The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-11-19
SCHOOL TEMPERANCE TEACHING

OOUOOL IllIl LIH0NOL ILHOIIlUu
In the recently issued Physiological Aspects Of the Liquor Prob
lem the latest Of the published reports OF the
the committee OF organized 1868 for thorough examination
the aspects question there chapter
particular that will unqusonaby give considerable popular
discussion This chapter is the OF Dr. H. T. Bowdch OF the
Harvard medical school this city and Prof c. f. Hodge of Wocs
ter the American public school instruction the phoo
gca action Of alcohol The report frankly takes the position that much
the socaed scientific temperance instruction the public schools
lis both unscenh and undesirable and endeaor support
tenton by analysis Of the text books prepared this subject
coance with the laws OF various states IN the Onon and by an
yss of the testimony OF considerable number both OF teachers and
Psychologists,
conclusion
reached four The standard books used colleges
vers and medical schools personal letters from PHI oo
&.'S DOM III N"can ana Europe III Wr0n ey sal 'h "dCul
opnons the text books physiology the pubic schools
and finally the testimony OF large number public oo teachers
the value and fitness the books
the system This system, maintained in the report
and primarily the total abstinence Wild all the inhe
determination of reform its point ognaors
led stated unscenhc well uneuca method
instruction In other words the claim put forth that instead Of
scientific truth the public school student being provided with kind
OF aknowedge that later experience is almost show him
both inaccurate and biased thus preparing the reaction
that will eventually often defeat the very ends aimed al b, the present
system of education
essential point against in general use
Throughout the United States to teach the phyosy OF alcohol
illustrated by parallel between teachings about
IS number and used the colleges.
and medical schools In these parallels the naccua OF the aqpov
ed text book stated be often gang ranging indeed
from misstatemen any conscious msament be
quahed scientific teaching what obviously an invocation OF
the bogie in the shape horrible example The point.
out that the brought forward in the support these
text books and announced foremost scientist most skilled
his profession eminent scholar have been recognizable
from the high purposes OF the scientific temperance instruction move
the itself characterized purely
son having been practically responsible for its ognaon nearly
rs for its policy and for every development its history
Concerning the opinion of American and European physoo
results OF circular letter large number of leading
science is said reveal startling chorus dsapprOva only
the grounds of unjustiaby those
false pedagogy With single exception for example the members
OF the American physiological society who replied this circular
opposed present Temperance
continental scientists the letter.
to the scientific world for their interest in the cause Of reform in e use
of the approved American public school books These
supposed represent opinion continental phyoo-
gs general 60 however are quoted as the o
nons of who interested both in the physiology alcohol
science and also the general dmnuton OF its consumption
portan problem in modern civilization
The investigation of the actual working of the present system OF i'll
ucton viewed by the teachers themselves separate
inquiries The first OF these made independently OF the
report by actual examination of the schools Massachusetts in
which this instruction had been given The results which first appear
ed made the Massachusetts board education
urged the report leading conclusions pointing
nadequacy OF the system under Xanaon that the scen
f temperance instruction misnomethe essential elements
scientific study observation and inference being necessarily lack
g that the results in accurate knowledge are meage and out OF pro-
portion the time devoted the subject that false impressions
left the minds of the suden that physiological details
suited young Children that the sentiment Of the school sound
that the conviction that alcohol and tobacco bad things
the Of information acquired that where exaggerated ideas
the effects of stmuants have been gained there danger reaction
result of after knowledge.
In later investigation of the subject
supernendnts and principals 80 cities and towns Massachusetts,
representing children and about teachers covering that
is something than quarter of the total number OF public school
population In the question: What the results of this
instruction? 20 per thought excellent good
and considered them little bad Foryone per
however with degree Of favor the disciplinary
of the work although the number took the oppo
site position This of represents only the of Massa
chusets but slips containing of questions later dis
buted by Dr. Bowdch and Prof Hodge school teachers
York. where the law providing for temperance instruction especially
stringent well Wisconsin and Massachusetts where the law is
much moderate In of the
of teachers each instance declared themselves opposed the
teaching of alcohol physiology by the department
c temperance Instruction. the making of such instruction compu
by state law the approved and ndod school phyoogs
and finally the results of such being instead
good although regard results opinion Wisconsin appeared
be evenly divided.
apparent the conclusion that there has been