Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-04-15
w. C.. T. u.
MOST IMPORTANT WORK FOR
THE w. c. 7. u.

MOST IMPORTANT WORK FOR
THE w. c. I. u.
(The following paper by a Barton
w. C. T. U. member was recently read
before meeting of that organization
At first thought this subject seems
to mean, the task that devolves upon
the individual. in assisting in the great
work that the organization is doing
for society. but as one thinks upon the
topic more deeply, 1T seems to mean
the most important work that the
Union can perform for the communities
in which it exists.
There is no doubt that the great
est and most lasting work that falls to
the w. G. T. U. is that of education.
which may for the purpose of defni.
ton and explanation. be divided into at
least four principal divisions: that of
the local community spirit, of special
classes of society affected by the
drink traffic and its attendant vices.
that of the nation as whole, especial
ly directed to political movements, and
that of the youth through systematic
temperance instruction.
The educational work done locally by
the w. G. T. u. is most important, in
that it covers much wider field than
is usually understood by temperance
with reference to intoxicating liquors.
1t means bringing the business men
and the town officials to see the advan-
tage of clean town, morally as we'll
as specifically, the advantage of rigid
enforcement of existing laws, and the
cultivation of Christian community
spirit 1t means the carrying forward
To q f111 1oti
ment which may result in community
uplift.
Oftentimes it involves standing alone
in taking the initiative, in cleaning up
local plague spots, which have existed
so long that the community has become
so accustomed to them, as to be almost
acquiescent in the belief, that it is best
to let well enough alone, as long as it
does not become any worse. The NOR.
al and social conditions in any commu-
nifty depend upon what the majority of
the self-respecting people believe they
ought to be, or allow them tn be. and
for that reason. il is The duty Of The
w. G. T. u. to investigate underlying
conditions, and to educate the people
generally, as to what these conditions
are, and the means to improve them.
In manufacturing and factory viii
lagos there are special classes of both
sexes. whose education is so deficient
that in their leisure hours they have
nothing within themselves to create
wholesome and improving means of rec
reation and enjoyment but if left to
diversions would naturally be attracted
to cheap and harmful methods of
amusement In such villages and cities
it is the especial province of the W. G.
TT to nr0x1iIo C,si cf,r11o
amusement and recreation.
The educational film in cities is prov
ing one of the best means for sanitary,
hygienic and temperance instruction,
thus minimizing the effect of the cheap
moving pictures.
The nation as whole has gradually
become alive to the importance of po-
litical suppression of the traffic in in
toXicating liquors.
In the South and West there are
found increasing dry areas under coun-
ty or state option. In all the nation
wide campaign. the w. C. T. U. has
had a large part but just now when the
battle is partly won, there must be no
cessation of the National Campaign of
temperance education which should
reach down to every local society.
But above all else, the success of
any temperance movement of the fu-
ture must rest upon the education of
the children of today. The w. G.. T. u.
in the past has made some mistakes in
this part of its work but possibly no
more than have been made in any
other part Of the educational system to
the present time.
Everywhere in the past few years
there has been the feeling that our
public schools are not doing what they
onght to give the child a preparation
FOR the actual business of everyday liv-
ing. Educators are endeavoring to
make the school fit the child and not
the child fit the school. They have
come to realize that the school is not
machine through which to run differ
ent individuals in such a way as to
standardize and make uniform the
product. thereby fitting about two per-
cent for college while the other ninety
eight per cent are fitted in no way for
efficient citizenship, through anything
furnished them by the school. Temper
ance instruction as secured through
the efforts of the w. C. T. u. must
follow the modern trend of educational
thought and the sanity and reasonable.
ness OF it's teachings take stronger po-
sltlon than ever before.