TEMPERANCE HYGIENE

Otago Witness, Issue 4032, 23 June 1931, Page 66

TEMPERANCE HYGIENE

INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS

ASSISTANCE OF COMMITTEES SOUGHT. A large deputation representing bodies affiliated to the United Temperance Reform Council waited upon the School Committees’ Association at its annual meeting at Dunedin on Thursday evening, urging the association to use its influence in having more attention paid to the teaching of temperance hygiene in primary schools. The -opinions of the deputation were stated to be as follows:— “ (a) That greater emphasis should be placed on the teaching in the schools concerning the evils of beverage alcohol; fb) that the Education Department’s lessons and regulations concerning this matter should be made more operative; (c) that the subject is of such vital importance to the welfare of the young neople that marks should be given for it in the examinations.” ’ The speakers were Mr F. E. Hilliker and the Rev. E. S. Tuckwell. Mr Hilliker said that, knowing that the association stood for the welfare of the pupils in the primary schools, the deputation asked it to give the matter its careful consideration, and to use its influence with the Education Department. Mr Tuckwell said that the purpose of the deputation was to ask that the association use all the influence in its power to secure a greater emphasis upon the teaching of temperance hygiene in primary schools. The deputation was not thinking of any particular fad. It referred to the assured findings of modern science, relating to the influence of alcohol on tire human organism. It was claimed that the results of these findings should have the influence they deserved. The Education Department provided very definitely for the teaching of hygiene, and part of that teaching was known as temi>erance hygiene. The department had issued a great deal of literature in this connection. The teaching of temperance hygiene was compulsory, but the deputation was in a position to say emphatically that this provision was not being carried out as it should be. In a recent issue of the Education Gazette a paragraph had appeared drawing attention to the need of this instruction. The fact that such a paragraph should be necessary spoke for itself. The deputation made no indictment of the teachers. It had the greatest admiration for them. The weakness was that inspectors did not examine on the subject and no marks were awarded. Therefore there was danger of the matter being overlooked. The speaker gave some facts concerning the consumption of alcohol. He claimed that the children had the right to know the facts. Mr J. Wallace said that the association had heard one side. He advised it to hear 1 the other. He moved that the matter be referred to the senior inspector, who should he asked for a report. “You can judge New Zealand by what you get from Otago,” Mr Wallace added. After a brief discussion the motion was carried.