The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-02

lions Urged Against Proposed NIodi
fication-New Law Does Not IncIud.
Children in the First Three Grades, o,
I'm the High school,
Rev. Duane N. Griffin, pastor of st.
Andrews M. E. church, in a vigorous
sermon last Sunday preached against
the proposed modifcat ton of the present
state temperance education law now
being considered at Hartford The OBJ
Jections urged by those who are work
ing against the proposed law are sum-
married by Mr. Griffin as follows:
!. The law as it now stands pro-
vides for the systematic study and iD[
struction of all pupils in all schools
supported in whole or in part by the
public money. The proposed law does
not include the children in the first
three grades. This l believe to be a
great mistake. There is no more criti-
cal period in a childs life than that be-
tween the ages of five or six and eight
or nine. This period has been fittingly
characterized as the plastic or forma-
tive age. 1t Is the most impressible
and initiative period in the whole life of
the child. 1t is time when he follows
without question his teacher and imi-
tates his parent in whatever he does.
If the father drinks his boy wants to
also. If he is profane his boy becomes
profane likewise. If he smokes the boy
says he will some time. How impor-
tant, then, that the child have the best
possible example and training. LAS
the twig is bent the tree inclines" and
IAN ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure" are trite but true say
tngs. In Chicago there is one street on
which twenty kindergarten saloons
have been fitted up with rocking horses,
games, toys, etc, where small children
play and spend their pennies for liquor.
Verify 1.-THE children of this world are
wiser in their day and generation than
the children of light" In the Masters
word picture of the final judgment the
bitterest punishment is pronounced
against the sin of omission. "Inasmuch
as We did it not unto one of the least
of these We did it, not to Me-" 1t is es-
timated that fifty per cent. of the chill
dren in the public schools of our coun-
try never get beyond the lower grades, |
and only five per cent. ever reach the ]
high school. Have we any moral right I
to bar out any of these children from
scientific temperance instruction?
2. In the present law the high school
is included, but in the proposed law it
is excluded. Now, the high school age
is also an extremely critical one. 1t is
q period of self-assertion and decision
of character, when the pupil frequently
refuses to follow either example or pre-
cept, but chooses and acts for himself.
'"These years of adolescence" says Pro-
fessor Coe in his new book "The Spir-
itual Life,'' ''are in many respects the
most important in the life of the indi-
vidual." This is a time when tempta
tions increase rapidly in number and
power, hence a time when our youth
need Zine upon line, precept upon pre-
cept here little and there a little" I
am informed by eye witnesses that
many of the high school boys in New
Haven have acquired the cigarette fab-
1t. From thirty to fifty are frequently
seen smoking at once. 1t certainly is
a great mistake to except this Adde'S
cent period Daniel Webster once said
1T is the undoubted right and bounden
luty Of government to provide for the
instruction of all youth" Our law as it
low stands does SO.
8. The present is definite as to the
amount Of teaching on this subject; the $
proposed one is indefinite One hour a {
year would fulfill the letter of the pro-
posed law. t
4. The present law calls for a certain ,
standard of text books, which have the /
unqualified endorsement of eminent ed
,nly in this country, but abroad. The
proposed law only mentions suitable :
ext books" sand says not word
whether they shall contain one page or
fifty on this subject. +
5. The present law requires that all b
eachers shall pass a satisfactory ex- '
mination in physiology and hygiene, a
With special reference to the nature of A
lcohol and narcotics and their effects =
n the human system. The proposed n
MEASURE excerpts all those which teach Il
I the first three grades Il
6. The present law provides as a Q,
enalty that nom conformity to the law o.
a sufficient cause for Withholding the
mount Of school dividend from the dis ~
riot which thus offends. The proposed =,
1easure provides that it may be with
cid in whole or in part. One cent
-ithheld would meet the letter of the
wv Gn the state of New York many
lstricts have been refused their money II
)r non-enforcement.)
z. The. present law says alcoholic
Kinks" g. e., wine beer, cider, etc.)- w
lie special temptation of children. The u
roposed law says alcohol" Few peo-
e indeed drink pure alcohol This is u
ot the children's danger. -
s. The present law provides for the -
aching of the nature of alcoholic
inks and narcotics. and their effects Va
1on the human system. The proposed 80
easure omits all reference to the ma rS
re of these things and requires that le
e effects only shall be taught. This E'
very grave omission. But it is ar ST
led, 1--WE do not know the nature of
ese things so cannot teach it," This r.
lection is at most only technical. We
have a practical knowl- AL
ge of their nature. Christ said, by
cir fruits We shall know them" do
an gather grapes of thorns or figs of
lstles?" Does not the stream reveal nt
e character of the fountain? When by
horse acts viciously do We not logi- Hs
lily conclude that the horse itself is fol
,ious? In this age of research and pc