TEMPERANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 3 July 1909, Page 3

TEMPERANCE.

INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Some little time ago the Minister of Education (the Ron. G. Fowlds): stated that Education Boards had full power to,lntroduce temperance lessons in estate schools, rind the question of the best course to take was submitted by the Wanganui Education Board to the Chief Inspector for report in conjunction with a letter from the College Street Committee. At Wednesday’s meeting the report was received, and it was decided to forward a circular to teachers on the lines Of the one submitted.

Mr Bralk pointed out that as the Board could not .include In its syllabus any subject that is not really or virtually there already, perhaps the simplest plan would be to forward the committee’s letter to the Department. There is, however, in the syllabus, as it now stands, sufficient grounds to warrant one In saying that it is the duty of every teacher to point out the evils of intemperance, and by precept and example to demonstrate the commanding superiority of the temperate life and habit. In their lessons on “Health” teachers are required to deal with food and drink and their effect on the stomach and digestion; in the lessons on “Morals,” they are enjoined to call attention to the importance of the formation of correct habits in eating and drinking. The lessons in “Civics” require that labour, capital and money should be spoken of, and there is here ample .room for putting forward a plea for temperance; and by a regulation of the Board, the instructresses in cookery are required to examine the merits of the beverages—milk, tea, coffee, and alcoholic drinks; The committee’s request is for scientific temperance lessons, by which I suppose is meant experiments in the production and effects of alcoholic drinks, but, apart from the human subject such lessons, to be of any scientific value, would require material, apparatus, and a knowledge.of physiology, physics and chemicals beyond that possessed by even the most scientifically minded of our teachers. Perhaps the Committee’s object would be attained If the Board were to send to headmasters a circular calling attention to the opportunities offered during the ordinary course of instruction for the inculcation of temperance principles and requiring them not to let the opportunities slip.

The following was the suggested form of circular: Memorandum for Teachers.—l am directed by the Board to call your attention to the facilities afforded in the ordinary course of instruction for the teaching of the principles of temperance, and to request that you will bear this in mind in the following connection ; (0 In your course of health lessons you will find it possible to call attention to the effect of the.excessive'use of alcohol 'on the physical organs. (2) In the lessons on morals you will call attehtiou to the effect that the excessive uses of strong drink has in blunting moral sensibility and in deteriorating character. (3) In the lessons on “Civics,” you will impress upon your pupils the effect of the drink habit upon the productive capacity of a nation with special reference to labour, capital and money.