The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-05-26
THE HEALTH CENTER
Conducted by Viola Hahn. Public
Health Nurse
The Growing Child

ne OTOWiuS Ouuu
A series of articles presented t.
the readers of this paper by the,
United States Public Health Ser
vice, the Maryland State Board o!
Health and the County Health
Officer.
Inaugurating School Lunch Service
(Concluded)
The smaller schools, however, and
the one-room rural schools, where
the need is particularly great be-
cause so few children can go home
for hot dinner, should be able to
accomplish much, provided the
teacher has enthusiasm and per-
severance. Many of these schools
have Parent-Teacher Associations or
School Improvement Associations,
and some counties have home
demonstration or county nurse, or
both. II there is no community or
ganization to supply the small
equipment needed, the individual
parents and pupils must be educated
to the point of being determined to
carry the plan through. The teach-
er can easily enthuse the pupils, and
leaflets on health and nutrition pre-
pared by the State Board of Health
should be sent to the parents. The
county nurse. should visit the homes
where there are undernourished
children, and emphasize the value of
the school lunch. The medical in
spector, or county health officer,
should endeavor to secure the in
terest of the local Ladies Aid So
ciety, or other church organizations,
and the influence 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 hold
ing "fair" or social" SO popular
IN county districts. If only enough
money is secured to buy the neces-
sary cooking utensils, soap, oil
stove (if 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, tapioca with fruit, and
the like, should be attempted unless
special time can be given to the
work Of preparation. In this con-
nection, the domestic science in
structor or the home demonstration
will be invaluable in instructing the
pupils in the value of certain foods
and their preparation.
To be a success everything must
be planned ahead. Assignments of
pupils to certain duties should be
made week ahead, and the privi-
lege of having share in the prepa-
ration or serving of the lunch will
be eagerly coveted. No better OPP
portunity could be found for teach
ing habits Of neatness, cleanliness,
courtesy. good manners. thorough
mastication, and care of the teeth,
and food values. The danger of
flies is easy to teach in this connec-
ton. The Importance of washing
the hands before preparing, serving,
or eating food, can be emphasized
and tooth brush drill might be
given after eating.
The children should be required
to 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 and cocoa, might be purchased
with fund made up of few PEN
MES brought by each child. The
fresh foods, like vegetables, milk,
meat and fruit. might be supplied
BY the various families in turn, each
family being notified week ahead
of its turn to furnish the supplies.
An accurate account should be kept