A NEGLECTED STUDY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 6

A NEGLECTED STUDY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—On Saturday I was surrounded by a number of chiluren, and something in our then surroundings led into talk about temperance and, to my surprise, I found that those children knew next to nothing about the subject. This is lamentable. With " n the crowd of subjects, JLerary and' practical, that they are now taught in our schools this very important subject is crowded out. But then is it crowded out ? is it not rather intentionally left out? A very serious charge can fairly bo brought against our Education Department that this 1 is so; and it is. though they may talk about temperance wail sheets and certain vague attempts in tho sundries of tho syllabus of education. It all amounts to practically nothing, so far as really teaching the children ‘True 1 ’ temperance. I will define true temperance at another time if necessary. A year or so ago, Mr. Boyd Gailiek come on the scene with his system of drill that was to give the children better physical development. No doubt he was quite right, and I hope and expect that the scholars are now beginning co reap some benefit therefrom. But why so much lime and thought and money to promote physical development, and not a word or a lesson on that which is the greatest hindrance? to physical development? I say deliboratelv “not a word or a lesson,” for though some teachers do it, it is not required by tho regulations. Now when King ‘and Cabinet Ministers, judges and colonial Governors are renouncing alcohol tho children arc not taught to “follow the King.” Tho teachers cannot touch it. Titov say that tho syllabus is overcrowded. Tho authorities soon found that it- was not too much crowded to keep out tho drill—quite right too. It is now their duty to hud a place for teaching the truth concerning alcohol, or semi to Russia to iind sumo ono who can. The fault does not lie with tho teachers or the inspector or tho Boards of Education; it lies with the heads of departments who aro nearly always enveloped in a conservative mist that prevents them from seeing any benefit iu progress. The Minister of Education can put life into his department in regard to tho essentials that must bo taught; and we never had a Minister who did it but the Hon. Geo. Fowlds. He got the wall sheets, such as thev arc. into the schools. But if the Minister cannot, or will not, do it. the people, through their representatives in Parliament, must do it over the head of the Minis* ter and his department. Nothing -today can bo said in favour of intoxicating drink: everyone knows that great harm results from using it; no onu believes that it ir; necessary to health and well-being; there only remains to the defenders of tho drink tho plea (not argument), “AVe get a profit from it.” or “I like it and will have il.” Neither of these* should b'* of any weight at this time of stress, when everyone should bo at his best, is there not sufficient real patriotism in Now Zealand for men and women, ?ind children, too, to say, ‘‘l follow the King?”—l am, etc.. G. H. MAUNDER.