The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-03

just before going in to the meeting of the
association, received book on physiology
confessedly published by Messrs. VIM.
G. DulAny u Co., of Baltimore. Others be-
side myself had received the same, and it
needed no Soleman to see what all these
Resolutions meant and to what they tended
Nor did it require much wisdom to
understand a: whose instigation and by
what means the legislature had nrllified
that portion of the school law which gives
the various school boards of the state the
right to purchase the school books wherev-
er they can procure them to the best advant
age. On physiology they were henceforth to
be restricted to books published in the state,
| i. e. Baltimore.
am not opposed to books published in
Baltimore. Far from il. l wish all our
books were published in the state, but not
not that it should have compulsory mo :
nopoly of publishing and the school boards
restricted from purchasing elsewhere when
it is to their advantage to do so. And, sir,
opposed that resolution. objected to
the whole body of teachers recommending a
book many fthem had not seen and very
few had read, and myself was in the latter
class. l had no time that morning even to
glance over its pages, far less examine it, as
everyone should before commencing it. In
the discussion which ensued, there were re-
marks made (not by me) animadyerting
very severely on the legislature for passing
such a law, esteeming it a narrow-minded
and serious policy.
After considerable debate this resolution
was also laid upon the table, with the hope
expressed by some that we had now ''otfi-
ciated at the funeral of the whole subject"
I hope, Mr.. Editor, by this time you will
understand my action at the State Teachers
| Association.
Bnt have word or two yet to say. At
the meeting of the school board on the 9th
of July, the agent of W. J. G. Dulany &
Co. brought this wonderful book to the no
tice Of the board and urged its adoption in
the county. This OF course led to some eX-
animation of the book when it was found
that the textbooks we have been using for
two years in our schools, taught more fully
than the new book the pernicious e fleets of
alcohol and narcotics upon the human sys.
tenn, and lest you and your readers should
not know what the School Commissioners
have been doing, will give you list of
most of the items which have been taught
on the subject. They are as follows:
ALCOHOL.
Principal drinks that contain alcohol; AL
cohol as food; Alcohol and work; How
alcohol gets into the blood; Effect of alco-
hol on the heart; Effect of alcohol on the
lungs and kidneys; Alcohol and bodily heat;
Proper use of alcohol; Effect of alcohol up
on the nervous system; Effect of alcohol
on the stomach and digestion; Effect of al
cohol on the muscles; Effect of alcohol on
,be circulation; Indigestion due to alcohol
Inherited craving for alcohol; Alcoholic
excess and the nervous system; The final
result of alcoholic excess; tobacco and its
moderate uses; The excessive Use of tobacco
upon yonng people; Opium and its uses and
! effects; Chloral its uses and eff, cts.
You will thus see that the children of the
public schools, SO far as the arrangement
of the school board is concerned have Lot
been left in ignorance on this subject.
Let us now sum up the total of the work
of this Temperance committee and the law
passed by the legislature. Not to teach
more efficiently the baneful effects of alcohol
and narcotics upon the human system; not
to make deeper and more lasting impress
ions on the minds of the pupils in the
schools, but simply to throw into the hands
of some book men in the city of Baltimore
the cont, act of the literature on this subject.
To compel the school boards to purchase
books on this subject at their price. The
price of the book offered to us by the Balt-
more firm is just so per cent more than the
one we now use, and which teaches more
fully. This is an argument which ought to
be fully appreciated by every Taxpayer in
the county.
Mr.. Editor, we will make haste slowly in
changing onr present book. There may he
other books published in Baltim IRE on lis
subject, and we may have chance to oO-
tain as good book at less price. [ re-
frain from any remarks upon the wisdom
of the legislature in making law of this
kind. but have very decided opinion on
the subject. There are some things that a
man may make OF himself in his favori'e
capacity which are totally inconsistant wit n