The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-10
Lunch Rooms

The smaller schools, however, and
the one-room rural schools, where the
need is particularly great because so
few children can go home for a hot
dinner, should be able to accomplish
much. provided the teacher has enthu-
siasm and perseverance. Many of these
schools have Parent Teacher Associa-
tions or School Improvement Associa-
tions, and some counties have a home
demonstration or county nurse, or both.
If there is no community organization
to supply the small equipment needed,
the individual parents and pupils must
be educated to the point of being de-
termined to carry the plan through.
The teacher can easily enthuse the
pupils, and leaflets on health and nu-
of Health should be sent to the pa
rents. The county nurse should visit
the homes where there are undernour-
ished children, and emphasize the
value of the school lunch. The med
ical inspector, or county health officer,
should endeavor to secure the interest
Of the local Ladies Aid Society, or
other church organization and the in
fluence of the minister should always
be sought. If the children wish to
have some part in the purchase of
equipment they might join with the
teacher in holding fair or social
so popular in country districts. If
only enough money is secured to buy
the necessary cooking utensils, soap
oil stove Gf necessary dish towels.
and other materials each child can
bring from home his own table utensils
to be left at school during the term.
Only such simple foods as soups, rice.
hominy, vegetables, cocoa, milk, ta-
pioca with fruit, and the like, should
be attempted unless special time can
be given to the work of preparation.
In this connection, the domestic
science instructor or the home demon
strator will be invaluable in instruct
ing the pupils in the value of certain
foods and their preparation.
To be success everything must be
planned ahead, and the privilege of
having a share in the preparation or
serving OF the lunch will be eagerly
coveted. No better opportunity could
be found for teaching habits of neat
ness, cleanliness, courtesy, good man
ners, thorough mastication, and care
Of the teeth, and food values. The
danger of flies are easy to teach in
this connection. The Importance of
washing the hands before preparing,
serving or eating food can be en-
phasized and a tooth brush drill might
be given after eating.
-;
pay for their lunches when they can
afford to, and those who do not pay
should not be known to the others
The staple supplies like sugar ard
cocoa might be purchased with fund
made up of a few pennies brough. by
each child. The fresh foods, like vege-
tables, milk, meat and fruit might be
supplied by the various families in
turn, each family being notified week
ahead of its turn to furnish rhe sup
plies. An accurate account should be
kept Of all supplies furnished and
bought so that each family may bear
its share in proportions to the num-
Der of children in school This keep
ing of accounts will furnish good ma
teria1 for teaching arithmetic to the
children,
The gain in weight of undernourish-
ed children, the training in refined
social habits, hygienic living coopSra-
ton. and community spirit will pcob.
ably well repay all efforts expended.