Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-02
Temperance Literature In our Schools.

One of our most hopeful and promising
lines OF labor is the introduction of temper
ance instruction into the schools. Thus
will be occupied a ground which cannot be
taken in the brief hour of the Sabbath.
school, in which every moment that can be
| given to this subject must be filled with
teaching and leading for the heart. But as
the scientific and religious supplement each
other, generation will grow up forearmed,
and great base Of supply material for the
drink traffic to the enemy will be cut off. In
some places the introduction of temperance
textbooks into the schools may not be prac-
ticable at present. In such localities the
| Womans Christian Temperance Union
might call meeting of all teachers, of both
public and private schools, and set before
them their opportunities and their RESPONSE
bilities in this very line. Our teachers all
over this land, we are happy to state, are
largely alive to their moral obligation to
their pupils, and will not be derelict to a
duty plainly imposed upon them. If they
cannot have temperance class-books, oral
teaching can be given on points on which il
is so necessary to fortify the pupils. The
need is imminent, therefore enter the field by
whatever avenue you may, but see to it that,
in some way, to-day may be seized and much
accomplished therein. If you cannot have
meeting of teachers, make it the business
| OF your union to see teachers individually
| and lay this subject before them. Provide
the teachers with necessary textbooks, in
terest them to take up the teaching, and re-
suits surprising all expectation will follow
results extending far into the future.
We take pleasure in giving the following
extract on this subject, from .Scribners'
! Monthly.
tits a cruel thing to send boy out into the
world untaught that alcohol in any form is fire
and will certainly burn him IL he puts 1t in his
| stomach. 1t is a cruel thing to educate a bow in
such way that he has no adequate idea OF the
dangers that beset his path. 1t is a mean thing
to send boy out to his place in society, without
understanding the relations Of temperance to his
own safety and prosperity and to the safety and
prosperity of society. OF course, the great bar
rier between the youth and correct knowledge
the great mystifier and misleader-is respectable
society. This is practically saying to the young
pretty, universally, that wine is good thing
Fine dinners are never given without it, aud good
men and women drink 1t daily They do not get
drunk, they may be conscientious and religious
and many Of them do not regard wine-drnking
as harmful, but as positively beneficial The bow
and the young man see all this, and think, natu-
| rally. that those who have had experience In
drink should know better about its results than
| those who let drink alone.
Now, what we want to do In our schools is to
do away with the force OF pernicious example,
and long cherished error, by making the chill
cohol. They should be taught the natural effect
OF alcohol upon the processes OF animal life
FIRST. They should be taught that he can add
nothing whatever to the vital forces or tissues
that it never enters into the elements OF structure
that In healthy organism, 1t is always a burden
or disturbing force.
Second. They should be taught that 1t invar-
ably disturbs the operation OF the brain, and that
mind can get nothing from alcohol or help that is
to be relied upon.
Third. They should be taught that alcohol in
flames the baser passions, bunts the sensibilites
and debases the feeling
Fourth. They should be taught that an appe-
tite for drink is certainly developed by those who
use it. which is dangerous to life, destructive of
health OF body and peace of mind, and in mil
lions OF instances ruinous to fortune and to all the
high interests of the soul
FVh-They should be taught that the crime
and pauperism of society flow as naturally from
alcohol as any effect whatever flows from It's com
petent cause.
Sirth-They should be taught that drink is the
responsible cause of most of the poverty and want
In the world. So long as six hundred million dol
lars are annually spent for drink In this country
every ounce OF which was made by the destruc-
ton OF bread, and not one ounce of which has
ever entered into the sum OF national wealth. hay-
ing nothing to show for its cost but diseased
stomachs, degraded homes, destroyed ind ustry,
increased pauperism, and aggravated crime these
boys should understand the facts and be able TO
act on them in their first responsible conduct
Our Union.