Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-03-02
THEY SCOTT AT TEXTBOOKS
Educators Criticise Lessons on the
Bad Effects Of Alcohol. .ss
ARE NOT TRUE TO THE FACTS.
w. o. Atwater Says w. G. T. D. Methods
Are Not Scientific - Superintende
Department. Of the N. r A. Holds
Spirited Discussion. 5A

Chicago, March 1.-The evils OF
teaching in the public schools the ef-
fects Of alcohol upon the human sys-
tenn, and the responsibility Of the
Woman's Christian Temperance union
Tor the existing laws requiring such
instruction, were the subjects discussed
Wednesday afternoon by the superin-
tendence department of the National
Educational association at University
hall. That the discussion was an in
teresting one, and that it Is destined to
elicit scorching rejoinder from the
Christian women Of the country, APP
pears probable from the fact that Mrs.
s. M. D. Fry, one of the officers Of the
Women's Christian Temperance union,
was present with stenographer, and
expressed privately the greatest indig-
nation at some of the statemnts OF
the speakers. ~
The paper was read by Prof. w. 0.
Atwater Of the Wesleyan university at
Middleton, Conn, man of national
fame as physiological chemist. and
one Of the highest authorities in this
country on all questions pertaining to
alcohol. It was listened to, therefore,
with something like romance, and il
the great majority of the members
were not previously Of the same opin-
ion with him his argument carried
them all away. l..;
Prof. Atwater uttered sweeping
condemnation of the textbooks now
in use in the public schools, and con-
demned them as unscientif1c, untrue
and dishonest. In order to support
these assertions the paper was largely
taken up with technical discussion
of the pathology Of alcoholism. Its
conclusions were that it would be bet
ter for young people to let liquor
alone, but that liquor had been greatly
slandered, and that 1t was very good
drink for some people in moderation.
The formal discussion of the paper
was conducted by Superintendent S. T..
Dutton of Brookline, Mass, and Super
intendent Richard G. Boone of Cincin-
natl, Ohio.
; The sentiments of these speakers
were almost entirely in accord with
Prof. Atwater. Nearly all of them be-
lieved that the text books on alcohol
were an unscientific, unpedagogical and
hypocrtical abomination. On the other
hand, H. Sabin of Des Moines, Iowa,
was an outspoken supporter of the
women and the text books. The ques-
ton was considered of such Importance
it was voted to continue its discussion
today, though the programme naturally
was thrown very much out of plumb.
At the morning session by a vote of
SO to II the educators declined to pass
a resolution memorializing the National
Educational association to promote the
cause of spelling reform by the ap-
pointment of a special commission to
study the subject and report. Action
was deferred for year, and the sub
ject will come up at the next annual
meeting of the department as special
order Of business.
The need of a higher business edu-
cation than that afforded by the pres
ent business colleges was discussed at
the meeting of the National Hobart So
cieuy at the Auditorium.
The convention will close tonight.