The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-02
CALLS A HALT.
Prof. Sedgwick Thinks School Physi-
ologies Need Revision.


Chicago, Jan. 2-Scientific temperance
instruction as taught in the public
schools from the textbooks now in use,
together with nti-vivisection, anti
vaccination and Christian Science, were
denounced by Prof. William T. Sedg
wick, president of the American Asso-
citation of NaturaliStS, at a banquet
given by members of the scientific so
cieties now in session at the University
of Chicago.
'It is a notorious and disgracefuI
fact" said Prof. Sedgwick, that APP
parently with & view of pleasing a self
constituted Oligarchy, some writers have
even made alcoholic instruction the be-
ginning, the middle and the end of their
textbooks. OF such books it may be
truly said that they have no per-
manency of their own and with dlfh-
Guilty would be preserved in school,"
President Sedgwick's address was
upon THE Modern Subjugation of Sci
ence and Education to Propaganda
Scientific temperance instruction" he
said, has grown to such proportions
and has gained such power as to doni-
nate almost all instruction in elemen-
tary physiology and hygiene in America.
1t is right, of course, that pupils should
be taught the danger of alcohol and
narcotics, but teachers often go too far,
and it even appears that all instruction
in physiology and hygiene in public
schools has passed to a great and I'M
justifable extent into the hands and
under the subjugation Of the temper
ance propaganda
President Sedgwiclx believes that there
should be little or no state regulation
of what shall appear in textbooks
Scarcely had science and education"
he said, freed themselves from the
church when they began to be threat
ened by Subjugation to the state. While
it is right that youth should be taught
the dangers of alcohol, believe that 1t
act amount of such teaching should be
prescribed by law; that the method of
teaching by textbooks and the space
devoted to it in the textbooks should
be legally regulated by law, but espe-
cially that the kind of textbooks used
should be largely determined by self
constituted and unofficial oligarchy-
leaders of a propaganda which is neither
educational or scientific.
The effect of these peculiar laws, he
said, had been to create a peculiar class
of textbooks, some of which were pre-
pared by competent writer's, but most
were inferior and some were distinctly
bad.
mo wise educator" he continued,
"who has given any attention to the
subject can deny the influence of this
powerful propaganda has been in most
cases inimical to the proper teaching
of physiology and hygiene in the lower
schools.
Teachers, principals and superin-
tendents, and even school committees,
are seldom to speak with perfect frank
ness on the subject from fear of in
body of scientific men like the American
Society of Naturalists and the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement
of Science to put on record their Opin-
ion that the subjugation under which
science and education are today suffer-
ing from the temperance propaganda
has become intolerable."
The election of officers of the Amer
lean Association of Naturalists resulted
as follows:
President, ]. NICK CatteI, of Column
bia
Vice presidents, L. o. Howard of
Washington and D. P. Penhallow of
McGill university
Secretary, r. G. Harrison, of Johns
Hopkins
Treasurer. M. M. Metca1f, of the We
mems college, Baltimore.
A resolution was adopted by the So
ciety favoring the bill pending in con-
gress providing for the preservation of
the cliff dwellings in Colorado by form
ing there a national park.