Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-10-16
BRArrLEBoRo, FRIDAY, OCT. 10, 1908
School Text Books on Alcohol.

School Text Books on Alcohol.
The public schools are coming in fol
vast amount of criticism nowadays
but If the criticism arises from az
honest desire for improvement, 1t Is q
good sign and shows that the impor-
lance of this great educational factor
In national development and individual
uplifting is not overlooked.
Just now the teachings Of the school
text books on the subject of alcohol are
being overhauled. Somebody ques-
toned the wisdom of teaching children
that alcohol is rank poison and degrad-
ing and dangerous even to taste, con-
sidering that the truth of the assertion
Ia by no means established. Months
ago, Dr. Jacobi in a lecture on 'Tuber-
culosis and Children" before Bur-
lington audience, declared that the
system of physiology now taught in
our schools through the efforts Of Mrs.
Mary H. Hunt and the w. c. 7. U.
and legalized as indispensable instruc-
ton is composed of an incredible
amount of ignorance Joined with fam
atheism" IF you wish some disgust
ing entertainment" he said, read the
text books to see with what rot the
minds of our children are stocked, or
rather confused-books that are paid
for out of the taxes of the people Our
legislature, our children and our schools
are at the mercy of Huntism and Ed
dyism. 1t is no matter for ridicule.'
He strongly advised its displacement
by a few simple rules-a little knowl-
edge combined with common sense.
The Pennsylvania state medical So
ciety's committee, appointed several
years ago to examine school text books
on the subject of alcohol and decide
whether they were sane and intelli-
gent, reports as follows after a critical
examination of fifty-four books relat-
ing to physiology and hygiene in use
In Pennsylvania schools: I'VE are sor-
ry to be compelled to say that the
books supervised by the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union are the
most reprehensible." This conclusion
is in practical agreement with all who
have been over the same ground, in
Guiding the committee Of fifty.
The subject of alcohol as a food or
poison has been widely studied during
the past few years. In France. the
spread of drinking habits among all
classes of the population, has alarmed
all thoughtful minds and various ex-
perts have expressed their views and
experiments. These views do
not agree, but the conclusion seems to
be that alcohol may be food or poi
son, medicine or a stimulant, ac-
cording to conditions of drinker and
The extreme view of teetotalers that
t is always a poison and has no hy-
yienic value is disputed, but they adj
nit that there is really no place for
alcohol in rational diet except in in
Iignificant quantities.
In this country the use of alcoholic I
has nearly doubled since
1880 Nobody questions the evil effects
If their general use. Nobody objects to
,uch teachings of the young in the
public schools as shall acquaint them
.arly with the evils of intemperance
Ind the danger that lies in the use of
llcoholic drinks.
But is it right or wise to teach chill
Ihould not even be tasted, and can any
rood result from it, in a COM
nunity where licenses are granted or
N agency exists for the sale of liquors.;
where wine and beer are used in the
ZONES of the children whose fathers,
doubtless their ideals of wisdom and :
ropriety of conduct, themselves drink
more or less of it?
How can a child possibly reconcile c
hese two impressions-the one he gets t
t school and the one he gets outside c
n his mind so as to get any definite r
oncusion for himself except that he n
, certainly being jollied somewhere a
long the line? s
The result of such teaching is to de- n
troy all confidence in any authority or d
of morality. 1t ranks along
nth some of the laws our legislature
as passed, that sound eminently re- n
pectable and are quoted as deter o
ents" but which are never enforced il
nd only serve to strengthen the popu- 81
II impression that one needn't prac- %
Sc hardly anything one breaches. s,
Let's cut it out of the school books re
: else, let us show the children that ii
e believe it by cutting alcohol out of F
If homes, our town and our state! M
New Ways Not Always Best.