AGAINST ALCOHOL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 4

AGAINST ALCOHOL.

PHYSIOLOGICAL TEACHINC. MR. FOWLDS AND THE W.C.T.U. THE'MATTER IN THEIR OWN HANDS. Tho Ministerial room of the Hon.. G. Fowlds was crowded with ladies yesterday morning. They had come at tbo instanco of tho Women's Christian Temperance Union, as a doputation to ask tho Minister for Education to cause more instruction on tho scientific aspects of • the alcohol habit to be given in tho public schools. Dofinito Promise Wanted. Mrs. Colo,' president of the union, said that the deputation represented, not only the W.C.T.U., but all classos and creeds in tho community. • They were explicitly supported by a largo number of philanthropic bodies and religious workers, and they had a big vote behind them. They recognised that they had tho Minister's sympathy, but they wished to ask for a promise of somo definite action at as early a dato as possible. They believed that comparatively few of tho people realised the results of the recent scientific investigation as to tho. physiological'effects 'of alcohol. They submitted that tho desired instruction might take the place of somo of the subjects now occupying a place in tho school curriculum. Patriotism was being taught in the schools,: but some of the young volunteers wore acquiring tho drink habit. Volunteer training was useless without a steady ha.ud and, eye. •'.'; '''AY Necessary-as Reading and Writing." Miss Maunder,"tho union's superintendent of Scientific Instruction; urged that the temperance 'aspect of physiology was . just as necessary ito bo taught to .tho children as reading "and writing. It would still be necessary even; when No-License was carried. i\Vhat they desired was not sentiment, but plain scientific facts.. -It should bo a compulsory subjectj and tho Temperance party would see that the boards and 'committees carried out the instructions that might bo given them by the Government in the matter. Mrs. Low, M.A. (Wellington), as an oxhigh school and public school teacher, suggested that tbo object in view might bo achieved without interfering with ; the syljabus., It.jwould not be necessary to devote •half-an-hour a week to temperance teaching. ■It could be taken along with physiology, or'/one sqience lesson every month couid bo devoted to this subject. She recommendod the/.text book of Dr. Horsley and Dr. May Sturge. ■ ; Drinking Among the Young. Miss Powell,'corresponding secretary, expressed appreciation of what the Minister had already done for temperance. The drinking-'habits of ; -young people in this country had greatly increased during the last few :'years. Mere children—boys of fifteen and sixteen—were seen frequently in the bars,,'and.it. was not uncommon to seo young girls, whdse-.hair was still ''down," reeling about under tho infiuenco of liquor, on the outskirts of crowds in the streets. Mr. Seddon used to talk of keeping , the cradles rocking, but they.must,see that what was, in the cradlo was not worthless. Every 'child in America, owing to tho efforts of the W.C.T.U., was taught temperance physiology while at school.

Mrs. Don urged the need of temperance teaching for the benefit "of the brains of the rising generation. "Wo represent," she said, "organised mothers' lovo. Tho day is past when we should ask. AVo now demand temperance .teaching iutbe schools." . . 'Miss*'Maunder observed that the Minister promised on a previous occasion to introduce scientific teaching on the effects of alcohol into tho "School Journal," and one or two articles had appeared, but they were very weak. : ... , THE MINISTER'S REPLY. The Minister said ho was glad that the deputation his sympathies were with them. Ho could! assure them that their opponents recognised it too. Eβ had been aniious to ilo what he could in the .matter under discussion ever since he became •Minister.for Education,, but they nnist realise that' tho Minister's power was limited. He "thought thoy wero scarcely fully aware that the subject was already a compulsory one in pur-public schools. The syllabus for Standard 111. • named, under the heading of compulsory subjects, reading,-writing, arithmetic, composition,. drawing, singing, physical" instruction, geography, and history, and proceeded to state that instruction of the kind indicated'in Glauses 48, 53, and 57 must also bo given."' This was/repeated in the syllabus, for Standards IV., .V.,,and;.Vl.' Clause 48, which was referred to as above, related to moral instruction, and stated that this was to include duties in .relation to our bodies and minds, and (temperance in eating and drinking. Clause 57, dealing with instructions as to health, laid it down that instruction on tho avoidance of evil and unhealthy habits should be given. He presumed that tlio deputation would admit that the drinking of alcohol was an evil and unhealthy habit. This kind of instruction was compulsory, the same as reading, writing, and arithmetic, and if' it Was<not being given, that was because the directions contaiued in the syllabus wero not being carried put. ■•-■"■"" Minister's Limited. Powers. .; He wanted them to. realise that tho Minister for Education'had no better eyes than any other citizen, and that ho had no more pijwer to enforce the instructions' quoted than the president'of the W.C.T.U. Parliament had adhered to the idea of administration by education boards and school committees!.,;ln;'this rcspcct - New Zealand stood -jtloho'■amdiig civilised, nations, inasmuch as the cost of education was defrayed by tho central Government, whilst inspection, ; to soe whether valuo was being obtained for the monej' was delegated to subsidiary bodies. What might happen in the future ho did not know, but he was sure that if ho asked -.Parliament nest session to change tho system and'put the inspection into tho hands of .tho Education Department, the request .wpiild not be .granted. rT '•"',"•' "'"Promises and Advice. In matters of education, we could not Iceep continually chopping and changing this .'regulations arid' 'the syllabus, because, .tho teachers would naturally complain. if, after they-'had nia'd?. .efforts in certain directions, ,their-;w.brkrwas disorganised. The first time '.B lv (lejji}tatipjn like tb'p;, present one had, waited "on him,: he^h'ad , -pointed out that a (conference of inspectors, was .held triennially,.and at tho lastlone in 1907, a resolution tfas passed '.th'at:no. chango should take place in the syllabus/tintil 'teachers and inspectors had had a longer experience of it. He promised before, and would now repeat, that wheii the syllabus was revised, after the next conference, the references to scientific instruction as to alcohol would be made niore ..definite, and, if more man'datory''. than ■at 'present. When that wasj idorie they .ni'ust riot come and ask that the; :bo;enforced. ■' Every member of itb'e , .deputation was;, he presumed, eligible for"-Tfle.nioers_hip: of .a school committee. Those--committees elected . i .the education boards, a'rid .the the inspectors and' the teachers. In regard" to the training of the Ministor said that at present there was among the requirements for the D and C certificates for teachers, something that could bo hold to include what was being asked for, and an alteration to make this more definite was in contemplation. That was all he could do.

The "School Journal,", As to the "School Journal," and perhaps all that could have been done had not been done. Yet he had received letters from some of those interested, congratulating him on tho appear.ance of the articles in question. The oiil olfects of alcohol on tho blood had been dealt with in a physiological lesson, apart from other, articles. However, nfore might havo been clone Tho subject could only bo taken as part of a general course on hygiene, and they could not havo a temperance physiology article every month. A sent to him by tho union had Been tho basis for tho articles in, the "Journal." Ho hnd coiiforred with the editor, and could promise that more emphasis would be laid on the subject in i future .issues. Hβ would be glad if somo I of- those "present ; would submit , articles for

insertion in the "Journal." It was not possible to revolutionise tho education system. Much would depend always on the personal equation of tho teachers. Hβ hoped, with tho inducements now offered, to get tho pick of tho young people into the profession. They should remember, also, that the matter was iu the hands of public opinion, which could be expressed not only at conventions, though good could bo done there, but also through the ballot box, and at the sohool committee elections.

Mrs. Colo, .in thanking tho Minister, said she was sure the members of the union would take his advice, and seek election to the schpol committees.