The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-02-06

This is accompanied by a law requiring
the teachers to be prepared to pass an ex-
animation on this subject, as well as in
other required branches.
In 1884. therefore, 400, 900 children in
Michigan, with all their teachers, began to
be instructed in the important subject OF
| Hygiene care of the human body with
special reference given to the effects of al
cohol and narcotics.
The following law was enacted by the
New York Legislature of 1884:
"An Act relating to the study of Phys
iology and Hygiene in the Public Schools.
The People of the State of New York, rep
resented, in Senate and Assembly. do
enact as follows:
SECTION Provision shall be made
by the proper local chool authorities for
instructing all pupils in all schools sup
ported by public money, or under State
control, in physiology and hygiene, with
special reference to the effects of alcoholic
drinks. stimulants, and narcotics upon the
human system.
SECTION mo certificate shall be
granted any person to teach in the public
schools of the State of New York after the
first day of January eighteen hundred and
eighty-five, who has not passed a satistac-
tory examination in physiology and by
giene, with special reference to the effects
of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics
upon the human system"
This legislation in these five States, was
the result of direct appeal to the people,
who instructed their lawmakers to vote
for the measure.
If a majority Of our representatives at
Trenton receive similar instructions from
their constituents, we shall be sure of vic
tory.
The Medical Nems of August 4, 1888, thus
speaks of our work in one of its editorials:
THE evils of intemperancc are seen by
physicians more frequently, perhaps, than
by any other class of men, if we except the
officials in our courts and prisons. Rum
is the most fertile source of physical dis
ease and deterioration, to say nothing of
its result-Wastefulness, crime, and moral
destruction. Syphilis itself in most cases
is born of drunkenness. To combat this
gigantic evil the Woman's Christian TEN
perance Union has begun at the beginning.
They aim = = i at the educa-
ton OF the young in the principles of
tJ 'CtFSJ ''s ~ HDHC 49, IBh'NN w ~
hol, opium, and their cogeners. To do
this they propose to obtain the enactment
of laws in all the States similar to those
now in force i'll Vermont and Michigan.
viz, that there shall be in the Public
Schools, as one of the regular studies, ele-
mentary scientific instruction i'll physiology
and hygiene which shall give special prom
inence to the effects of stimulants and mar
cotics upon the human system. Public
sentiment shall thus be created by public
now ledge of the character, extent and in
fiuence of the evil. 1t is in the school
house that the dram-shops shall find its
strongest foe. Give it twenty years and it
will win.
These women mean business, and they
go about it in a most business like way.
No prentice hand has sketched their plans
OF work. They use no invective, no po-
lemics, no sarcasm, no oratory, but hard
scientific facts, and well-founded statistics.
AS a public journal, striving for the health
OF the community. we can strongly COM
mend this action, and place ourselves
heartily in accord with he calm scientific
spirit which thus seeks to suppress intern
perance and vice
To this editorial Dir. w. w. Keen, of
Philadelphia, adds the following endorse
ment:
sit is with great heartiness that I COM
mend the work of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, in reference to our
Public School system. They are begin
ming at the right place in seeking to foster
the proper sentiments in relation to the use
of alcoholic drinks. and upon the right
grounds, those of reason, hygiene and econ
omy."
In order to accomplish as much in New
Jersey as has been accomplished in New
York and other States mentioned, and to
secure a similar law, it will be necessary
to have the State thoroughly organized
and instructed, that the people may be con-
vinced Of the desirableness of such legisla-
ton, and may require it of their represen-
tatives.
We especially desire the cooperation of
all Christian ministers in this effort of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, to
save the children of New Jersey.
We also ask with confidence, for the
hearty support of parents and all thought
full citizens, feeling sure that this effort to
teach and save the boys and girls of our
State and Nation, will appeal to the finest
instincts of every human heart.
New JERSEY w. c. r. L.