Did schools have cafeterias in the 1930s?

In the 1930s, school cafeterias were not as common as they are today. While some schools did have cafeterias, many did not. Instead, students typically brought their own lunch to school or went home for lunch.

The development of school cafeterias in the United States can be traced back to the early 20th century. In the early 1900s, concerns about child malnutrition and the need for students to have access to healthy meals led to the establishment of school lunch programs. These programs were often run by volunteers or charitable organizations, and they provided free or low-cost meals to students in need.

Over time, school cafeterias became more common, and by the 1930s, they were a feature of many schools across the country. However, it was not until the passage of the National School Lunch Act in 1946 that school cafeterias became a permanent part of the American education system.