TEMPERANCE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 17922, 18 March 1922, Page 10

TEMPERANCE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

10 THE EDITOR. Sir, —It was with amazement that many of your readers perused the letter of your contributor “W.,” and his attack on the Education Department’s report No. 13 on alcohol in .a recent issue of _ your ’paper. How any man, unless he is financially interested in the liquor traffic, can object to the children of cur schools being taught the scientific truth about alcohol in relation to its effect on mind and body passes comprehension. In view of “W.’s” want of knowledge on the subject, a few facts about that report No. 15 will no doubt prove interesting to him and to your readers at the present juncture.

■ 1. It is an exact reproduction of what the New Zealand Education Department has issued to teachers as a syllabus of instruction for them to impart to the children of our schools. It summarises what has been taught for many years in the schools, and in addition brings the instruction right up to date. 2. The statements contained in this report are really a summary of prolonged scientific investigations on the subject of the effect of alcohol on the human body and mind. In particular they include conclusions from the results recorded in special investigations carried out during the war by the British Medical Research Council. This council entered on its studies at the request of the British Government, which was gravely concerned as to tire injurious effect of alcohol impairing efficiency among munition workers. Report 13 is undoubtedly the most up-to-date of any school syllabus on the subject now in existence. It is in line with similar official instruction prepared by the British, French, and American Governments for use in the schools.

3. It ought to be emphasised that, contrary to the inference in tho letter of “ W.” i (a) It is not the work of any temperance body or of tho New? Zealand Alliance, but has been (b) compiled .by tho New Zealand education authorities in the same way as other educational works are produced. 4. It represents, therefore, a moderate, unbiased, and clear statement of important facte .

5. It is, in fact, what the New Zealand Government feels the school children of this Dominion should in their own. in-, forests know about alcohol. It may be added that this information is of equal value to all thoughtful adults, and I commend it to your correspondent “W.” It is a pity, in my humble opinion, that the newspapers do not publish in extenso report No. 13 issued by the Education Department of New Zealand.. —I am, etc., Pro Bono Publico. March 17,