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Rigid text-book requirements in Vermont.-The Vermont law, as amended in 1886, required that "all pupils in all public schools of the State shall be taught the nature of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics. Children too young to read shall receive oral instruction, and those who can read shall use a text-book." Textbooks were required to devote one-fourth their space to this subject, and schools not giving the statutory instruction forfeited their share of the public money. Other States followed the example of Vermont in requiring one-fourth of the space of text-books in physiology to be devoted to temperance instruction.

The great petition to publishers.-In order to bring a strong pressure to bear upon publishers, a syllabus was compiled in 1887 of what should be taught in the schools as scientific temperance, and after having been signed by over two hundred leading American citizens, "representative of the best medical, physiological, chemical, educational, legal, and ethical opinion in our country," was presented to publishers in form of a petition asking for a revision of their imperfect text-books upon this subject. As a whole, this petition constituted "an expression of the best expert sentiment of our country, in favor of teaching to the children of the United States the full truth of science against strong drink and in favor of total abstinence."

After this petition was sent to the publishers its syllabus of requirements was adopted as their standard for temperance text-books by the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, at Nashville, November, 1887, and became their creed, or "articles of faith," so to speak.

The full text of the petition is as follows:

A PETITION TO PUBLISHERS OF TEMPERANCE TEXT-BOOKS.

1. Thirty-two States and Territories now require scientific temperance instruction in the public schools, and the question whether the children shall receive such instruction is seen to depend largely upon the character of the text-books employed.

2. It was the intention of those who secured these laws that the children should have the latest science concerning the dangerous and hurtful qualities of alcohol used in any degree, and the peril of forming the habit of its use. The law requires this. Nothing less than this will ever satisfy its friends.

3. Those text-books that are largely physiology, with a minimum of temperance matter that only points out the evil of drunkenness and the danger of excessive use of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, do not meet the requirements of the law, and do not satisfy those who secured its enactment and who are determined to secure its enforcement.

4. Therefore, the undersigned legislators who voted for these laws in various States and in the National Congress, the representatives of temperance organizations, and who are familiar with the sentiment and are entitled to speak for the very numerous membership of different churches and other bodies, extending widely throughout the land, and citizens who speak for ourselves, do make respectful and earnest appeal to all publishers of text-books on this subject to revise their publications to conform to the latest results of scientific inquiry, and to meet the terms and spirit of these statutes in making the temperance matter the chief and not the subordinate topic in these books, so that public and authorized expressions of approval and indorsement of all such books can be issued and given wide circulation.

5. In urging this appeal we beg leave to represent that if this new education is to give to the world a coming generation of intelligent total abstainers, as we expect, its manuals of instruction must conform to the following specifications:

(1) They must teach with no uncertain sound the proven findings of science, viz:

(a) That alcohol is a dangerous and seductive poison.

(b) That beer, wine, and cider contain this same alcohol, thus making them dangerous drinks, to be avoided, and that they are the product of a fermentation that changes a food to a poison. (c) That it is the nature of a little of any liquor containing alcohol to create an appetite for more, which is so apt to become uncontrollable that the strongest warning should be urged against taking that little and thus forming the appetite.

(2, They must teach also the effect of these upon the human system," that is, upon the whole being-mental, moral, and physical. The appalling effects of drinking habits upon the citizenship of the nation, the degradation and crime resulting, demand that instruction here should give clear and emphatic utterance to the solemn warnings of science on this subject.

(3) This instruction must be as well graded to the capacities of each class of pupils as the modern school readers are. A book fit for high schools put into primary or intermediate classes will make the study a failure there. Truth is just as true and as scientific when told in easy words as when put into stilted technicalties the child can not understand.

(4) This is not a physiological but a temperance movement. In all grades below the high school this instruction should contain only physiology enough to make the hygiene of temperance and other laws of health intelligible. Teinperance should be the chief and not the subordinate topic, and should occupy at least one-fourth the space in text-books for these grades. As only a small portion of the pupils in our public schools attend high schools, and vast numbers leave with the primary, this instruction should be early and aniple. It is not desirable to have a separate book for the physiology heretofore studied in the high school or to limit the amount, but at least twenty pages out of that ordinarily required should be given to the question of the danger of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics, in a text-book for these classes. (5) This effort to disabuse the minds of the rising generation of fallacies which lead to drink habits should purposely avoid reference to the medical use of alcohol, except to state that as by common consent its lay prescription is condemned, the question of its use as a remedy may properly be relegated to medical treatises, as out of place and misleading in a school text-book. Licking in any of these points, a text-book on scientific temperance is incomplete, and the use in the schools of such a book will not result in a strong temperance sentiment among the pupile using it.

Because the question of total abstinence for the children of this country, and therefore of their well-being and that of the land soon to be governed by them, depends so largely upon the teachings in these books, we make this appeal.

