TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9094, 30 June 1888, Page 6

TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOLS.

THE SUBJECTS FOR THE TEACHERS'

EXAMINATIONS

The following letter was read at a meeting of the Board of Education yesterday : —

Gentlemen, —Seeing that you have kindly sanctioned, at tho discretion of school committees, the teaching of Dr. Richr rdson's work on the nature and effects of iiuoxie;.'ine d.-inks, the friends of temps--.tnce schools ire of opinion that it is of ..reat iv.i-pc:"..ii;e---that our school teachers should '■ e ex„ :i:: -a on Dr. Richardson's work, inord-r the ■ they may be in a position to give correct teaching on the subject. They understand that teachers are examined on text books relating to the other subjects prescribed for instruction in our public schools, and they think that no exception should be made with respect to temperance. I have therefore respectfully to ask that you will place Dr. Richardson's book amongst those prescribed for teachers'examinations. You were good enough not only to sanction the teaching of Dr. Richardson's work, and that of "tirst Steps to Temperance," but to direct that vour inspectors should examine upon them ; but in order to make the teaching and inspection effective, it appears absolutely necessary that the works should not only be examined on, but that a report should be made by the inspectors d-s to the way the pupils acquit themselves when so examined, and this appears all the more necessary as the subject of temperance is not a standard one. Without such a report the teaching is likely to be of the most superficial kind. May I hope, therefore, that you will direct your inspectors so to report. The friends of tempcrance-in-schools regard the subject of efficient teaching in the nature and effects of alcohol as of great national importance, in view of the ;,act that two millions sterling are spent annually in intoxicating drinks. A few years' efficient teaching of this subject might result in greatly lessening this enormous amount, and the saving thus effected might go far to compensate for the large sum now spent on our public school system.—l have, etc., Peter Mason, Hon. Sec. to Temper-ance-in-Schools Committee.

Mr. Lennox did not think tn.it the committee's first requestthat Dr. Richardson's book should be prescribed for the teachers' examination — could be acceded to, and he moved accordingly, "That the application be declined." Mr. Cakr thought the request should be granted, subject to the approval of tho inspectors. The Chairman (Mr. Upton) said that, under the regulations, tha b_,ok could only be used in tho schools as a readinp-book, unless the inspectors decided that the subject of temperance was equivalent to either botany, elementary physiology, or elementary chemistry. Mr. Lennox's motion was agreed to, and the second request contained in the letter— that the inspectors should report on the examinations on this subjectwas also declined.