Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-18
School Boards and the Intemperance Of the
Future.

alcohol and other narcotics have the
power to create an uncomfortable APP
petite for more, leads to the formation
OF such appetites and their conse-
quenceS. No boy expects to become
drunkard when he begins to drink.
In fancied security youth of genera
ton after generation have embarked
in the current of tipping, only to be
drawn into the rapids of appetite and
finally plunged over the awful abyss
of drunkenness. To prevent this and
thus preempt the childhood of today
and the nation of tomorrow for an in
telligent sobriety, is the primary OBJ
ject sought by what are called the
temperance education laws. already
enacted by the national Congress for
all schools under Federal control, and
by thirty-siX out of the forty-four
states that constitute the United
States
In these schools are the overwhelm
ing majorities of the near future-the
law-making power of tomorrow.
The writer has repeatedly said. and
every years experience and observa-
ton strengthens faith in the state
ment that, ten years from the day
when physiological temperance is as
thoroughly taught in all the public
schools as geography and arithmetic
are. the alcohol question will be settled
and settled Alright in this republic by
popular intelligence, with correspond
ing popular habits.
The parties who ought to take the
first official steps for the enforcement
of temperance education law are or
dinariy, the local school boards
These steps if rightly taken are:
First, The adoption of a definite
course of study with adequate time
and place given to it as to other
branches, and for each grade of pupils
Second, The recommendation of
textbooks containing the facts the
law requires taught graded to the ca
pacities of the several classes of schol-
ars.
In the discharge of these duties on
the part of school boards. there is
wide room for Improvement. They
have too often recommended books
notably lacking in temperance matter,
and so absolutely out of grade as to
he practically useless. Conscientious
teachers in such cases have tried to
not had the previous drill in this that
they have had in other branches
When the teachers are not in posses
sion of the facts to be taught. and
cannot find them in the books fur
nished, it is not strange that they soon
run out of matter, and. therefore, soon
drop the attempt: nor that error in
stead of truth is often taught.
grades above the primary, has been
and still is signal failure. We must
insist upon textbook study in all
grades using textbooks for other like
branches, if we would not be Knocked
with disappointment in results.
y master in a city school under
temperance education law, recently
said: II can and will teach this
branch when it is put into my course
of study and books containing the
subject are put into my hands and
those of my pupils, but the school
board must do that first If they fill
my course of study absolutely full
with other branches. leaving no time
for this, and in addition, neglect to
give me or my pupils any adequate
text books, l cannot do much"
This statement represents the rela-
ton of school boards to the enforce
ment of these laws. and reveals the
greatest hindrance to be overcome.
The neglect with these officials is Of
ten due to misrepresentation or indif-
ference and sometimes to positive OPP
position. The appeal in the latter
case is to the people for the election
of persons who will execute the law
The man who would withhold this in
struction from the children of city
or modify it's full truth for fear of in
juring the brewing or other liquor in
terests is most unfit to be entrusted
with any care. of the education of the
children of this age Misrepresentation
on the part of school boards can be en-
lightened; the Indifferent can ordi-
narily he aroused, if not, they should
be retired The member of a school
board who claims to believe in this
study while he or she refuses to pro-
vide suitable books and time for its
pursuit. is not unlike the man in
Maine who said he "believed in the
prohibition law but was agin it's en-
forcement."
Hard indeed must be the heart of
man or woman who could deliberately
withhold the utmost warning science
has against strong drink and other
narcotics from the children under his
or her care. II we deliberately or
otherwise, withhold given Informal
ton from child, are we not respon-
sihle for what may follow to that
childs future and to others through
him, because of such Withholding? 1t
is not too much to say that the Off
Gals who carelessly. negligently or
purposely fail to provide for the full
enforcement of the temperance educa-
ton laws in the schools under their
control, are mourning a fearful respon-
sibility for the drunkenness of the flu
ture. The time has come for calling
attention to this from pulpit. plat
form and press. MARY H. HUNT.