The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-11

terested both in the physiology of al
cohol as a science and also in the gen.
eral diminution of its consumption as
an important problem in modern civ
ilization.
The investigation of the actual work.
ing of the present system of instruc-
ton, as viewed by the teachers them
selves covers several separate in
quiries. The first of these was made,
an actual examination of the schools
in Massachusetts in which this in
struction had been given. The results,
which first appeared in a report made
to the Massachusetts State Board of
Education, are urged in the report as
leading to several conclusions all
pointing to the inadequacy of "the
system under examination" that the
term scientific temperance instruction
is a misnomer-the two essential Gle
ments of scientific study, observation
and inference, being necessarily lack
ing; that the results in accurate knowl-
edge are meager and out of proper
ton to the time devoted to the sub
ject; that many false Impressions are
left in the minds of the students; that
hystological details are not suited
to young children; that the sentiment
of the school is sound. in that the con-
viction that alcohol and tobacco are
bad things to use is universal, but that
the strength of this sentiment does
not depend on the amount of informa-
ton acquired; that where exaggerated
ideas of the effects of stimulants have
been gained there is danger of re-
action as a result of after knowl-
edge.
In a later investigation of the same
subject letters were sent to superin-
tendents and principals of thirty eight
cities and towns in Massachusetts, rep
resenting 10000 children and about T.
600 teachers, covering, that is, some
thing more than a quarter of the total
number of public school population. In
answer to the question: Wrat are the
results of this instruction? % per cent.
thought the results excellent, medium
or good and - per cent. considered
them little, none or bad. Al per cent,
however, looked with a certain degree
of favor on the disciplinary value of
the work although the greater number
or So per cent. took the opposite posi-
ton. This, of course, represents only
the one state of Massachusetts; but
500 slips, containing a series of ques-
tons, were later distributed by DR..
Bowditch and Prof. Hodge to school
teachers in New York, where the law
providing for temperance instruction
is especially stringent, as we'll as in
Wisconsin and Massachusetts where
the law is much more moderate. In
answer to series of questions. the
majority of teachers in each instance
declared themselves opposed to the
present teaching of alcohol physiology
as promoted by the department of
scientific temperance instruction; to
the making of such instruction COM
pulsory by state law; to the approved
and Endorsed" school physiologies; and
finally to the results of such instruc-
ton as being bad instead of good, al
though, in regard to results opinion in
Wisconsin appeared to be evenly
divided
1t is apparent. says the report in con-
clusion, that there has been grated
upon the public school systems of near
ly all our states an educational scheme
relating to alcohol that Is neither scien-
titc, nor temperate, nor instructive.
Failing to observe the distinction be-
tween the Numerically opposite con-
ceptions of use and abuse, some of
its advocates have not hesita ted to
teach our children that the terrible re-
suits of a prolonged use Of alcohol may
be expected to follow any dep lrture
from total abstinence. The success
attained by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union to secure the desired
legislation may be readily explained by
the sympathy sure to be felt by all in
telligent people for any sincere attempt
to combat one of the most gigantic evils
of modern times. s That the origi-
majors of this educational scheme were
honest in their intentions there is no
reason to doubt, but they have violated
sound principles of pedagogy in forcing
subjects upon the attention OF children
at an age when their minds cannot
possibly be adapted to comprehend
them, and have shown themselves alb
solutely indifferent to the demoralza-
ton of our educational system result
ing from forcing teachers to give in
structon in a way which their ex-
perience has shown them to be Ill
adapted to accomplish the ends in view,
and from compelling children to mem
oriZe statements sure to BE- contra
dicted by the experience of their later
lives"