The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
TEMPERANCE TEACHING
SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE INSTRUC.
TIGN- SAID TO BE WRONG.
School Textbooks Analysed by Eek.
perts and Declared to BE I'm
scientific.

BOSTON, Oct. 10.-In the recently issued
physiological Aspects of the Liquor Prob
lem," the latest of the published reports of
the various subcommittee of the Com
n1ittee of Fifty, organized in 1898 for a thor
ough examination of the different aspects of
the vital question. there is one chapter in
particular that will unquestionably give rise
to considerable popular discussion. This
chapter is the report of DR.. II. p. Bow
ditch, of the Harvard Medical School in
this city, and Prof. c. F. Hodge. of Worces-
ter, on the present American public school
instruction on the physiological action Of
alcohol. The report frankly takes the posi-
ton that much of the so-called scientific
temperance instruction i'm the public
schools is both unscientifc and undesira BILE,
and enedavors to support its contention by
an analysis OF the textbooks prepared on
this subject in accordance with the laws of
various States in the Union, and by an
analysis of the testimony of a considerable
number both of teachers and psychologists.
The sources of information from which
this conclusion has been reached are four;
the standard textbooks now used in COL
leees, universities and medical schools; per-
sonal letters from prominent psychologists
both in America and Europe in which they
state their individual opinions; the text
books of physiology now in use in the
public schools: and, finally, the testimony
of large number of public school teach
ers, questioned as to the value and fitness
of the books and the results of the system.
This system, it is maintained in the re-
port, is not true physiological study of
alcohol, but rather the total abstinence re-
a G mr. he fnf2 a h.
stinence movement, with all the inherent
point its originators were led, so it is
stated, into an unscientific as well as I'M
educational method of instruction. In other
words, the claim is put forth that instead
of scientific truth the public school stu
dent is being provided with a kind OF half
knowledge that later experience is almost
certain to show him is both inaccurate and
biased, thus preparing the way for a re-
action that will eventually often defeat the
very ends aimed at by the present system
of education.
A COMPARISON OF BOOKS.
The essential point made against the text
books now in general use throughout the
United States to teach the physiology Of
alcohol is illustrated by parallel between
the teachings OF these textbooks, about
twenty-five in number, and the standard
works used in the colleges, universities and
medical schools. In these parallels the in
accuracy of the approved textbook is
stated to be often glaringly apparent, rang
ing indeed from a mere misstatement-if
any conscious misstatement may be so quail
flied in scientific teaching-to what is OBJ
viously an invocation of the bogie man in
the shape of a horrible example" The
report points out that the names brought
forward in the past to support these same
textbooks, and announced as foremost
scientist or most skilled in his profess
SION or eminent scholar have not been
recognizable as authorities on this par
ticuar subject of alcohol. Without detract-
ing from the high purposes of the scientific
temperance instruction" movement the
movement itself is characterized as purely
autocratic, one person having been prac-
tically responsible for its origination. now
nearly twenty-five years ago, for its policy
and for every development in its history.
Concerning the opinion of American.
and even European, psychologists touch
ing this present SYSTEM of education, a
brief summary of the results of a circular
letter sent 10 idTSe number OF leading
men of science is said TO revea: a startling
chorus of disapproval, not only on the
grounds of unjustiliably inaccurate science.
but also on those of false pedagogy With
single exception, for example the twen-
ty-one members of the American Physio-
logical Society who replied TO this circular
were opposed to the present scientific tenn
persnce instruction" OF the eight conti-
mental scientists who answered the letter.
seven are known to the scientific world for
| their interest in the cause OF reform in the
use of alcohol, yet OF this number only one
| was willing TO approve the OF the APP
| proved American public school textbooks.
These answers are not supposed to repre-
sent the opinion OF the Continental physi-
| ologists in general; so far as they go. how
ever. they are quoted as the opinions OF
men who are interested both in the physi-
ology of alcohol as a science and also in
| the general diminution OF its consumption
as an important problem in modern civili-
| zation.
| WHAT TEACHERS SAY
| The investigation of the actual working
| of the present system OF instruction. as
| viewed By the teachers themselves covers