New Britain herald., 1923-02-27
Nellie Rakutis Meets Health Requirements-Boy Lost Weight Chasing Auto Truck to Berlin.

Standing proudly next 10 her
 mother with her feet together, head
 erect and in perfect posture, Miss
 Nellie Rahntis in soft, gentle voice
 thanked Miss Nentile Logan as she
 was presented with her diploma
 graduating her from the first nntri-
 at exercises al the open Air School on
 Bassett street yesterday afternoon, ! or the % scholars to enter the class
 in November last year, Miss Rakutis
 was the first pupil 10 have gained enough in weight and in general
 health to permit her being graduated from the class.
 When she entered the class her weight was s4 pounds but in pro- portion 10 her height should have been 9i i.s pounds. Although she was only in the class it weeks she gained II Ia pounds. making her weight upon graduation e5 Ia pounds. Her weekly average gain was three quarters Of pound.
 If the child had been normal her expected gain would have been ?.s3 ounces a week and her total gain in the i4 weeks would have been 39 ounces.
 pr. Lee Thanks Child
 Dr. Fred r. Lee. superintendent of the board of health and under whose supervision the class is conducted. de- livered short address in which he thanked the girl for the hearty CO., operation she had given him and the teachers and also her mother who has attended the class regularly on Mondays to watch the improvement in her daughter.
 Previous to the presentation of the certificate which was signed by Dr. Lee the doctor had each child in the class sit in front of charts which had been hung on a wall in one of the school rooms.
 On each chart there was the indi- yidual record of the children. Be- ginning at one end of the room Dr. Lee carefully examined each chart and if child had lost in weight during the week he immediately asked why.
 There were several who had gained | in weight, who had taken their rest | each afternoon as requested and had | eaten their luncheons at the request l ed hour. There were still others who had perhaps missed one rest period or one lunch period and did not gain during the week but re- mained at the same average as they were one week previous.
 ,.s Nxro;,I.s <ts~o....,.r u.,.,,I-
 There were, however, two or three who had lost in weight due either to the loss of rest, food or too much exercise. One small lad who had lost one and three-quarter pounds within the week, was questioned by Dr. Lee. At first he was bit timid as though he did not know just what to say cut he evidently thought it would be pest to tell the truth so in reply to he question asked him, he said: Me and another fellow chased ruck almost to Berlin to hook tide and then we didn't get one so ve had to walk back"
 Dr. Lee explained to the parents present. that it was the extra exertion n the part of the child caused by his un to Berlin which made him lose weight. I
 Another small girl had lost about | ne pound in weight and upon ques- f ioning her Dr. Lee found that she ', lad been forced to go after coal and :, rag it home on sled. There were 4 wo cases where the children had ost weight because of negligence. a hey had either forgotten their after oon rest period or had not eaten heir luncheon at the required time.
 In short talk Dr. Lee explained hat the class as whole is doing xceedingly well but the scholars who q re progressing the best are those hose parents cooperate with the chool officials. The mothers are re- uested to attend each class which is cid on Monday afternoons and to 'atch the progress of the child. hey are often times called upon by IT, Lee to state the improvements 1ey have noticed in their sons or aughters.
 New Britain is one of the few ties in Connecticut which has a nu- 'ition class although such classes re found in many Massachusetts IA 'wns and cities. Dr. Lee expressed le hope yesterday that the day will ome when such classes are con- lcted in every school in New Brit Tn, not only at the Open Air school.