1.—13 a.

19D8. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON THE PETITION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND; TOGETHER WITH REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT INSPECTORGENERAL OF SCHOOLS.

Brought up 30th July, 1908, and ordered to be printed.

Petitionees allege that " hygiene and scientific temperance instruction " is not given in the public primary schools with fulness; also that beer-depots on the confines of no-license areas and the "locker" system is a thwarting and evasion of the spirit of the Alcoholic Liquors Control Act; also that packet licenses are unnecessary. The Education Committee have the honour to report that, as, in their judgment, the references in the petition of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to beer-depots, lockers, and packet licenses do not fall within the scope of their functions, that portion of the petition is referred back to your honourable House. Your Committee recommend that the petition be referred to the Government, in order that the attention of petitioners may be drawn to Eegulation No. 57, and that a copy of the report of the Assistant Inspector of Schools, attached hereto, be forwarded to them. Parliament Buildings, J- A. Hanan, Chairman. Wellington, 29th July, 1908. In the matter of the Petition of the Eev. Alexander Don and another, representing the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. HYGIENE AND SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE INSTEUCTION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE DOMINION. EEPOET. Clause 57 of the Regulations for the Inspection and Examination of Schools, which lay down the course of instruction to be followed in the various subjects, makes provision as follow/} for the subject of health, and instruction of the kind indicated is treated throughout the regulations as part of the compulsory course for all classes from Standard 111 upwards in the schools :— "57 Lessons on the structure of the body and on health should be given in classes S3 to S6. " These should include such subjects as the following, treated in a very simple manner : The chief bones of the skeleton, and the way in which they form a framework for the body ; tendons and muscles; the skin ; the heart, the blood, and the general system of circulation ; food and drink, digestion, the stomach and intestines ; the lungs ; the liver ; the kidneys ; the nerves ; the brain ; the eye ■ the sense of touch ; the outer ear ; the throat and nose ; air, ventilation, and respiration ; water washing, and cleaning; the choice of clothing, food, and drinks ; the management of health ; exercise; the avoidance of evil and unhealthy habits ; infectious diseases ; vaccination ; methods of dealing with common ailments, colds, and common accidents. " The lessons on the structure of the body are intended not as a course m physiology, but solely to serve the practical purpose of an introduction to such a knowledge of the laws of health as every individual of the community ought to possess— e.g., the study of the eye need not include a knowledge of all its parts, if it be known to act as a lens through which the rays of light pass and, forming an image on the retina, convey a visual impression to the brain. (The care of the eye should receive some notice,)