The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-11-16

The Parent Teachers Association can
be a great help here. II Is wise TO
start with only one hot dish pre-
pared at school to supplement the
cold lunch brought from home. Co
Goa or any cream vegetable soup 10
suitable for the hot dish. II Is best
to use milk whenever possible, espe-
cially II the children are not fond Of
drinking II. We are taking II for
granted that the teacher knows some
thing about cooking food values, the
making Of menus for balanced meals,
etc. II there are no cooking classes
in the school, the whole school, boys
as well as girls, can share the duties.
The school can be divided into groups
or teams, thus usiLg to advantage
the rivalry instinct BY having
three groups serving for a week at
time for one day each week, the
work can be done systematically.
The duties Of group one would be
to plan lunches for week aheai
and estimate ~ nearly ~ possible
the amount needed for the required
number Of servings; make out q list
Of the supplies needed; prepare the
hot food and serve IL So far ~
the teacher has time the children
should be instructed N 10 Why each
step is taken In the preparation Of .
certain dish.
Group two would be housekeepers
They would see that each desk was
wiped with q damp cloth before they
put the oil cloth or paper napkin OF:
II. This should I've done while the
pupils are washing their hands.
They should also see that the room Is
well aired before the serving begins.
They would see that wuter was heat
! ed for dish washing. After lunch
they would wash and put away the
dishes and sweep the floor. II oil.
cloth is used. they will see that Il In
cleaned and put away. II napkins
are used instead. the children should
drop them in the waste basket rs
they pass out to play.
The third group would be the book
keepers. II supplies had 10 Be pur-
chased, they would buy thsm or
credit the children with the same II
they were brought from home. They
would keep a record Of the Number
served each day, keeping an account
Of the cost Of recipes used and re-
oeivirg money II Payments were
made.
There is not room here 10 give
details for serving the lunches. The
teacher should see that the children
eat slowly ard chew their food thoro-
ly and that they sit quietly until
all are dismissed. As a rule. school
children eat their cold lunches a.
quickly as possible that they may
have more time TO play. This Is 4
serious handicap to healthy digestion.
Lessons or table manners can be
taught along with the hot lunch.
The teacher, as she eats with the
children, can teach by example.
The preparation Of tho hot dish
should not distract attention. With
good management the work can be
done with as little disturbance AZ
any other class exercise.
Perhaps the most difficult part Of
this program is the financing Of the
project. The PareLt Teachers Asso-
citation can be helpful here. or bust
ness men who have for sale the iced
ed equipment may donate some. For
only one hot dish the outfit may be
very simple. II there Is already a
fiat topped stove in the school room,
the cooking may be done on IT, II
not, two or three burner oil stove
will he needed. a few simple uten-
ellis. which some Of the parents might
be able TO donate. Each child could
bring his own cup and spoon from
home. A cupboard for storing these
utensils can be made from dry
goods box, the shelves and doors be-
ing made by the older boys. Sup
plies can be brought from home or
the children may pay the small cost
Of the lunch. Milk, butter. -four and
a few vegetables are practically all
that is reef"d for one hot dish.
The hot lunch may be correlated
WITH the other subjects taught; ii af-
fords practical application for
arithmetic. A study of some OF the
foods prepared can be used in the
English classes. and good food habits
for children IN the health work. and
in many other ways the ingenious
teacher can make the hot lunch func-
ton in the school. Any teacher
who is willing TO shoulder this extra