The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-28
THE HUNT BILL.
1t Is Discussed at Ministe-
rial League Meeting,

Ministers now have taken a hand in
the discussion of the advisability of
teaching school children the physiolog-
ical effects Of alcohol on the human
system.
At a meeting of the Ministerial
League, yesterday, DR.. A. H. Plumb Of
Roxbury and DIR. G. W. Fitz held a
joint debate on the Hunt bill now
pending in the legislature.
The meeting opened with DR.. Gun
nison in the chair. Besides the usual
attendants, was a large number of
teachers and w. C. T. U. workers, who
were present on special invitation. Rev.
H. H. Goddard was to have read a pa
per on divine healing, but courteously
postponed the lecture to subsequent
meeting.
DR.. Fitz was the first speaker. He
said he was anxious to increase all eff
fective instruction, but gave it as his
opinion that the teachers should have a
voice as what was to be taught He
disapproyed thoroughly of the law,
and declared it ineffective, because no
penalty was imposed for failure TO ad-
here to its provisions Neither was
1t possible to insure any uniformity of
instruction throughout the state
Teachers generally disapproved of too
much temperance instruction, on the
ground of repetition.
He gave 1t as his opinion that the
proper way to teach chemistry was to
hold high ideals of righteousness be-
fore the student rather than to teach
the evil effects of wrong doing, espe-
clatly where a course of pathology was
neceSSltated. 1t was a cardinal prin-
ciple of pedagogy, the speaker said, never
to hold before pupil a wrong image
or idea, for fear that the wrong would
make deeper impression on his mind
than the right. The temperance in
struction required, he thought, violated
this rule. ....
He characterized the text books re-
CURED as grossly incorrect, and char
acterized some OF their statements.
such, for example, as that three -fourths
of the diseases of the kidney come from
the use of alcohol. as absurd. He also
thought it an evil that authors should
be influenced by state legislation In
preparing their books.
DIR. Plumb commenced by saying that
the whole difficulty with the apathy
of fashionable people and fooderst ia
drinkers. He said the bill merely pro-
vided for statement of scientific truth
and does not prevent the ether kind of
instruction advocated by the preceding
speaker. The hearts of the people. he
said, wanted such q law. Teachers are
the servants Of the people and should
teach what they are Instructed,
He spoke of the successful results Of
similar laws in other state-. He claimed
to have thousands of testimonies from
teachers directly opposed TO Or. Fitz'
view He denied that the text books
were inaccurate and claimed they were
endorsed by many physicians and
scientists of high standing. He also de-
MED the charge that there was a book
deal involved. He said no member of
the w. c. T. Z. would he dollar rich
er by the passage Of the law. He con-
cluded by saying that his side was
standing between CHILDREN and the
devil.
In the discussion which followed all
the prominent educators present were
given an opportunity to express their
views. Principal Homer Z. Lewis Of
the English high school, Principal Ed
ward r. Goodwin of the Classical high
school, Supt. Carroll and others spoke.
the greater number talking against the
Hunt bill.