As a result of the foregoing petition nearly all of the publishers of temperance text-books expressed the desire to have their books remodeled in conformity therweith. This work of revision was taken up and carried on in 1888 under the supervision of Mrs. M. H. Hunt, the national superintendent of the scientific department of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, with the assistance of the following advisory board: Albert H. Plumb, D. D., president Massachusetts Amendment Society; Daniel Dorchester, D. D., vice-president Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society; William E. Sheldon, president National Teachers' Association of 1887; Rev. Joseph Cook, of Boston Monday Lectureship.

Upon consultation with authors it soon became apparent that there was not so much difference of opinion about what was true concerning the subject as misapprehension as to what special truth should be brought forward. "Some writers were misled by supposing that exhortation or appeal after the style of the temperance lecture was desired. These difficulties vanished when they found that we wanted no fanatical preaching, but instead a full statement as to the origin, evil nature, and effects of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics, all told in language that the various grades of pupils can understand."

"The great men among these authors who are fully abreast with the researches, experiments, and proven facts of modern science on this subject were first to come into accord with the petition standard."

Now fully equipped.-Mrs. Hunt, writing at the beginning of 1892, says: "The study that was thus hampered and halting at the first is now fully equipped. What it then lacked is now supplied. Everything is ready. As the teachers translate these methods into actual school-room work, the intent of the law will be accomplished in the generation of intelligent total abstainers that will come from our schools."

Primary text-books:

Health for Little Folks.

Endorsed text-books (1892).

No. 1 of the Union Series.
Child's Health Primer.

House I Live In.

Published by the American Book Company, N. Y. Good Health for Children.

Published by Leach, Shewell & Sanborn.

Physiology for Little Folks.

Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston, Mass.

A primer of Health.

Published by Silver, Burdette & Co., Boston.

Intermediate text-books:

Young People's Physiology, (or)

Hygiene for Young People.

No. 2 of the Union Series.

Youth's Temperance Manual.

Published by the American Book Company, New York.

Stowell's Healthy Body.

Published by Silver, Burdette & Co., Boston.

Blaisedell's Pysiology for Boys and Girls.

Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston, Mass.

Brand's Health Lessons for Beginners.

Published by Leach, Shewell & Sanborn.

Advanced grammar grade text-books:

No. 3 of the Union Series.

Johonnot & Bouton's Lessons in Hygiene.

Published by the American Book Company, New York.

Essentials of Health.

Published by Silver, Burdette & Co., Boston.

Young Folks' Physiology.

Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston.

High school text-books:

Tracy's Outlines of Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene.
Steele's Hygienic Physiology.

Eclectic Guide to Health.

Published by the American Book Company, New York. Martin's Human Body and the Effects of Narcotics.

Published by Henry Holt & Co., New York.

Charts. With reference to charts Mrs. Hunt says: "To be worth anything to the cause the endorsement of this department on scientific matter must represent accuracy. Realizing the injury to the work sure to follow any accusation of inaccuracy that could be well sustained, we have hesitated about placing our endorsement upon physiological charts. We are yet waiting for the chart that shall be pronounced accurate, as to delineation and coloring, by the best physiological experts, and that shall give a due representation of the evil results of narcotic indulgence. We would advise our friends to delay the purchase of charts until some that are authorized are issued."

Course of study.—In order to assist in finding a place for this study, and to determine how much to teach each year and in what grades to teach it orally, "a carefully graded course of study in this branch has been prepared covering all these points." "It also shows the grades or classes in both graded and ungraded schools to which the various books are adapted." This course of study is as follows:

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTION OF THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE

UNION.

A SCHEDULE OF COURSES OF STUDY IN PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND OTHER NARCOTICS.

This plan provides for three lessons per week for fourteen weeks of each school year, after which the subject may be dropped for the remainder of the year, to be taken up with a more advanced treatment for the same length of time the following year. These courses, with well-graded text-books that contain the truths the law requires taught, will, if faithfully pursued, with oral or written reviews, cover the subject, and will not unduly crowd other studies.

GRADED SCHOOLS.

COURSE A.-For graded schools having eight years below the high school."

[Pathfinder series of text-books.]

First, second, and third year.—"Child's Health Primer," in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book. Fourth year.-"Child's Health Primer," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until the book is completed.

Fifth year." Hygiene for Young People," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed.

Sixth year."Hygiene for Young People," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed, reviewing from beginning.

Seventh year.-"Lessons in Hygiene, No. 2 of Appleton series," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed. Eighth year.-"Lessons in Hygiene, No. 2 of Appleton series,” in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed, reviewing from first chapter.

High-school year.-"Steele's Hygienic Physiology," in hands of pupils until book is completed.

COURSE B. For graded schools having eight years below the high school.

[Appleton series of text-books.]

First, second, and third year.-"Health for Little Folks," in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book. Fourth year."Health for Little Folks," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

1In schools having seven years below the high school, more time per year should be given to the study, so as to complete Lessons in Hygiene during the seventh year. If there are only six years below the high school, enough time should be given to complete "Hygiene for Young People" during the fifth year, as well as Lessons in Hygiene during the sixth year.

