The Washington times., 1921-12-03
UndernOHrished School
Children of Washington
BY BILL PRICE.


More than 30 per cent of the school children of Wash
ington are underweight almost wholly due to under
nourishment from improper feeding and improper
health habits
This startling fact has been ascertained through .
careful survey made by DR.. MURPHY, of the local
health office, and it calls for the immediate and
ceasing attention of parents and school authorities.
The Parent Teachers Association Of the city has found
that in one public school nearly SO per cent of the
pupils underweight.
When realize that more than Is per cent of the
young of the country were rejected for physical
defects during the last war; should be impressed
with the duty all to the boys and girls who
will be the nations future reliance in peaceful
pursuits
In four public schools il the weathiest section of
Pittsburgh it found that 20 per cent of the children
underfed and consequently untitled for proper
mental development.
Among the poor of many great cities the children are
undeed because their parents unable to give them
the food they need but in Washington poverty is not
the main of 30 out of 100 children fighting the
battles of life without the chance they should have In
this beautiful Capital of the Nation poverty is not
widespread in many other places but there little
boys and girls who do hungry to their studies In our
public schools Congress and the municipal govern
should see that this is and that every boy
and girl who needs it should have hot soups milk bread
and other nourshng foods free at the monday
Five groups of causes for undernourshed Washing
ton school children explain situation here which de-
mands the most serious attention from parents and
school authorities who may be able to conduct edu
cationa campaign that will bring improvement:
1. Retardng physical defects such adenoids ton
ss defective teeth that scatter posons through the
system, pulmonary gandular affections, eye strain,
ETC., all interfering with nutrition.
2. Improper health habits, the most dangerous Of
which are insufficient rest and improper ventilation.
Instead of going to bed at reasonable hours at night
and getting refreshing rest hundreds of young out
late at the movies at dances, parties other acvi-
ties possibly reading to late hours Thousands sleep
in stuffy rooms that unventilated.
3. Improper food habits which include the overuse
of candies coffee tea etc. and either failure by parents
to give the proper food their inability to compel
their children to eat what is best for them.
Overfatigue from varying causes, generally due to
lack of home control.
5. Poverty, where children do not have the foods
that essential to their physical and mental growth
Improper health and food habits, with overactivtes
and lack of rest send boys and girls to their schools
with nervous systems upset and unable to cope with
their studies-so far from normal that they slump
down in their Seats do abnormal things and plainly
unified for the mental efforts they must give to their
school duties Outwardly they do not appear to be ill.,
but it is impossible for them to make educational head
way in competition with husky boys and girls who
so nearly physically perfect that they ready for all
tasks.
As to proper foods, the chief insistence of health
officials is that children should have pure milk
than they get green vegetables substantial
foods such as hominy gits, old-fashoned meal mush
and milk rice, soups beans, peas butter and fats.