Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-16
TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION.
Mrs. L. M. NJ. Stevens Gives Out
Statement of the Movement.


Statement of the Movement.
lnasmuch as many inquiries have re-
Gently reached me regarding temperance
instruction in the public schools l will
be grateful for space in the Kennebec
journal to make the following statement.
About 50 years ago the National Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union in
augurated the movement to secure tenn
perance teaching in the public schools, be-
lieving this to be the best way to reach
the masses of the young people to educate
them on any topic. AS the result of this
for upwards of 20 years laws have existed
to that end in all of the states. and be-
sides this there has been Congressional
legislation by means of which the terri
tories, dependencies and the District OF
Columbia have similar laws. In 1850
Maine adopted the following:
AN ACT relating to Scientific Tenn
perance Instruction in Public schools.
Be it enacted. etc, as follows:
Sec. !. Provision shall be made by
the proper local school authorities for
instructing all pupi's in all schools
supported by public money. or under
State control. in physiology and by
giene, with special reference to the
effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulantS
and narcotics upon the human system.
Sec. ,. No certificate shall be grant
ed any person to teach in the public
schools of this state after the fourth
day of July, eighteen hundred and
eighty-iive, who has not passed a
satisfactory examination in physiolO-
Sy and hygiene. with special reference
to the effects of alcoholic drinks, slim
uants, and narcotics upon the hui
man system.
approved February 49, 1851
The state superintendent of schools
ment and as rule the educators and
teachers have observed the requirements
of the law. Some of them, however. have
given to it much more attention than
others
The Womans Christian Temperance
Union believes that this branch should be
taught as are all other studies with text
books in the hands of the pupils. In
many of the states and in this State to
some extent it is so taught In some
states the law is much more definite than
it is in Maine. For instance the Idaho
law. quite recently amended. now reads:
SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE INSTRUC-
TION LAW.
Copy of Senate Bill No so
BE it enacted by the Legislature of the
State of Idaho.
Section |. That physiology and by
giene, which shall in each division of
the subject so pursued. include special
reference to the nature of alcoholic
drinks, stimulants, and narcotics and
their effect upon the human system.
which shall be included in the branches
of study required by law to be taught in
the common schools of this state. and
shall be introduced and studied in a
regular branch during each-scheol term,
or during such portion of each school
term as may be necessary to enable the
pupils to pass prescribed examinations,
IN the text book on SAID study, furnished
the respective grades and corresponding
classes in ungraded schools. i'm all de-
partments of the common schools of the
state in state reformatories and in all
educational institutions supported wholly
or in part by appropriations by the state
1t shall be the duty of the board of
trustees of the several school districts
tative textbook that can be obtained on
said study, and also to provide needed
facilities, and to arrange definite time
and place for this branch in the regular
course of study. The textbooks in the
pupils hands shall be graded in accord
ance with their respective school grades
and CORRESPONDENCE i'm ungraded schools
and in the lower grades where textbooks
on said subjects are not in the hands of
pupils. oral instruction in this subject
shall be given by teachers using illustra-
tons, charts, and standard textbooks
adapted for such oral instructions, and
the same test shall be required in this
DTdlCn LOT DFOfQOtlOn as III OtneF studies
section In all teachers training
classes in the normal schools OF this
state, and in teachers institutes, aue-
quate time and attention shall be given
teaching this branch, and competent lee
turers ON this subject shall be secured
for teachers Institutes and associations.
Section 8. The superintendent of state
reformatories shall make suitable pro-
vision for teaching of this branch in said
rcformatofcs.
that any teacher has wilfully refused or
neglected To teach this subject as herein
provided, the state or county superin-
tendent shall revoke the certificate of
made, however, without notice to such
teacher and the consideration of such
evidence as may be produced in his sup
port.
ifApproved March H. 1902
DR.. Edith Smith Davis, Wisconsin, is
superintendent of this department for the
Worlds and National w. C. T. L. Among
the many counselors of the department
are the following we'll known men: c.
Sims Woodhead Prof. of Pathology, Cam
bridge University: James Z. Bashford,
Bishop NJ. f. church. Shanghai, China:
Taav Laitenen, NJ. D.. Prof. of Hygiene,
Helsingfors University, Finland; David
Starr Jordan. President Leland Stanford,
Raycroft. Phi. D.. Department of Physi-
cal Education University of Chicago ILL.,:
j. f. McGarvery, u. D., Kentucky Uni
versity. Lexington. Ky; George H. Mar
tin, Phi. D.. See State Board of Educa-
ton Boston, Mass
Or. Davis was United States govern
ment delegate to the Anti-Alcohol Con-
gress at The Hague in 1911 and she has
done effective work in other countries as
well as in our own
1t is needless to add that the w. C. T.
Y, everywhere is deeply interested in the
formative and educational phases of the
temperance movement.
LILLIAN NJ. N STEVENS.
state of Ohio City of Toledo.
Lucas County, IS
FRANK j. Cheney makes oath that he Is