New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10
NOT 4 FAILURE IN NE|F-JERSEf.
SUPERINTENDENT POLAND ON Ihh
LAW REQUIRING TEMPERANCE IN
sTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.

-, ,,aemna+ion bv SUPERINTENDENT Skinner, OF
-. vow.york state Department OF Public In
;,ruction OF the act ENGRAVING on the puoHc
s,hoo curriculum the study of alcohol and tooac-
"a and their disastrous effects upon the human
.vssn, has excited surprise and comment in New
Isrsy among teachers and those interested IN the
,pbl,c schools Superintendent Skinner who is re-
sa,ded as an authority. has boldly declared that
tho first years working has shown that the law is
had both in morals and In education. Many
consider Il rather early TO pass judgment on the
ac which has been In operation only year. ana
vas passed through the efforts OF the NauohaI
Worans Christian Temperance Union, when pre-
dsted that Il the children were taught the per-
n,doas effect Of tobacco and strong drink on the
human system the children would shun them.
somewhat similar law IS in operation in New-Jer-
~ Addison B. Poland. the former state superin-
nraat Of Schools in New-Jersey, does not enter
tain The views that State Superintendent Skinner,
aywYork does Mr. Poland said to Tribune
reporter
Tie s<aled Temperance instruction" act passed
By tie yew-Jersey Legislature In 1871 when Wsnt
tp eject on the first day of July of that year, mas
ia on trial in New-Jersey for nearly two years
Ean may Judge by the absence OF all complaints
The part of those who labored to secure It's en-
ssnent as well as by the absence of all com
PANTS on the part of parents and children the law
acion
Il the out set the compulsory purchase and supply
q
ssostion; this however. quieted down quickly. and
iom that time to the present no complaints OF any
kni have been made 10 the state Department con-
ernng the matter. Like the New-fork law, inc
Nv-Jersey act requires the use OF textbooks by an
tdren able to read this latter provision being con,
trued by myself include all pupils above the second
third year in school. So. also. the textbooks USED
we're required contain at least ~ per cent OF mat
eermane 10 the subject or Temperance teacn-
ng The one provision in the New-York law when
has been chiefly objected to by school authorities:
namely that witch fixes the time and amount OF
Instruction 10 be given each year was omitted IN Inc
NewJersey act. .
As TO the value Of temperance instruction in the
schools hardly time enough has elapsed TO speak
With certainty On priori ground, II may falrIy be
expected that the dissemination OF correct informi
ion as 10 the nature and effects of alcoholic stmu-
ANTS and narcotics among the children in our schools
will be the means OF preventing many from acquir-
Ing the alcoholic and narcotic habit in later years
hence the friends Of scientific Temperance teacnng
the schools justified in asking for fair trial
before any wholesale denuncation OF the expert
nents
There Is one element OF the problem that seems TO
nave been lost sight OF in this discussion, which Is
hat the children. a rule are delighted with me
rev study. This is the more remarkable since the
subject Is a new one. and teachers nave had little
experience In presenting il scientifically and lnteli-
gently Probably the fact that the new study has
lands OF teachers and children is the CHIEF reason
M Its being attractive TO pupils. am not alto-
lether in sympathy with those who believe II a
see policy for the State to prescribe not only the
branches 10 be pursued in the schools, but the tne
manner etc. in which the same shall be taught.
horities It seems TO me- do not believe. however.
nat the time has yet arrived when any one is Justi-
aed In declaring that the experiment of temperance
Instruction in the public schools is a failure.