New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-02
TEMPERANCE TEXTBOOKS.
A CRITICISM OF THOSE NOW IN USE IN THE
SCHOOLS MADE BY MRS PETTTNGILI.

A CRITICISM OF THOSE NOW IN USE IN THE
SCHOOLS MADE BY MRS. PETTTNGILL.
Delegates from its twenty local unions and repre-
sentatives Of many kindred organizations filed the
Embury Methodist Church, at Lewis-ave. and De-
catur-st. Brooklyn, at the three sessions of the
eighteenth annual convention Of the Kings County
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. now IN
progress there.
a paper on Scientific Temperance Instruction"
by Mrs. E T. PettingiI. State superintendent of
that department. made the discussions
and arguments from State superintendent down
through the ranks Of teachers against the teaching
OF temperance in the public schools. She said in
part:
The womans Christian Temperance Union stands
Tor great truth and a principle which underlies
The ethics OF morality, religion, honesty. purity
citizenship. The var upon temperance textbooks
n the public schools has been fierce. and the end
that the textbooks provided for the scientific teach
ing sa o. Temperance are equal TO modern textbook
ehaIl reply that uanv Of the indorsed books have
printed with changes made necessary by laws OF
ae Stae " nile these books contain the scientl1o
Iacts which this organization claims should be
taught am not ready TO say that in regard TO
The manner Of presentation the best possible book
ground nut / want TO call attention 70 the TACT
mar has been entirely overlooked by that large part
81 the public which throws upon the Woman,s
pity Of tnis law and its operation-that authors
sne puonsners a-e responsible for the textbooks
can cordially assert that Of the textbooks
mat have received hostile criticism and others
more recently introduced Of the latter ones
are much more objectionable, from both scientific
ana moral standpoints.
Regarding Professor Atwater's theory that alco-
Do Is food. Mrs. Pettingil declared that the best
authorities the subject differed with him. Both
Science and history show" she said that the harm
from alcohol overbaIances the good"
TEACH POOR MOTHERS HYGIENE
Mothers Meetings and Child Culture was the
subject Of an address by Mrs NJ. Weed county
superintendent of TIE department bearing that
title Seven workers from various local unions are
engaged in the work Of that section. she said
These women visit homes of the poor in foreign
quarters Of the borough and mothers in the
art Of home making. They give them practical
lessons in tho clothing. feeding and OF their
babies. teach them TO keep their rooms more tidy
csen IN the rearing Of the older children. Many
" he people thus benefited by them Polish
.eNs ana Italians who are ignorant OF the hrst
essentials Of hygiene. The visitors also make
friends with the young girls of the family, and in
sLFuct them regarding the customs and habits or
LIS country. and In cases where IL Is necessary
that the work Of the proposed girls clubs will come.
BOYS clubs also of the hopes of the future.
N the annual report Of the eighty-tw0 deputy
sher1ffs appointed by the county sheriff under the
direction Of the WOmans Christian Temperance
I4on, good work was apparent. Many or these OF
lsd4s are clergymen. and IL is their duty 10 guard
mat the law prohibiting the sale OF beer 10 minors
= enforced. check the playing of craps on the
street. and watch the smoking Of cigarettes When
oie OF these deputies sees young girl going INTO
-r choice the station house with him
70 ner mother As the lesser of two evils she chooses