
public may find such information nv
referring to the following editions Of
the Maine School Bulletin: October
and December 1918, February and
March 1919. March, April and June
1920. A pamphlet, THE Noon Hour"
and a booklet school Luncheons.n
have been widely circulated. while a
in Rural Schools" will soon be ready
for distribution and may be obtained
free of charge by writing to the State
Department OF Education, Augusta,