New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-11
ASsAILED THE TEMPERANCE Law.
MR. NORRIsH SAYS THAT THE TEACHING
OF THE SUBJECT IN SCHOOLS Is
wRoNn AND I'NcHRIST1AN.

WRONG AND UNcHRISTIAN.
Park Ridge. May 10 (specIaD.-rhe publication b
this mornings Tribune OF the Views OF ex-Stats
Superintendent A. b. Poland an the study OF phys''
ology and hygiene In the publ'c SCHOOLS OF Ne"'
Jersey brought out many diverse opinions Inc
subjec, first came up In the form OF an address be-
fore the Bergen County Teachers Association. de-
liyerei at the regular monthly meeting rev days
ago BY Professor J. w. Norrlsh. principal OK the
public school at this place. BY request
"Is the Present Temperance Law in Accord with
Peda gog,cal Princ!p.es?' was the subject OF rro-
lessor Norrish's talk. and some OF ms decarauons
were 20 startling that they were the suo'ec' OF
sharp comment by few OF the teachers ana tho
" C. r L. people. The speaker expressed pro-
found respect for Frances Willard Lazy So"e'Se'
and their CO. workers in the cause OF Temperature
but to the question propounded In his subject No
said he must answer emohatcaly. NO Inc 'e'
ouirement OF Section 1877 Of the law, that tne SUI
ject shall be taught thlrty-six to forty "eeNs VI
the wear he condemned "a pedagogicai mon
s,rosIty that cannot fall result In harm 10 inc
pupil" taking valuable time that snouid oe s'e"
n other important subjects. when SUBJECT -
orce clearly presented" he said. ut should be iets
TO terminate; 1t ought not to be punea ny ~"~
turned over every day. killing the seed
Professor Norrish sad: I'VE are ali a"s'e .Nes
,he law provdes that oral instruction shall De gwen
in the primary schools. but can hard'y SCI nv
the instruction given to children IN phys'o'os' $40
hygiene by oral methods. where they canho, 'eae'
or by textbooks Is going TO accomplish any 'ss''"s
results DO not see how ch'idreh III a p
denartment can grasp the teachings OF phys'o'oss.
II seems TO me that teacher VINO pay.
close attention the carrying out OF TEE Jaw WIS
find that the fundamental conception oi '"e ''"'o
,s an offence against science. In that u proposes.
Tho name Of science to store the pupils mind WIN
to,s that the mind IL utterly unable to receive Ar
.nngs drest or assimilate. The result Of this must
h a u,,sta NJ time and effort on the part OF cnIo
and teacher or the Judgment In the pupiis m'ho oi
a brood of half-truths and distorted truths. ee' 's
to stunt the mind and deform thougnt. =" III u NV
strike each one with degree of reason tna' 'ns
law "a an offence against art In that II voiates "s
principle OF form and demands that the 'oa'ns'"s
fac,s and secrets Of the dissecting room anu Tue
nbyslcian's chamber be reported In our cass-rooms
again." ,..,.u.,o,.
Then the professor made this startling decarauoa'
81 believe that the law as II STANDS upon our S'~
} ute books is an offence against Christianity IL
seems TO m that It violates the domain ana prov'
ince Of relgion-tiJe right to instruct In morals
nronosing 10 substitute the fiat OF the chemist ana
Psychologist for the command given by 'ne s'es'
Jehovah It seems that these textbooks upon .ns
subject Of physiology and hysene Ieyerse ns aha
has for It's object the preservation Oh inc ''''
Another objection 10 the law by Professor sEr
IRISH is its mandatory character, Imposing pn NO.
and s.em 1r re me as though the crack Of
the slayeholder's whip was heard IN every sen.
OF this law Why are penalties Ha Looked
the law as cO% Sp ~ make ks's% the study
nuisance especially in advanced ciasses ran,tesS
much stenCn t., tea any or sSss ana
gust IN the mind OF the ordinary boy. children
should be taught emphaticaly that intemperanseSS
Curriculum OF the public schools should be BUR
dened by the addition OF a long course III omS
branch OF toxicology Is a proposition thae VIA
h'5uy Norrish believed that the success OF
temperance and hygiene DEPENDED wnouy upon rS
teachers work and that II pupils saw their pareh.s
drinking at home without the luxurious ense.s ue
picfed in the books the example would contradct
All instruction 1T Is wise to instruct all our
children as TO the evils Of drunkenness. OF yseI
Indulgence in strong drink but IL IS NOT wen y"
presently contradict, with the result. perhaps OF
| leading them to reject even the uu'n '"A' T"
'a TSSn sneaker declared that more time was de.
"nseudo-c dentistry and inaccurate physiology tnan
uaS reonired for the study OF the true subject IN
| medical college by an applicant for the desSe
County Superintendent John Terhune, who IL .
| strong advocate Of the new law. does not approve
the radical views presented by Proiessor o
| of his co-workers. many OF whom are reserved "a
| expressing their opinions. In opposition 70 mo
declaration by ex-Superintendent Poland that the
children delight 1.-THE study Of temperance physl.
oio9y and hygiene principal Of OF the largest
schools in Bergen County says that In giving 70 n,s
| pupils the preference between the new STUDY an0
grammar certain occasions. the scholars lnvari'
ably voted almost unanimously Tor grammar.
Professor Norrish who is a close student o! ma
ture mind. disclams any desire 10 detract rom tne
| teaching OF temperance or TO pose as an opponent
| of the law He merely expressed his views wheu
| called upon. and believes he Is not In a minority.