Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1916 — SCHOOL LUNCHES. [ARTICLE]

SCHOOL LUNCHES.

The proper feeding of children involves not only questions of hygiene but of educational policy and social economy, questions just beginning to have significance with us. Don’t think underfed children come entirely from homes where there is poverty and lack of food supply. Many boys and girls go to school without breakfast for various reasons, or snatch a few bites in an excited state of mind. Lack of nourishment impedes mental efficiency. Recently examinations were made by supervisors of different schools and found that from 25 to 40 per cent of pupiis had not enough wholesome food. For instance, in three rooms of the Komenskys, with 131 pupils, 7 to 9 .years old, 43 were undernourished; 28 had coffee and bread for breakfast; 15 had coffee, bread and butter. One ' lucky boy had oatmeal, bread and butter, and so on through the entire list. In all the days meals, milk appears only once and none had an egg to eat. But to and from this and other schools, children bought ice cream, chocolate, pickles, sodas or .mints, so they were not eyen in condition to enjoy the hot meal at the end of the 1 day. Therefore their work was far below their, possibilities. So it was found the lunch problem was one of fundamental importance, and decided that a lunch room should be a part of every school to bring best results. Boston tried an experiment. A part of the pupils in a certain school were given warm lunch, the rest were not; and those school-fed, far outstripped the others. Some possibly had a great distance to go, not having sufficient time to eat a meal. Others had cold lunches of varying quantities and qualities. An investigation made throughout the state of Texas proved the greatest lack of feeding is in protein and mineral salts, bringing about ous disorders. —• ‘ * The best foods to furnish protein are eggs, cream soups, beans, peas and milk. The best to supply mineral substances are figs, dates, prunes, spinach, lettuce, milk, beans, fish and cereals. They found that there should be at least one hot dish, as all energy comes from food, but before this can be acquired, the food must be assimilated by the body, so if it is near thebodytemperaturetheeneYgyan ready available will not need to be used to heat it. The one hot dish is a splendid addition to the cold lunch, making it more readily digested. Dr. Adler, of New York City, lead-

er of ethical culture, soon saw the importance of school feeding and his institution was referred to as “The Soup School;” nevertheless, the results .both physically and mentally were wonderful. When his new building was occupied one of the pleasantest spots on the roof garden was given over for a lunch room, where pupils could get good food for a very small price. To those who could not buy, it was donated. Wherever lunches are being the girls taking domestic science are doing the cooking, serving, and often the buying of materials, giving them a wide, practical experience. Certain women’s clubs are assisting where hundreds are fed daily, and a lot of the equipment has been donated by them. The plan has not been to make money in any instance, but to charge cost price for wholesome food. For a penny one can buy .bean soup, rice pudding, cocoa, glass of milk, graham crackers, wafers, dates, buns, and for from 5 to 10 cents get a good full meal. Cincinnati and Philadelphia adopted the school lunch system long ago, and now Rensselaer sees that when the weather is bad the children would be much better off if they could get something warm and appetizing to eat without trudging home through rain, slush, snow or zero weather. Therefore the Home Economics Club is donating dishea, spoons and plates and are backing the school in the venture of serving hot soup and crackers at noon every day. Three cents per dish is charged. This is supervised by the instructress, Miss Atkins, and prepared by her class of domestic science pupils. The menuwill change daily and pupils -who bring lunch will find hot soup a splendid addition. At the restaurant they would pay 10c for it. We trust many will take advantage of this, and if extra help is needed the club stands ready to assist at any time. Country teachers could make soup, cocoa or bake potatoes, apples, onions, or cook rice. Parents might send materials, and no charge be made for lunch.—A Member of the Home Economics Club.