TEMPERANCE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 214, 3 June 1908, Page 6

TEMPERANCE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

I ■' ——• —, 1 ■ ; STATEMENT BY HON. G. FOWLDS. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, Juno 2. In replying to-day to a deputation regarding the question of the compulsory" use of a temperance text book in tbe public schools, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds said that it was a difficult matter to do more than the Department was doing.' As they knew, the education system was so localised' that the Education Boards had a great deal of control. The inspectors appointed by the Boards were the only persons who actually went into the schools, and they reported to the respeotivo Boards to which they wore responsible. The Department only drew up a syllabus,' and there was a very great objection to chopping and changing this syllabus about. It .was now somo two or three, years ago since tho present syllabus had been brought into force, and it would continue to operato until tho next Conference of Inspectors. .It was not ■ a statutory binding resolution that tho Department should hold to the syllabus, but it was generally understood that it should be observed, a'iid personally ho was of opinion that it should, be allowed to have an undisturbed trial. If the Department was to make frequent changed tcachors would be justified in saying that they never guite knew what the authorities Were goind; to do. Next year another conference would eventuate, and he had already. promised that this matter of tcmperanco teaching in schools would then receive very full consideration. . In the "School Journal," as they probably knew, the question _ was already embraced, under the hygienic oourses,, those phasos referring to alcohol coming into_ tho three divisions of tho journal. These journals, ho added, were vory generally used in tho schools, and the children must profit by the temperance' instruction afforded in these articles. Furthermore, ho could promise that at tho next conference added emphasis would bo placed on tho necessity for tcmporanco -teaching iu schools..