The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-14
RAISING A QUESTION.

following:
An act to provide for the study
Of the Nature of Alcoholic Drinks
and Narcotics and OF their effect
upon the human system, in the PUBS
lie schools.
The general Assembly Of North
Carolina do enact:
SECTION /, That the nature OF
alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and
speclal instruction as to the effects
upon the human system, in connect
ion with the several divisions OF the
subject of physiology and hygiene,
shall be included in the branches of
study taught in the common or pub
lie schools OF the State Of North Car
DINA. and shall be studied Ind
taught as thoroughly and In the same
manner as other like requlr. cd branch
es are in said schools, oy the use
of text books in the lands of pupils,
and orally in case of pupils are IN.
able to read, Ind shall be taught by
all teachers in all schools in this
state supported wholly or in part by
public money.
SEC. 2. That the text books used
for the instruction to be given Ia the
proceeding section for primary and
intermediate grades shall give at
least one-fourth of their space to the
| consideration Of the nature and effect
| of alcoholic drinks and narcotics,
| and the text books used ia the highs
est grades of the public schools shall
give at least twenty pages to the
confederation of the subject.
SEC. 3, That no certificate to teach
in the public schools in this state
shall hereafter be granted to any
applicant who has not passed a salts
factory examination in the study of
the nature of alcoholic drinks and
narcotics and oftheir effects upon the
human system, in connection with
the several divisions of the subject
of relative physiology and hygiene.
SEC. 4. That it shall be the duty
of the proper officers in control of
any school described in the first
section of this act to enforce the
provision Of this act, and any such
officer, school director, committee,
superintendent or teacher who shall
refuse or neglect to comply with the
requirements of this act or shall
neglect or fail to make proper pro-
visions for the instruction required
and in the manner specified by this
act for all pupils in each and every
school under his control and super>
vision, shall ~ removed from office
and the vacancy filled as in other
cases.
SEC. 5. This act shall be in force
and effect from after the first day
of August, 1891.
Ratified the 9th day of FEBRUARY,
A. D. 1891.
The newspapers Of the state, led
by the Biblical Recorder, of Raleigh,
are raising fuss over this act, after
it is too late, even if there were any>
thing to fuss over. They charge
Mrs. Hunt, an enthusiastic tenn
perance worker, who lobbied the
bill through, with doing it in the
interest Of a particular publishing
company in which she is interested.
1t is charged that section 2 of the
act is madefor the special benefit
of the publishing company in which
Mrs, Hunt is interested, and they
meks this the basis of their reason
ing: That the section provides
that the text books SHALL contain so
many pages devoted to particular
subjects specified, and Mrs. Hunts
book house publishes text books
whose contents correspond with the
provisions: therefore, Mrs, Hunt was
laboring with the North Carolina
Legislature for the special benefit OF
that Publishing house, regardless OF
the consequences to the people.
II we remember correctly, North
Carolina Is not the first state in the
Union to enact such a law. And
why have not the book buyers OF
North Carolina as good chance tn
purchase books at reasonable prices
as the book buyers in any other
state2
If Mrs. Hunt has come to North
Carolina and put up job upon our
legislature, she ought to be condemn
ed for it, and will be. But it seems
to us reasonable conclusion that
inasmuch as this was not the first
state she has worked in for the