Evening star., 1943-04-04

Believes Plenty Of Air
And Exercise Will
Stimulate Appetite
BY MRS. p. C. ELLETT,
President, D. c. CONGRESS of Parents
and Teachers.
Spring days are bursting upon us
in all their glory. With War Time
in effect, there will be increasingly
longer periods of daylight at the end
of the day; periods which should be
filled in by as much outdoor activity
as possible, in order to counteract
some of the effects of sunless days,
of which we have had so many.
Springtime always has a special
lure for youngsters; perhaps it goes
back to the beginnings of civiliza-
ton, when spring signified the end
ing of the period of Information and
the beginning Of another season of
growth. At any rate, there is scarce
ly a child who doesn't feel the call
of the great outdoors, when he be-
comes aware of the warmth in the
south wind, and the Intangible
something in the air which means
beyond question that winter is past.
Living Is Complicated.
When we were children, getting
out of doors in the spring was a
simple matter. There were always
large vacant lots available some
where in the neighborhood for play:
there were woods and creeks near
enough to be readily accessible:
there were wild flowers abounding
In sunny meadows and shaded forest
glens which were ours for the pick
ing. The business of living was not
so complicated; traffic was not so
heavy-there seemed to be more
time, somehow.
1t seems a pity that such simple
means OF recreation are no longer
available. There are very few places
IN Washington which meet these re-
quirements. Every one is busy in
some kind of war work, either paid
or voluntary, and therefore has lit
tie time for helping in the growing
up processes through which all chill
dren pass
Such being the case, there is a
real job for mothers and teachers
these fine spring days. With pleas
ure driving practically an impossible :
lty and with trolleys working to
capacity on necessary transporta-
ton, other means for directing chill
dren in proper recreational pursuits
must be found.
Parks Visits Urged.
The best alternative, perhaps. is
to 60 on foot to the park areas that
are nearest the section of the city
In which one lives An hours walk
in the evening. between the closing
OF school and dinner time, will pro-
vide enough material to keep chill
dren occupied for hours, and will
stimulate tagging appetities. An all
day excursion on Saturday, with
each one carrying his lunch, will
feed the soul and help to bring be-
fore us the preciousness of our her
itage.
We will see new beauties in this
country of ours We will realize in
some measure the privilege that is
ours in just being Americans. We
cannot love things unless We know
them. We cannot expect our, chill
dren to truly love their country un-
less they know it. And the only
way they can know it Is to become
acquainted with it at first hand. A
start in the right direction can be
made in organized walks in, the
parks, or If ambitious enough, into
the adjacent country And no other
time is quite so propitious for this
sort Of thing as this spring season.
Dennison.
The Executive Committee will
meet at the school on Tuesday at
9:45 am. for tour of the building,
following which they will be served
luncheon by the girls of the school.
A meeting Of the committee will be
held at l pm.
Stuart Junior High.
The association will meet tomor-
row at 8 pm. The guest speaker
will be Mrs Mildred Percy, head
of the department of guidance and
placement. District of Columbia
public schools, who will discuss
Guidance in Home and School" !"
The Glee Club will entertain and
the chairman of the Nominating
Committee will present the slate of
officers for the coming year.
TruesdelI.
The association is organizing a
homemakers' club to meet on the
first Tuesday of each month at l
pm, at the school. Mrs. Nellie Da-
wilson will be the instructor.
Congress Heights.
The Executive Committee will
meet tomorrow at 1:30 pm.
Randle Highlands Beers.
The Executive Committee will
meet tomorrow at 1:3O pm. in the
Randle Highlands School.
There will be luncheon in both
schools on Thursday.
The following Nominating Com
mittee has been appointed: Miss
F. Wallach, Mrs. w. Martin, Mrs. j.
Rea, Mrs. H. Stebbin and Mrs. v.
Setcker.
Wallach- French,
The executive meeting will be held
tomorrow at 1:30 pm. at the WAL
ZACH School.
Bowen -Greenleaf.
An executive meeting will be held
tomorrow at 1:30 pm, at the Bowen
School.
Woodbridge.
Mrs. Zeb T. Hamilton announces
fhof co1oc nf