New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-02
BISHOPS OPPOSED TO IT.
LETTERS AGAINST THE TEMPERANCE IN
STRUCTION BILL.
THE GOVERNOR ADVISED TO VETO THE MEASURE
pRrsIpENT sCgURMAN. OF CORNELL CHAR
AcTERIzEs TIE PROMOTERS OF SUCH


p,blic several interesting letters when ne mas
received from persons joining in bis protest asa'"a
the bill that requires more time 20 De 'e'o az
,be public schools Of the State TO the s'uDS % ''
effects OF alcoholic sti,nuanis ana nafco''s vi 90"
human svstem The measure Is in the names "'
I.ov.-,or Morton Two Of these protests came
1om the official heads of the Eoard OF fese"'s,
Arson J. Epson. Chancellor Of the IhVerS'Y, anu
Bishop William c. Doane. Of Albany Nice-O"'''
ceIlor OF the University. Chancellor Epson eN
presses his opinion @, the bill in the iolo"i"s
frank manner: , 49,.
have received COPY Of an act 10 a nhys,ology
school law providing Tor the study oil n n; have
ana Teocsed 70 give You my opinion q the wis
dom Of ms ,ha bes method Of pronoiing tenn
rerance total abstinence among d we vet he as
earnest an advocate OF temperance or to'ai a."
The testimony OF experienced teachers many ,, or
whom know. against This r9po.ea law h ,bn s' fn
Sient for me am sPee, Satc nireaGy good law
on this subjec: which hones well-informed ,eaf G1
s:atuts, This law would be daugerous preceden',
leading TO 81 enactment of similar c spee1s' ,~
iersiat.on in:e:fcrcs tyrannicaliy Win traCn%I
own syea to this subject important
as Il Is And the subject is not eStehsEe r, IN
TO moro S'chps s 10 30 IT Van is now given the study Of
physiology or pathology III any en"resssrly the
purchase o: textbooks thus adding n"c.rS5i; 10
rractires By publishers booksellers ana possibly
s eacSers
Bishop noane is equally candid. saying:
,c,r am nr,,s nos gains: the bill increasing he in
slrrct;or IN DOR pubic schools ~ M "' ~
ScssSo',c drinks and narcotics OF those
needless and GisProporl onaio ,n,ns su ~ nro
ao INTO sy detail as to reason Of objection
70 , varmy jndorse rot only the fact but ne rea
sons OF your most intelligent ana aui''"O'e p'o
test.
crossed opinions adverse to the proposed law Su-
perintendent skinner has received the foiio"ihg
letters from Bishop Huntington OF 'he |en.''
ryew-York Diocese; Bishop lAttejohn. OF Long Isl
and and the Rev. Dr. Morgan DIX, rector OF
Trinity Church, Ncw-York and the Kew. W. H.
Huntington. of Grace Church, New-York, in oppo-
sition to the bill;
Some weeks since. The form Of ps'H99n t so
State .. an act providing certain measures for IN
siruction in the public schoos .s'a,1YYs alcoholic
drinks was presented TO me. mat pen"qn no.
signed Cor The sake o. ins , pongs Fro docu
1ncnts laiel. submitted 10 me an So ~ Tbe
the proposed act o~snt no. Ss, no appear to be
sb1ncant and conclusive. T. u. HUNTINGTON.
am IN a SrSlaeDy the pSSon-o5aes school law
Vding for The study OF Tie nainre ana ~ Il seem
to- me to be- unansverab;e These you have stated
with great clearness aha onnpea and excellent Gov
. snno %" Of the grave ncxPcdcy OF aOng it to
a OF tho 1ZO clercNEfH II. Hs ui'NN"N'
90 not N"o" o''' WI" A. y. LTTLEJoHN.
have received copy OF your circular NE le' banS %
che 7th inst relating TO an act now III ne ''
Of the Governor proposing compulsory legisiat9,n
in the S sc Of sgdgs h IN so received pamphlet
containing the opinions Of educators thronshSut
the state Gn one has been told that the clergy Of
the STATE are in favor OF ,ns bs occasion to
sT ser myself that am not in OF the said
,Na o SST en viii NOT opG gn the lii n
With IN your views as N3BG% BIZ ln'
Write 70 say that entirely f. aGs9Td With in
the nine reasons given ny you iGf SsnnSoSatni
School law with respect 10 the study Of the drink
ssSssss With A the IL tho se
and impartial STANDPOINT OF the wnoi re he ami
NAL economy have been in the way OF r nea s,IlS
discussed. and I am convinced that the attempt mp
to indoctrinste the minds OF the youth Of The the
BEEN oyerdone Let children taught the pers Of
phatcaily as You please but let us not palm off
upon their innocent minds pseudo-chemistry and
inaccurate physiology as NECESSARY lTH Tnnycrox
Superintendent Skinner has also received pro-
test against the hill from ]. G. schurman. presi-
dent OF Cornell University. 1t Is in part as follows:
hope you will succeed in preventing the enact
ment into law of the biz passed by the Legs,
nature ana effect Of Alcoholic drinks and other he.
sort who inspire such bills had their own way with
the curriculum OF our public SCHOOLS they would
subjects which the experience OF mankind and the
wisdom of educators OF all ages have deemed OF
schools. IL our own day and In this country we
have notable dcliverances concerning wha, these
the National Council Of Education and the super
Of the Committee Of Ten issued by ne former or
in the report Of the Commi,ee OF Fifteen. issued
Of an indors.ment Of tie proposed law; should
the on s he to son to We "G ali
are in any way engaged with the practical work
the p,ul;i;udo Of subjec!s which wouldbe reform
ers' "cranks" and "faddists" would require our
their way. the mental energy OF our children would
be dissipated and education become sheer i'm
The most findamen,a, Of all reforms at III,
present time is the limitation OF the number OF
subjects taught 10 any orc student. with dstinc-
ton between What Is Fundamental and what is sub
young people Of the country can devote to study
car Re Dus upon the mos; impor,an, and fruitful
not shame that children should grow up In ig,
wheress e truth OF the an" matter tne s hat is
most cases an advantage that pupils have heard
When ! pass from the general principle, o, thi.
law 70 scruize It's details II shows Itself ABSURD
which scientific teachers require the present
taught from textbooks. In the programme o. man,
o. our best schools Il do not mean colleges uni
eolutely forbidden The 'reformers' who desire
The on, n nT gesr text
many pages are to be studied in order uat pupils
holic drinks and other narcotics IL would be a
great reflection the cduca tona wisdom OF
those who responsible for making our laws ~ q
conception Of scientific teaching wooden so ut
terry mechanical. were ever TO find a place in on
statute looks The scientific teachers OF The conn
try. whether In the public schools the col
leges and universities. would Justly hold us up tC
ridcU'e.
IT looks though somebody with textbooks tc
sell behind the legislation. But while an
IN a position verify such q guess | am a
leas; perfectly certain that the parties who hav,
Inspired the legislation have conception OF wha
education Is ana propose 10 put upon the necks o.
the pupils in our schools yoke TOO grievous an,
tntolerabe to be borne.
There objections TO other details OF the bill
equally cogent. but confne myself 20 those which
from the nature OF my work and experience
impress most strongly. sincerely trust TIA
the Lill may never become a law.