2Schools having seven years below the high school can complete Lessons in Hygiene" during the seventh year. Those having six years below the high school can, in addition, complete "Young People's Physiology" during the sixth year.

Fifth year." Young People's Physiology," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed.

Sirth year." Young People's Physiology," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed, reviewing from first chapter.

Seventh year."Lessons in Hygiene," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed.

Eighth year."Lessons in Hygiene," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed.

High-school year.-"Outlines of Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene," by Roger S. Tracy, M. D., in hands of pupils until book is completed.

COURSE C.1-For graded schools having seven years below the high school.

[Union series of text-books.]

First, second, and third year.-"Number One" of the Union series, in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book.

Fourth year."Number One" of the Union series, in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

Fifth year. "Number Two" of the Union series, in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

Sixth year.-"Number Three" of the Union series, in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed."

Seventh year."Number Three" of the Union series, in hands of pupils. Three recitations per week until last half of book is completed, reviewing from first chapter.

High-school year.-Steele's "Hygienic Physiology," or "Outlines of Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene," by Roger S. Tracy, M. D., or "The Human Body and the Effects of Narcotics," by H. Newell Martin, M. D. In hands of pupils until book is completed.

COURSE D.-For graded schools having six years below the high school.

[Eclectic series of text-books.]

First, second, and third year.-"House I Live In," in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Recitations three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book. Fourth year. “House I Live In,” in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

Firth year.-"Youth's Temperance Manual," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed.

Sixth year.—“Youth's Temperance Manual," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed.

High-school year.-"Eclectic Guide to Health," in hands of pupils until book is completed.

COURSE E.-For graded schools having eight years below the high school.

[Blaisdell Revised Physiology series.]

First, second, and third year.-"Physiology for Little Folks," in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book.

Fourth year.-"Physiology for Little Folks," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

Fifth year."Physiology for Boys and Girls," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed.

Sixth year.-"Physiology for Boys and Girls," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed, reviewing from first chapter.

Seventh year.-"Young Folks' Physiology," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until first half of book is completed,

Schools having six years below the high school can complete "Number Three" of the Union series during the sixth year.

Eighth year." Young Folks' Physiology," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until last half of book is completed, reviewing from first chapter.

High-school year.-Steele's "Hygenic Physiology," or Tracy's "Outlines of Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene," or Martin's Human Body and the Effects of Narcotics," in hands of pupils until book is completed.

UNGRADED SCHOOLS.

In an ungraded school, three classes should be formed, one for advanced pupils, one for those who rank as intermediate, and another for primary. All pupils in the school should be divided according to their attainments among these three classes.

Is it necessary to have a separate book for each of the three classes referred to in an ungraded school? ́ Yes, emphatically yes. All pupils in ungraded schools where there are advanced pupils can not be taught as the law requires with less than three grades of books. The primary or lower grade pupils need a book they can understand; the next grade should have one a little more advanced; and pupils who correspond to the high-school grade should have a book adapted to their acquirements. This study has often been made a ridiculous failure by the attempt in ungraded schools to make one book (and that often a high-school book) fit all pupils.

COURSE A.-For ungraded schools, or schools having two, three or four departments.

[Pathfinder series of text-books.]

Primary class.-Pupils reading in the primer, first, second, and third readers. "Child's Health Primer," in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book.

Intermediate class.-Pupils reading in Fourth Reader. "Hygiene for Young People," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

Advanced class.-Pupils reading in Fifth Reader and higher books. "Physiology and Health, No. 3 of Union series," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

COURSE B.--For ungraded schools, or schools having two, three, or four departments.

[Appleton series of text-books.)

Primary class.-Pupils reading in the primer, first, second, and third readers. "Health for Little Folks," in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book.

Intermediate class.-Pupils reading in Fourth Reader. "Young People's Physiology," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed, reviewing from first chapter.

Advanced class.-Pupils reading in Fifth Reader and higher books. "Lessons in Hygiene," in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

COURSE C.-For ungraded schools, or schools having two, three, or four departments.

[Union series of text-books.]

Primary class.-Pupils reading in the primer, first, second, and third readers. "Number One" of the Union series, in hands of teacher for oral instruction. Lessons three times per week. Facts drawn from text-book.

Intermediate class.-Pupils reading in fourth reader. "Number Two" of the Union series in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

Advanced class.-Pupils reading in fifth reader and higher books." "Number Three" of the Union series, in hands of pupils. Recitations three times per week until book is completed.

1 Where there are pupils of high-school grade in ungraded schools, they should have a highschool text-book, either Steele's "Hygienic Physiology," or "Outlines of Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene," by Roger S. Tracy, M. D., or "The Human Body and the Effects of Narcotics," by H. Newell Martin, M. D.

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