The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

results in accurate knowledge are meagre
 and out of proportion to the time devoted
 to the subject; that many false impress
 sions are left in the minds of the stu
 dents that physiological details are not I suited to young children; that the senti- ment of the school is sound in that the conviction that alcohol and tobacco are bad things to use is universal, but that the strength of this sentiment does not depend on the amount oc information acquired; that where exaggerated ideas of the effects of stmulants have been gained there is danger of a reaction as result of after knowledge
 In later investigation of the same subject letters were sent to superntend- ents and principals of thirty-eight cities and towns in Massachusetts, represent ing 1S0,OO0 children and about 4.OOO teach ers covering, that is, something more than quarter of the total number of public school population In answer to the question: What are the results of this instruction?' Twenty-eight per cent thought the results excellent, medium or good and seventy two per cent consid- cred them little, none or bad. Forty-one per cent looked with a certain degree of favor on the disciplinary value of the work, although the greater number or III. This of course represents only the one state of Massachusetts; but 800 slips. containing series of questions, were later distributed by Dr. Bowditch and Professor Hodge to school teachers in New York. where the law providing for temperance instruction is especially strin- gent as we'll as in Wisconsin and Mass achusetts, where the law is much more moderate In answer to a series of ques- tions, the majority of teachers in each in- stance declared themselves opposed to the present teaching of alcohol physio- ogy as promoted by the department of scientific temperance instruction; to the making of such instruction compulsory by state law; to the approved and in- dorsed' school physiologies; and finally to the results of such instruction IS be- ing bad instead of good, although, in re- gard to results. opinion in Wisconsin ap- peared to be evenly divided.
 Tt is apparent" says the report in conclusion. that there has been grafted upon the public school systems of nearly all our states an educational scheme re- lating to alcohol that is neither scientific nor temperate nor instructive. Failing to observe the distinction between the dia- metrically opposite conception of use and 'abuse some of it's advocates have not hestitate to teach our children that the terrible results of Il prolonged use of alcohol may be expected to follow any departure from total abstinence. The success attained by the Womans Chris tian Temperance Union to secure the de- sired legislation may be readily explain- ed by the sympathy sure to be felt by ali intelligent people for any sincere at tempt to combat one of the most gigantic evils Of modern times. That the orgiuators of this educational scheme were honest in their intentions there is no reason to doubt, but they have vio- lated sound principles of pedagogy in forcing subjects upon the attention of children at an age when their minds can not possibly ne adapted to comprehend them and have shown themselves abso-
 utely indifferent to the demoralization of our educational system resulting from forcing teachers to give instruction in a way which their experience has shown them to be il-adapted to accomplish the ends in view. and from compelling chill dren to merorize statements sure to be ccntradictcd by the experience of their la.er lives