Connecticut western news., 1901-03-14
SAVE THE LAW
And Save the Children.

In 1898 the General Assembly OF the
State of Connecticut passed law coz
corning the instruction of physiology
and hygiene in the public schools OF
this state, which reads as follows:
Section 1.-The nature of alcoholic
drinks AND narcotics, and special in
struction as to their effects upon the
human system in connection with the
several divisions of the subject of physi-
ology and hygiene shall be included IN
the bra lches of study taught in the
common or public schools, and shall be
studied and taught as other like requir-
ed branches by the use of graded text
books in the hands of pupils where
other branches are thus studied, and
orally in the case of p Ipils unable to
read, and by all pupils IN all schools,
supported wholly or IL part by public
money.
Section 1.-The textbooks used for
instruction required by the preceding
section for intermediate and primary
pupils shall give at least one-tifth OF
their space to the consideration of the
nature and effect OF alcohol drinks and
narcotics, and the books used in the
highest grade of graded schools shall
contain at least twenty pages of matter
relating to this subject; but when this
subject is massed wholly or in part in
chapter or chapters at the end of a
book, such book shall not be considered
as meeting the requirements of this law.
Section 8, 1t shall be the duty OF all
school visitors to report to the comp
troller if the provisions of this act have
not been complied with, as specified
within the preceding sections; and any
failure thus reported. or otherwise salts
factorily proven shall be deemed sufi-
cient cause for withholding the amount
of school dividend which such district
or districts are otherwise entitled to re-
ceive.
Section 4.-No certificate shall here
after be granted to any person to teach
in the public schools of Connecticut,
who has not passed satisfactory exami-
nation in physiology and hygiene with
special reference to the effects and ma
ture of alcoholic drinks aud other mar
cotics upon the human system.
Section 5.-Sections 2100 aud 2l4l of
the General Statutes ars hereby repeal
ed.
Approved May 26th, 1888"
All but two states of our Union have
similar laws requiring that the effect of
alcoholic stlmulents be taught to pupils
attending common or public schools.
There is at present before the Com
mittee on Education in the present
Legislature a bill providing for the re-
peal of the above act, mainly upon the
ground that the textbooks that have
been furnished by the state do not full
fill the requirements and expectations
which were originally intended; and al
so that they contain erroneous state
ments. None of the laws require the
Endorsement of any person in order 10
introduce them into the public schools.
A number of school boards have
adopted those approved by Mrs Mary
q. Hunt, superintendent for The Ma
tional and Worlds W. @. T. U. Depart
ment of Scientific Temperance Instruc-
ton including the advisory board of
eleven men, which includes educators,
clergymeu and physicians.
More than thirty different textbooks
on physiology have received their in
dorsement.
IL has been claimed that these books
Contain exaggerations in reference to
alcohol and narcotics.
A short time ago three eminent ply
sicians known to be opposed to this in
struction were chosen TO examine and
report upon these textbooks. After
carefully going over the thirty books
they found seven statements which they
called incorrect. Upon q more thorough
Investigation five of these errors, SO
called, were found to be supported by
the highest medical authorities in exist
ence.
Charles S. Davis, superintendent of
schools in Amsterdam. N. Y, reported
in January 1900 Scientific Temper
snce Teaching under what is known as
the Ainsworth Law is growing in use
fitness and popularity. A few years
ago the study was almost universally
opposed by teachers At the present
time the law is observed everywhere,
not only in letter but in spirit. In this
city the study is popular with teachers
and pupils. We have every reason to
believe the influence of this work upon
those now in schools will be felt through
all their future lives This is not speeu-
lation merely; the results are already
beginning to appear.
In Pennsylvania there has been q
strong Temperance Instruction law in
existence for II years. The study has
dropped into regular routine. The
teachers have been greatly helped by
instruction at the Normal schools and
institutes which has given them q
thorough preparation for teaching the
subject. In late article by Drs Egg
bert and Woodbury. in the Journal of
The American Medical Association they
say. "a large share of the increased in
terest taken by the people in the sub.
iect of general sanitation is in our opin-
ion due to the systematic study of
physiology and hygiene, including the
scientific temperance instruction, which
has for some years been a part of the
regular course of study for all pupils in
our public schools"
The question now stands before the
people of the state of Connecticut
whether the interests of the rising gen.
Grafton will be best served by repeal
of the law, which will teach to that gen.
Grafton the psychological reasons
against the formation of narcotic habits,