The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-23
The Discussion Over
Temperance.
TEACHERS SIDE.
Not Opposed to instruction
But the Kind.

The fight between the members OF
the w, c. T. U. and the teachers Of
physiology in the Worcester schools is
waxing hot Martha F. Goddard, Sa-
rah Aver1ll and Mary e. Sayward,
teachers Of physiology, have made a
full reply, stating their reasons for not
favoring the Senate bill Al, which pro-
vides for 10 successive years instruc>
ton on the evils of alcohol.
1t is not that they do not favor tenn
perance, the teachers say. But they
object to certain provisions of the bill
offered by Mrs. Hunt, which they
think are not in accordance with the
laws Of common sense. DR.. Hodge has
also made a tart reply to his critics, in
which he has many interesting things
to say relative to temperance text
books.
The three teachers offer by way of
excuse, that the vote taken as to
whether or not they would favor the
bill was not a voluntary one. There
was no time for discussion. They had
to vote either yes or no. and they all
voted no. Their stand was not taken
in accordance with experience derived
In years Of teaching physiology under
the present law.
The present law provides for ten
weeks of oral instruction, three lessons
week for three years, dealing with
the i'll effects Of alcohol and narcotics.
The textbook instruction is to be CIV
en- three times a week, fourteen weeks
in the year for seven years, making all
together ten successive years that the
students Of the state will be obliged to
hear the same instruction.
The physiological effects of alcohol
on the different parts of the system, as
mentioned in the textbooks, are not
numerous, and it Is argued that the
constant repetition of a few facts dur
ing a period of ten years cannot but
defeat the end for which 1t is intended
1t is further said to be illogical to
teach youth the diseased condition Of
organs whose healthy condition they
are not yet capable of comprehending
The Myers bill does not provide for
nearly as much instruction, but the in
struction is deferred until the pupil
has reached the eighth grade, when he
Is at an age far better calculated to
comprehend the subject.
In his statement, DIR. Hodge charges
DR.. Martin with modifying his views
to suit the w. C. II. U. in the prepara-
ton of the textbook on physiology
now in use. 1t is claimed that in this
book DR.. Martin arranges his argu-
ments by skilfully emitting certain
| points, to prove that alcohol is not a
| food.
DR.. Hodge quotes from DR.. Martin $
university textbook on physiology to
show that in that work he takes an
opposite view. admitting that alcohol
| is Ito a certain extent a food, but q
very dangerous one.
| Dr. Hodge makes many sarcastic
filings at the textbooks Endorsed by
Mrs. Hunt and other w. G. T. y. work.
ers He says the facts stated there
about the effect of alcohol ON the sys-
| TEN are not borne out by the best and
latest authorities. 81 questioned, and
still do question" he says, the wis
dom of allowing textbooks to be used,
for the statements in which any intel
ligent child can easily find direct con-
| tradiction.
Speaking Of the charge made that
| by their action in voting against the
Senate bill al the teachers insulted
5000 citizens Of Worcester who signed
petition favoring It, DR.. Hodge re-
torts that none of the signers had pre-
viously been given an opportunity to
read the bill. Now that they are
learning its true nature, he says they
are rapidly withdrawing their names.
The failure to furnish the petitioners
with a. copy of the BILL" says the doc
tor ''is understandable on any ground
| of common honesty"