The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-27
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Second Day of the Women's Christ
ian Temperance Union Convention.

President-Interesting Reports of Mrs
Mrs. Helen NJ. Baker, the Nationa
Treasurer of the Union.
Lewiston, Me-, September 26. Al
the forenoon session of the Wet. U.
| Mrs. q. f. French of Portland reported
| for the temperance instruction depart
ment Her report was as follows:
She said that more gain had
| been made during the past year than in
the four preceding years. Public senti-
ment is now quite generally in favor OF
this movement and, although we have
not reached our ideal yet, temperance in
struction is given in the schools of the
State. Indifference and opposition have
passed away. School officers are supply
ing the schools with better text books,
charts and the appliances needed in
this branch of instruction. Teachers arc
seeking new and better methods; where
these conditions prevail every child is
interested in his own physical well being.
The children are being taught enough
anatomy to give them a good idea -Eof
structure; enough physiology to insure a
clear idea of the use of different organs,
but the emphasis is placed upon the laws
of health and morality. They are
taught the scientific truth in regard to
the nature of alcohol and tobacco; and
that neither. have any place in W ell
ordered life.
Since health is the greatest of earthly
blessings both in itself and as neces-
sary means for the discharge of the
duties of life, and this same blessing,
health, is largely in the keeping of the
individual, the public school education
should include a knowledge of the sim
pie laws of hygiene.
One natural science-the human body
should be taught to every child of
grammar school age in the State. This
study cannot be postponed until the
high school is reached, for only five per
cent. of the public school children ever
enter the high school.
Mrs. French urged the women to great
er diligence along this line: said she ex-
poets the work to double it's efficiency
the coming year.
Mrs. French then proposed the following
resolutions which were adopted
Resolved, First, That we rejoice that
Scientific Temperance is now a mandatory
study for all pupils, in all public schools,
lG thirty mine States, including our own
State of Maine, and in all schools under
Federal control, including those in the
Territories, the District OF Columbia,
Indian and colored schools, military aud
naval academies comprising more than
100000 of the children and youth of
school age in this country.
Resolved, Second That we believe the
thorough enforcement of these laws is
the hope of the temperance Reform and
that while recognizing with gratitude
provision for such enforcement wherever
it has been made we believe that the
carelessness and neglect concerning it's
enforcement on the part of many school
executors of this law in our State, is
pupils OF this warning instruction, which
is their legal right, but also setting be-
fore them an example of disregard to
law, Ly school officers and teachers.
which is liable to be followed by spirit
of lawlessness on the part of numbers of
pupils who witness this neglect; which
lawlessness can lily be afforded under
UulS SOfcIumOub vi buC pcOUlG.s
We therefore call upon all school
boards, officers and teachers to set before
the children of this State, who are soon
to be it's men and women, an example of
loyal obedience to law, by promptly
making adequate provision, where such
provision is lacking, for the pursuit of
the study of Physiological Temperance,
by,
1st, Selecting or providing series of
we'll graded textbooks in this topic that
contain the truths the law requires
taught; and
I'd, BY making an adequate place for
this branch in the course of study for all
pupils in all schools under their control
with the same examinations or tests of
the pupils proficiency as are used in the
case of other studies. In short, we ask
that they require this compulsory study
to be pursued in all respects as thor
oughly as other mandatory branches are
Resolved, Third, Thai while we appre-
ciate the good school work in Scientific
Temperance. that some faithful teachers
are doing, we believe there is great need
of information as to the best methods of
teaching this branch.
We therefore respectfully ask the
National Education Association COM
posed of representative school officers
and teachers, legal executors of the |
school laws of this country, to make per- |
and adequate provision in the |
of their yearly meetings for |
of methods of teaching to |
all pupils in all schools the new manda.
tory study. viz, The Nature and Effects |
of Alcoholic Drinks and other Narcotics |
in connection with Relative Physiology |
and FL ygiene.
Resolved, Fourth, That we advise our |
local, county and State superintendents |
Of Scientific Temperance Instruction to |
secure the widest possible publication of |
the three foregoing resolutions in every |
paper published in this State, and that |
copies of the same be sent to State, |
county and local school officials and |
teachers. We advise also. that copies of |
our State Temperance Education Law
be inserted in the papers with these |
Be it enacted, etc.. as follows:
z Sec.1. Provision shall be made by the
proper locfl school authorities for in |
structing all pupils in all schools sun
ported by public money, or under State |
in physiology and hygiene, with |
special reference to the effects of alco-
holic drinks, stimulants and narcotics
upon the human system.
Sec.2 No certificate shall be granted
any person to teach in the public Schools
Of this State after the fourth day of
July, eighteen hundred and eighty five,
who has not passed a satisfactory exami-