The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-12

ills Of mankind. The innocent suf-
fer with the guilty and the sins of
the fathers are verify visited upon
the third and fourth generations.
Syphilis, the most contagious of al
diseases, has contributed more dere-
licts to society than any other cause
Yet this disease, as our laws now
stand, is not controlled at all when
in fact the greatest glory of the state
should be to protect and elevate its
manhood and womanhood. that each
succeeding esnsrston may De
stronger than the one preceding.
II any one has any doubt az 10 the
situation In our State or as to the
danger to our people, let them study
the situation, seek information from
the State Board OF Health, from any
leading physician with general
practice. Those who do so will be
amazed at the extent and Mortified at
the results. In the practice OF my
profession not long since, | traced
eleven cases from one person. Four
of the victims had died, one was in a
poor house, a helpless paralytic, and
the others destined TO lives OF suf-
| fering
What laws should be enacted? A
| bill was presented TO the last Legisla-
lures making such cases reportable
to Health Boards II failed OF pas
sage. 1t Is claimed that such law
providing for reporting by numbers,
not names, has greatly reduced raw
ages in Northern Europe. In Ger
many, a demand is made that the
| one knowingly communicating a di'
sease OF the kind be held personally
responsible. Our State Board Of
Health has taken step in the right
direction by abolishing the public
drinking cup. a well known source OF
communication.
We should have laws to provide
for and compel treatment of INDECENT
patients. We should provide for in
struction in sex hygiene within sane
limits; require the State Board o.
Health to distribute leaflets stating
the nature OF the diseases and the
manner in which they may be con
tracted, ways in which they may b'
transmitted and pointing out theil
far-reaching consequences. We should
provide for a general educationa
campaign by experts under STATE
appropriation. There is far more
need OF an educational campaign
against vice diseases than agains
tuberculosis. Ignorance is the cause
Of great deal of the trouble. Thu
victims do not know about them.
Let us do something that thes'
diseases, in the words of an authorl
ty, cannot longer carry on thei
slaughter unhampered, unchecked
and undisturbed, devastating cominl
generations and running the presen
one" Let US try to stop one poten
cause for the degeneration in man,
OF our communities. That would b.
progressive legislation.
Practical betterment OF Our Schoo
System, by placing without discriml
nation, the opportunity OF education
within the reach Of all our children.
That we have good school syE
tenn is beyond question, but it's wor
is directed to the end of preparin
.. for college. Our system has bee
gradually improved during recen
years. In 1906 | introduced what bC
came the present school supervisio
law. This was great step in &C
vance. Taking the country as
whole only LII of our students are i
the college grades and 5.35 per cen
in the secondary or high schoC
, grades, leaving 1898 per cent in tn
! elementary grades Therefore onl
a comparatively small number of tn
| student body ever take advantage @
that and to which our school systeI
is directed. ] have not the exac
statistics for our state but our sitl
.. alton is not far different from that G
: the country as whole.
Now We should do more to prepar
our boys and girls for their work /
,, life, prepare them to do that whic
they will do In the actual battle G
life. We have made a good star
; along the agricultural line at Rar
dolph and Lyndonville.
! would not do away with our pres
ent high school courses, but woul
add to them such instruction as wosl
, afford an opportunity to secure tAd
= training which will most benefit tn
scholars. In other words, woul
direct the efforts Of our public school
to the taking care OF the 80 per Ger
OF the children OF the common pee
I, pie who cannot afford to 60 to colleg
! and must become the toilers.
: short, would direct a liberal propo
, ton OF our school appropriations {
the end of advancing vocational edl
cation, and In maintaining the eff,
!, iency Of schools In our so-called bac
: towns.
Congress will soon pass the Pag
= Vocational Education bill. This DR.,
!, yIdes for federal aid in encouragin
!, instructions in agricultures. trade
industries and home economics in tn
!, secondary schools. II presuppose
= and the able report of our junior sci
: ator demonstrates the necessity. |
!, order to obtain Federal aid under III
!, provisions OF this bill the states mus
appropriate sum equal TO that as
: ed for from the federal government.
= would get our educational system int
4 shape to take full advantage OF Fee
! eral aid.
. We are spending thousands of dc
: lars annually In teaching those thinl
n which are OF no practical value In h
. actual struggle for existence. W
should send our boys out of schol
!, with trained mind and tralne
!, hand equipped for the battle OF III
a In Germany every boy. even the sor
= OF the Emperor, must learn a trad
2 herein lies the secret of the strengt
= OF that nation and it's growth in fort
. years from an extremely poor TO or
. OF the richest nations OF the world
Our STATE annnrlnInnhnni rnrn